Post-Graduate Work Permit
If you graduated from Confederation College and want to stay and work in Canada, you may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). You can find information about this on the Government of Canada website.
Applying for your PGWP
The IEC regularly offers workshops to students that explain the application process and answer your questions. Please come by the IEC or check our social media and bulletin boards to find out the dates and times.
The documents you need to apply for a PGWP are:
Completed application form: Found here
Passport: You must provide a digital copy of the page that shows your birth date and country of origin, and any pages with stamps, visas or markings. Put all pages into one PDF. Please refer to “How to combine documents”.
Digital photo: Please refer to IRCC specifications You may show the requirement to your photographer, so he or she can help you make a digital copy.
Final transcript and/or graduation letter stating that you have successfully completed your program.
Proof of medical exam – E-medical (if applicable): Please refer to Medical exam requirements for temporary residents.
Proof of Language Proficiency – minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 5 in reading, writing, listening and speaking. Valid within the past 2 years.
The application fee is $155, and the open work permit holder fee is $100.
Students may also refer to the guides below to complete a PGWP application.
Please note:
These are not legal documents. For legal information, refer to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations where applicable. You can also refer to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for updated information at www.cic.gc.ca.
The information provided above may change without notice. Please refer to the IRCC Website for the newest updates. Students are solely responsible for following IRCC rules and regulations. For any other queries, please email [email protected].
PGWP eligibility:
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As of November 1, 2024, new eligibility criteria apply to the PGWP program. These changes affect students who applied for their study permit or study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024.
Key Updates
To ensure PGWP eligibility, international students at Confederation College who applied for their study permit/extension after November 1 2024, must graduate from a program that IRCC has identified as meeting long-term labour shortages in Canada. These are categorized according to the program’s CIP or its Classification of Instructional Programs code. New students must enroll in a program that has been identified by IRCC on its field of study list. Students can compare the CIP code for their program (see the program’s web page for this detail) with that posted on the IRCC “Field of Study” list. PGWP-aligned programs at Confederation College can also be found here.
Please note: Field of study requirements may change, so consult the IRCC website often
Language proficiency requirements
All PGWP applications must include proof of language ability by meeting the equivalent of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5 or higher in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Tests must be taken in person within two years of the PGWP application date. Accepted tests include:
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System
- PTE Core: Pearson Test of English
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For existing students with study permits issued before November 1, 2024, the new field of study requirements do not apply. Eligibility for a PGWP remains based on previous PGWP eligibility criteria including program length, full-time status, and program type. Students must, however, prove their English or French language skills.
Existing students who applied for a study permit extension on or after Nov.1st, to continue studying at Confederation College in their existing academic program, will continue to be PGWP eligible, regardless of whether the field of study program is PGWP eligible or not.
Existing students applying for a study permit extension on or after Nov.1st, to start a new academic program at Confederation College will only be PGWP eligible if their new study program falls under IRCC’s eligible field of study programs. We are awaiting further clarification on this point, from IRCC.
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You have 180 days to apply for a post-graduation work permit after you receive confirmation from Confederation College that you have successfully completed your study program of study.
Your study permit must have been valid at some point during these 180 days.
You must also have:
successfully graduated from a study program that was at least 8 months long, that led to a degree, diploma or certificate; and
maintained full-time status continuously as a student in Confederation College during each semester of your study program (except for your final semester, which can be part-time)
Exceptions to eligibility include you:
already received a post-graduation work permit;
only studied English or French as a second language (if no other program);
you completed the majority of a study program by distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence).
Length of PGWP
The length of a PGWP will depend on the length of your study program. If your program was:
less than 8 months - you are not eligible for a PGWP
more than 8 months but less than 2 years - your PGWP may be valid for up to the same length as your study program (for example, if you completed a 12-month program, a work permit may be issued for up to 12 months)
2 years or more - a PGWP may be issued for up to three (3) years
If you completed more than one program (8 months or longer), you may eligible for a PGWP for up to three years. We are waiting further confirmation from IRCC with regard to the eligibility of two 1+1 programs, especially if one of these programs are not PGWP eligible.