Work Permit

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a work permit?

  Work visas and employment authorizations are known as work permits in Canada. A work permit is a document issued by officials of the Canadian Government that allows a foreign individual to work at a specific job for a specific employer

• How is an application for a work permit submitted?

  Applications for a work permit may be submitted online. Applicants must have access to a scanner or camera in order to create and upload electronic copies of all required documents and a credit card. Work permits can also be applied for from outside Canada at the Canadian visa office responsible for the country of the applicant's citizenship, or the country to which the applicant has been lawfully admitted.

• How long is the processing time for a work permit?

  Most work permit applications are processed and issued within a matter of days or weeks, depending on whether or not a medical examination is required and the workload at the particular visa office to which the application was submitted.

• How long can a work permit be issued for and can it be extended?

  The length of a work permit depends entirely on the nature of the job in Canada and the work permit category under which the applicant has applied. Work permits can be extended from inside Canada, but some work permits have a maximum duration.

• Is a medical exam required as part of a work permit application?

  A medical examination is always required before commencing work in an occupation in which protection of the public health is essential. Otherwise, depending on the country of residence, an applicant may be required to take a medical exam prior to approval of the work permit if the job offer exceeds six months. For an accompanying spouse to be considered eligible for an open work permit, the study permit holder must be enrolled full-time at a degree-granting post-secondary institution. Eligible post-secondary institutions include:
  
  • public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or CEGEP in Quebec.
  
  • private college-level school in Quebec; and
  
  • Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law.
  
  Learn more about how international students can bring their family to Canada.

• Does the Canadian Government charge fees to obtain a work permit?

  The Canadian government charges $155 CAD per work permit application. Additional fees would be necessary if a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is also required.

• What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP?)

  A PGWP is an open work permit available to international graduates from eligible Canadian educational institutions. It allows the holder to work for any employer anywhere in Canada.

• How long is a PGWP valid?

  The PGWP may be issued for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of the graduate’s program of study in Canada. For example, if the study program was one year in duration, the PGWP will usually be issued for the same length of time (i.e. if a candidate’s study program was 12 months, the PGWP would be valid for 12 months). If, however, study program was two years or more in duration, a PGWP may be issued for up to three years.. The permit cannot be valid for longer than the length of the program of study completed in Canada.

• What is a bridging open work permit?

  If you are awaiting a decision on your Canada Experience Class (CEC) application and your post-graduation work permit is about to expire, you may be able to apply for a bridging open work permit. Bridging open work permits allow qualified applicants whose work permits are about to expire (within four months or less) to keep working while they wait for a final decision on their permanent residence application.

• What is implied status? How does that impact my PGWP application?

  Implied status is when student or worker applies to extend their status before that status expires, so they can stay in Canada until a decision is made on a new permit application. Therefore, students who have completed their program of study can remain in Canada under the same conditions of their study permit while they are waiting for a decision on their PGWP application as long as they were full-time students enrolled at a designated learning institution in a participating post-secondary institution, and they did not exceed the allowable hours of work.

• When must my PGWP application be submitted?

  It is important to apply for a PGWP before a study permit expires. You do not have to wait until you physically receive your diploma or attend your graduation ceremony before you apply. A notification that outlines that you are eligible to receive your degree, diploma or certificate may be sufficient. For example, a transcript or an official letter. It is important to apply within 180 days of receiving a written confirmation that you have completed the requirements of your study program.

• Will I be able to enroll in online courses while abroad in fall 2020 and still be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit after moving to Canada?

  Yes. New international students will be able to begin their programs at a Canadian DLI online in fall 2020 and complete up to 50 per cent of the program while abroad, and then still be able to obtain the PGWP to work in Canada after completing their studies.

• What are the eligibility criteria for a PGWP?

  To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, an international student must:
  
  • be 18 or older;
  
  • have continuously studied full-time in Canada in a study program at least eight months long;
  
  • have a document from your school (transcript, official letter, certificate, etc.) that confirms you completed and passed all your program requirements;
  
  • have graduated from a:
  
  • public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school or university, or CEGEP in Quebec or
  
  • private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools (currently applies only to certain private post-secondary institutions in Quebec) or
  
  • private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP) or
  
  • Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelors, Masters or Doctorate degree) but only if you are enrolled in a study programs leading to a degree as authorized by the province.
  
  • apply for a work permit within 180 days of when it was confirmed that you completed your program; and
  
  • have held a valid study permit at some point during the 180 days before applying.
  
  Special Notice: Canada has made it possible for international students to begin their program at a Canadian school online in fall 2020, and remain eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing their Canadian studies.