Working after Graduation

If, after graduating from your studies in Canada, you plan to work here, you will have to apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.

Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

The students, who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution, are permitted to work in Canada under this program for gaining valuable Canadian work experience.

Under this program, the Work Permit is not valid for longer than the student’s study program. Like if you graduate from a 4-year degree program and also meet the criteria for work permit, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.

Note: At times, the work permit can be valid for less time than the length of your studies.

Eligibility

In order to get the work permit under this category, you are required to meet the following requirements:

• You must have studied full time in Canada. Also, you should have completed a program of study that lasted for 8 months. Additionally, you must have graduated from:
  • a public post-secondary institution, like college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec), or
  • a private post-secondary institution operating under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and receiving not less than 50% of its financing from government grants, for its overall operations (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify), or
  • Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute for conferring degrees. This stands true only if you are enrolled in one of the programs of study leading to a degree as authorized by the province and not in all programs of study offered by the private institution.
• A work permit needs to be applied for within 90 days of receiving written confirmation from your institution implying that you meet the requirements for completing your academic program.
• You must have completed and passed the program of study and received a notification that you are eligible to obtain your degree, diploma or certificate.
• You must have a valid study permit while applying for the work permit.

Impact of length of study in Canada and the length of the work permit

A Post-Graduation Work Permit is valid only for the length of time you studied in Canada or less than that.

Note:

• You would not be eligible for this program if you studied for less than 8 months.
• You can get a work permit for a period no longer than the length of time you studied, if you studied for less than 2 years but more than 8 months.
• A work permit might be issued for three years, if you studied for a period of two years or more.

You are in-eligible for this Program if you:

• Study in a program of lesser duration than 8 months.
• Take part in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
• Take part in a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by DFAIT
• The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) grants funds to you
• Take part in the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile
• Take part in the Canada-China Scholars Exchanges Program
• Take part in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• Take part in a distance learning program either from abroad or from within Canada or
• Have received a Post-Graduation Work Permit previously, following any other program of study.