Work and Immigrate after Graduation


You can work and immigrate after you complete your graduation from Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.

There are many options available to you after you have completed your study in Canada.

  • You can continue your study in Canada by pursuing a higher degree or another diploma by getting your Study Permit extended from IRCC
  • You can apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit
  • Become a Permanent Resident of Canada under many Federal or Provincial immigration programs without leaving Canada.

Work and immigrate after Graduation

The PGWPP allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Skilled Canadian work  experience in the national occupational code A, O or B that is gained through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian experience class, within Express Entry.

Post-graduation work permits are exempt from Labour Market Impact Assessments. They are considered open Work Permits and coded as C43.

With a post-graduation work permit, as with all open work permits, graduates can work full time

work part time or be self-employed

Applicants must apply for a work permit within 180 days of receiving  as an official letter or transcript from the educational institution indicating that they have met the requirements for completing their program of study.

The applicant may apply for a post-graduation work permit from within Canada if their study permit is still valid. If the applicant’s study permit is no longer valid, and they wish to remain in Canada, they must apply for visitor status before their study permit expires.

Former international students who change their status to visitor status before their study permit expires, while waiting for their notice of graduation from their institution, may also apply for a post-graduation work permit from within Canada.

Foreign nationals who do not apply for a post-graduation work permit, and whose study permit becomes invalid or expires, must either leave Canada or submit an application to change their status in Canada. They may also be subject to Restoration of temporary resident status. Foreign nationals may apply for a post-graduation work permit from overseas.

Length of Post Graduation Work Permit

When determining the length of a post-graduation work permit, IRCC considers several factors such as the duration of the program of study in Canada and confirm it with supporting documents.

The validity period of the post-graduation work permit may not go beyond the applicant’s passport validity date. Post-graduation work permits can be extended only when the length of the permit could not be provided at the time of the application, due to the expiry date of the applicant’s passport.

The length of the work permit should coincide with the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI in the written confirmation of program completion (such as an official letter of completion or transcript).

Work and Immigrate after Graduation-Your options

You can Immigrate to Canada after having worked on post graduate work permit. You have so many options available to become a permanent resident of Canada

You can explore all of your options available on our website. We can help you to determine your eligibility. Simply use our free Online assessment tool to determine your eligibility for Canada immigration. We would get back to you with your detailed Eligibility Assessment.

You can choose from the following programs that suits best for you:

Canada Experience Class (CEC)

  1. Language Skills: You have strong English or French skills (CLB 7 if your NOC is 0 or A or CLB 5 if your NOC is B)
  2. Work Experience: 12 months (either combination of full-time or part-time work) in NOC 0, A or B
  3. Job offer:  Not required, but you can get points for having a valid offer
  4. Education: Not required, but you can get extra points for your Canadian education

Federal Skilled Worker Program

  1. Language Skills: You have strong English or French skills (CLB 7)
  2. Work Experience: 12 months (either combination of full-time or part-time work) in NOC 0, A or B
  3. Job offer:  Not required, but you can get points for having a valid offer
  4. Education: Secondary education is required. You can get more points for your post-secondary education

Federal Skilled Trade Program

  1. Language Skills: You have strong English or French skills (CLB 5 for speaking and listening
  2. CLB 4 for reading and writing)
  3. Work Experience: 2 years of experience in a skilled trade under key groups of NOC B in the last 5 years
  4. Job offer:  Required: an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or
  5. a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian authority
  6. Education: Not required, but you can get extra points for your Canadian education

Provincial Nominee Program

  1. Language Skills: You have strong English or French skills. Levels vary by province
  2. Work Experience: 12 months (either combination of full-time or part-time work) in NOC 0, A or B
  3. Job offer:  It depends on the province
  4. Education: It depends on the province

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

  1. Language Skills: You have strong English or French skills (CLB 4)
  2. Work Experience: Not required
  3. Job offer:  Required. Job offer must  be NOC skill type/level 0, A, B, or C and should last at least one year from the date permanent residence is granted and must be from an employer in Atlantic Canada
  4. Education: You must have graduated from a publicly funded post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada. Program must have been at least 2 years.

Please contact us if you want to work in Canada on a post-graduate work permit or you want to immigrate to Canada.