Download the Student Handout information sheet for Post-Graduation Work Permits here.

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)

Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP) information is found here.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience. You will find links at the webpage above to learn more about:

  • Validity and application;
  • Eligibility requirements;
  • Eligible programs and institutions;
  • Applicants and travel.

Important

  • You can only apply for a PGWP once in your lifetime.
  • You cannot extend a PGWP unless your passport expires and you need to extend the PGWP to reflect the duration that you are eligible for.
  • 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 medical exam if you will work with children or in a health services setting. More information can be found here.
  • Health Insurance – continue your health insurance coverage via Guard.me @ https://www.guard.me/algonquin and choose Grad Students or search for health insurance providers using Google or another browser.
  • See how your spouse can apply for an open work permit once you have your PGWP here.
  • The date of completion of your academic program is NOT the same as the date of convocation (your graduation ceremony). 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.

As of January 10th, 2022
When applying for a PGWP students MUST include documentation from their DLI if the student took authorized leave. The documentation must reflect that the authorized leave was approved by the DLI. If you take authorized leave, it is your responsibility to keep email communication with your program coordinator or academic department confirming that the leave is authorized as you must include it. The IEC recommends that you include your own letter of explanation (if applicable), with your PGWP application. It is recommended that you use your Aclive email when communicating by email with your academic department about authorized leave. More about the documentation required to support authorized leave when applying for your PGWP is found here.

Can I work after I complete my studies? (Work up to 20 hours/week)

You can work up to 20 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.

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 than 20 hours a week during academic sessions.

The information above is found here.

What you will need from Algonquin College to support your PGWP application:

  • Confirmation of graduated status (found on your ACSIS account under View Application Status).
  • Letter of completion – 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. This will avoid the officer from assuming there is only one letter and provide the PGWP based on only one of the two programs. If you do not know how to combine two PDFs into one, you can use Google to search for how to combine the two documents.
  • If you are graduating from a Diploma program offered in a compressed format, you will need a customized letter to support a three-year PGWP. Request the letter here.
  • Unofficial transcripts/grades

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.

When should I apply for the PGWP?

Within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of graduated status.

Apply within Canada – May apply from within Canada if you have a valid status (student or visitor). If you want to remain in Canada and the 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 you complete your studies, 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.

Learn how to apply for the PGWP outside of Canada here.

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)