What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit

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What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit

• www.esseindia.com

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Post-Graduation Work Permit
The Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open
work permit, meaning it allows the student to
work for any employer of their choice in Canada
and to work for any Canadian employer without
needing a job offer. It allows international
student graduates to work anywhere in Canada for
up to three years. A major benefit of the PGWP is
that it provides international graduates with
professional work experience in Canada, which is
helpful when PGWP holders go on to apply for
Canadian immigration. In general, a PGWP holder
needs to gain one year of professional work.
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What are the PGWPs eligibility requirements

• To be eligible for a PGWP, international students
  must have
• Completed studies in an academic, vocational or
  professional training program that is at least
  eight months long at an eligible Designated
  Learning Institution (DLI)
• Completed a study program that led to a degree,
  diploma or certificate
• Held full time student status in Canada during
  every academic session of the program of study
  and included as part of their post-graduation
  work permit application
• Obtained a transcript and an official letter from
  the DLI confirming the applicant has met all
  requirements to complete their program of study

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What are the PGWPs eligibility requirements

• To be eligible for a PGWP, international students
  must have
• Completed studies in an academic, vocational or
  professional training program that is at least
  eight months long at an eligible Designated
  Learning Institution (DLI)
• Completed a study program that led to a degree,
  diploma or certificate
• Held full time student status in Canada during
  every academic session of the program of study
  and included as part of their post-graduation
  work permit application
• Obtained a transcript and an official letter from
  the DLI confirming the applicant has met all
  requirements to complete their program of study

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The student must also have graduated from

• a public post-secondary institution, such as
• a college
• a trade or technical school
• a university
• CEGEP (in Quebec)
• a private post-secondary school (in Quebec) that
  operates under the same rules as public schools
  in Quebec
• a private secondary or post-secondary school (in
  Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900
  hours or longer and results in the issuance of a
  diplôme détudes professionnelles (DEP) or an
  attestation de spécialisation professionnelle
  (ASP) (Note this will no longer be in effect
  starting September 2023) or

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How long is a PGWP valid for?

• A PGWP will be valid for between eight months and
  three years, depending on the length of the
  students study program. Immigration, Refugees
  and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provides the
  following guidelines on its website
•  Completed program under eight months Not
  eligible for a PGWP
• Completed program between eight months and less
  than two years The PGWP will be valid for the
  same length of your study program (e.g., a
  10-month program will result in a 10-month PGWP)

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• Completed program of two years or more PGWP will
  be valid for three years
• Completed more than one program You may be able
  to combine your Canadian educational programs to
  get a PGWP as long as the programs are DLI
  eligible and each over eight months in duration.
  The total length of the PGWP will correspond to
  the durations above.
• A student must apply for the PGWP within 180
  days, or six months, from the time they receive a
  transcript and official letter from the DLI
  confirming they have met all the requirements to
  complete the study program.

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Studying overseas and eligibility for a PGWP

• IRCC set in place a new policy during the
  coronavirus pandemic that allows students to
  complete their Canadian study program while
  living abroad and still be eligible for a PGWP
  when they move to Canada. In order to be eligible
  for this policy, the student must
• Be enrolled at a DLI
• Have started or will start a program between
  spring 2020 and summer 2022, or the program was
  already in progress by March 2020
• Have a study permit or approval for a study
  permit, or apply for a study permit prior to
  starting your program and are eventually approved
• Meet all other PGWP criteria

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Permanent Residency for International Residents

• Under Express Entry, the Canadian government uses
  the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to
  evaluate each candidate based on their human
  capital. Canada looks at age, education, language
  skills, work experience, among other criteria.
  Usually every two weeks, the Canadian government
  holds Express Entry draws providing permanent
  residence invitations to those with the highest
  CRS scores. Extra points are given to candidates
  with Canadian education and work experience under
  Express Entry

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• Many international students obtain permanent
  residence status through the Canadian Experience
  Class (CEC). With a PGWP, students must go on to
  obtain at least 1,560 hours of Canadian work
  experience in a NOC 0, A or B job in order to be
  apply for permanent residency through CEC.
  Many Provincial Nominee Programs also cater to
  international graduates.
• If you have studied in Quebec and would like to
  settle in the province permanently, a student may
  also be eligible for immigration under the Quebec
  Experience Program (PEQ). The PEQ provides a
  fast-track way for international students and
  individuals with work experience in Quebec to get
  a Quebec selection certificate, which is a
  mandatory step towards permanent residency that
  is granted by the federal government.

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