Generally, no. You must stop working once you’ve received your final grades.

You can continue to work after you finished your studies only if:

• you’ve already applied for a work permit, or
• you’re starting a new study program

Find out if you meet one of these exceptions.

You can work full-time while waiting for a decision on your post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application if, at the time you submitted your application, all of the following applied to your situation:

• You had a valid study permit.
• You had completed your program of study.
• You were eligible to work off campus without a permit.
• You did not work off campus more than 20 hours a week during academic sessions.

Changes to off-campus work hours

You may be eligible to work more than 20 hours per week off campus under a temporary public policy. Find out if you meet the requirements.

If you received the WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127 E) letter

You’re authorized to work until a decision is made on your work permit application even if the 180-day validity date has expired. If you need proof of authorization to continue working, you can ask for it by using our web form.

Find out more about work authorization after submitting a post-graduation work permit application.

Yes, international students studying in Canada may apply for Canadian permanent resident status while studying or after completing their studies, provided they meet the requirements of the Canadian immigration program under which they apply.

If a BOWP holder is working in a skilled occupation in Canada, their spouse can apply for an open work permit, and dependent children can join them by applying for a visitor record.

You can start job hunting before getting your PGWP if you:

• Studied full-time at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in an eligible program.
• Finished your program of study.
• Stayed within the allowed work hours (both on-campus and off-campus).

Note: If your PGWP application is refused, you must stop working right away.

If your PGWP is nearing its expiration, you have two options:

1. Apply for a PGWP extension.
2. Apply for one of the various Permanent Residency programs available for graduates of Canadian learning institutions.

To determine if you qualify for an extension, please refer to our article on Work Permit Extension for PGWP Holders. If you need information on how to extend your PGWP, get in touch with us today.

If you have a valid visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you can travel to and from Canada freely while applying for a PGWP.

Note: A study permit is not a visa and doesn’t allow you to re-enter Canada. When returning to Canada:

• If your study permit is still valid, you can return as a student.
• If your PGWP was approved while you were outside Canada, you can enter as a worker.
• If your PGWP is still being processed, you can return as a visitor.
• As a visitor, you can work without a work permit while waiting for your PGWP.

Yes. Candidates must still meet the eligibility criteria for an Express Entry managed program. Eligible programs are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Retaking the language test, gaining more experience, and assessing all qualifications can help boost your score.

After submitting an expression of interest, there is no need to reach out to the program. The OINP will select candidates from the pool through draws and extend invitations to those with the highest scores. Draw dates are not announced in advance. The OINP publishes the search criteria and results of each round of invitations on its website. Invitations are issued according to these published parameters and results, and there is no guarantee of receiving an invitation, as the outcome of each draw cannot be assured.

Validity: A Bridging Open Work Permit is typically valid for up to 24 months or until your passport expires, whichever happens first. You may be eligible for an extension if your permanent residency application is still being processed.

Extension: If your BOWP expires before your PR application is approved, IRCC may issue extensions in 12-month increments.

Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced on 21 June 2024 that, effective immediately, international students may no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the Canadian border.

Eligibility Check: Determine if you meet the eligibility criteria for the category-based draw you are interested in.

-Gathering Necessary Documents: Collect all required documents, such as educational credentials, work experience letters, and language test results.

-Creating an Express Entry Profile: Complete your profile on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, ensuring all information is accurate and up-to-date.

Ensure that your passport remains valid for the entire duration of your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

If your passport expires before your PGWP, we will:

• Issue a PGWP that is only valid until your passport's expiration date.
• Inform you if you need to extend your PGWP to receive its full validity.

You can only extend your PGWP if we instruct you to do so. If this situation occurs, you must apply on paper to extend your PGWP to its full duration.

The categories can change each year based on an IRCC report to Parliament. The report includes:

• The categories from the past year
• Why and how they were chosen
• The steps to create each category
• The number of invitations issued for each category

This information will also be part of the Express Entry Year-End Report.

A candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will still matter for Express Entry draws. IRCC will continue to hold draws where candidates are invited, even if they don’t fit into one of the six categories — like all-program or program-specific draws.

For category-based draws, IRCC will invite the top-ranking candidates who meet the specific category requirements to apply for permanent residence.

Yes, Express Entry will have three types of draws throughout the year:

• General draws: Invite the top candidates from the pool who qualify for one of the three Express Entry programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
• Program-specific draws: Invite top candidates for a specific program, like the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), where only PNP-eligible candidates get invited.
• Category-based draws: The Minister of Immigration sets categories to meet Canada’s economic needs. Top candidates in those categories will be invited once they’re established.