If you are a returning international student and you wish to book an appointment with an International Student Advisor regarding immigration matters, etc. please use our appointment booking link to book a virtual meeting or face-to-face meeting.

Most Up-to-Date Information

For the most up-to-date information about Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), please refer to the IRCC website at: canada.ca/immigration or call them at 1-888-242-2100.

It is the international student’s responsibility to know the rules and regulations that apply. See the conditions of a study permit holder here.

Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP)

International students who graduate from a designated learning institution (DLI)  and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work may be eligible to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). The A Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit that allows international graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Am I Eligible To Apply for a PGWP?

As of November 1, 2024, PGWP requirements for Algonquin College graduates include: 

Important

  • You can only apply for a PGWP once in your lifetime. To be eligible, you have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply.
  • Check when your passport expires, as you will not be issued a PGWP beyond your passport expiration date. You cannot extend a PGWP unless your passport expires.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a valid status in Canada when you apply for the PGWP. Otherwise, you can apply after you leave Canada – within 180 days of receiving your graduation.
  • You may need a if you will work with children or in a health services setting. More information can be found here.
  • See how your spouse can apply for an open work permit once you have your PGWP here.
  • Do NOT wait until convocation to apply for your PGWP, as convocation may occur more than 180 days after you have completed the requirements for your program. Once you have received your graduated status in ACSIS, download your letter of completion and final transcript to apply for your PGWP.
  • Visit our Graduating International Students webpage for information on extending health insurance, convocation, and more.

As of November 1, 2024

If you are applying for a new study permit on or after November 1, 2024, you are required to complete a program meeting the Field of Study Requirement in order to be eligible for a PGWP.

Visit Algonquin College’s PGWP eligible program page for more details.

When Can I Apply?

You can apply for PGWP after receiving your graduated status (found on your ACSIS account under View Application Status). You have 180 days to apply for your PGWP after receiving graduated status.

The graduated status will be updated on your ACSIS account. It is your responsibility to check in ACSIS for this update. We recommend checking on a regular basis, as you must stop working for the period between receiving graduated status and submitting your PGWP application.

Check the grad status timelines through the RO. To ensure that you apply for your PGWP with a valid status, we recommend that you extend your study permit, if necessary.

What do I need from Algonquin College to support my PGWP application?

Once you have received graduated status (found on your ACSIS account under View Application Status), please obtain the following documents from within ACSIS to support your PGWP application.

  • Letter of completion (under Print Letter) – accessible only after you receive confirmation of graduated status. If you have completed more than one program (ex. two one-year programs), you can combine your two letters of completion into one PDF document. The IEC recommends that you include a letter of explanation along with the two letters of completion to alert the officer that there are two letters of completion.
  • Transcript (under View Program Progression/ Transcripts)
  • Transcript authentication letter (under Print Letter)
  • Merge your Transcript and Transcript Authentication Letter into one PDF
  • If you are graduating from a Diploma program offered in a compressed format, you may need a customized letter to support a three-year PGWP. Please review your letter of completion on ACSIS to ensure the full length of your program is reflected in the letter. It is your responsibility to ensure all information on your letter of completion is accurate prior to uploading it to your application. Request the letter using the Ask The RO Help Ticket System if a customised letter is required.
  • If you had an unscheduled break/authorized leave, include confirmation from your academic department within your application.

Learn about the process of getting the graduated status confirmed by the College here.

Receiving graduated status can take several weeks (or longer). It is recommended that you extend your study permit (if needed) to allow for this time in order to receive your graduate status. Learn more about extending your study permit here.

Can I work after I complete my studies? (Work up to 24 hours/week)

You can work up to 24 hours per week (if you are eligible) after you complete your final program requirements and until you receive confirmation of graduated status in your ACSIS account. Details are found here.

Once you receive graduated status, you must stop working until your PGWP application has been submitted. Please check eligibility to work after PGWP application submission below.

Can I work after I submit the PGWP application? (Work full-time)

You can work full-time while waiting for a decision on your post-graduation work permit application if, at the time you submitted your application, you:

  • Had a valid study permit,
  • Had completed your program of study,
  • Were eligible to work off-campus without a permit, and
  • Did not work off-campus more hours than you were allowed to during academic sessions.

The information above is found here.

You can prove to your employer that you can work full-time after submitting your PGWP application using documents suggested by IRCC.

When should I apply for the PGWP?

Within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of graduated status.

Applying within Canada – You may apply from within Canada if you have a valid status (student or visitor). If you want to remain in Canada and your study permit expires, you must apply for visitor status BEFORE the study permit expires. The study permit will expire on the date marked on the permit or 90 days after the day your graduated status is confirmed, whichever comes first. See more about this here.

If the PGWP application is submitted while you have a study permit extension application in the process (maintaining status) and the current study permit is expired, you cannot work until the PGWP is approved. Details are found here.

Applying outside of Canada – You may apply from outside Canada if you held a valid study permit for the duration of studies. Learn how to apply for the PGWP outside of Canada here.

I studied part-time during a scheduled break. Does this impact my PGWP eligibility?

Students are eligible to complete full-time or part-time studies during a scheduled break, as long as they study full-time before and after the break. If you studied part-time during a scheduled break, include a letter of explanation with your PGWP application to clarify this.

I studied online during my program. Does this impact my PGWP eligibility?

To be eligible for a PGWP, more than 50% of your program of study must be completed in-person. Any time spent studying outside of Canada after September 1, 2024 will be deducted off the length of your PGWP.

International Education Centre (IEC)

The IEC is located in room C021. Our on-campus services are by appointment only. Current international students can use our appointment booking link to book a virtual meeting or face-to-face meeting with an International Student Advisor. You may also wish to visit our events calendar to register for upcoming immigration workshops and more.

Work Hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 pm (excluding holidays – unless otherwise specified)