Students who successfully complete a program of study at Fleming College may be able to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP may be issued for the length of studies (minimum of eight months up to a maximum of three years), and allows students to gain valuable Canadian work experience in any province and in any type of work. Two one-year programs are eligible for a two-year up to a three-year work permit.

Read about eligibility requirements here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/eligibility.html

 IMPORTANT!

• Apply within 180 days from the date of notification of completion. Your study permit must have been valid at some point during the 180 days.
• Check your status: If your study permit is expiring before you apply and you intend to stay in Canada, you should change your status to ‘visitor’. Even if your study permit is valid for longer, you only have up to 90 days after the date of notification of completion to change your status.
• If you leave Canada after graduation, use an application for a work permit made outside of Canada (IMM 1295). You will need a valid Temporary Resident Visa to re-enter Canada, not just the work permit.

How to apply for a PGWP

1. Apply for your PGWP from within Canada

If you submit your PGWP application while holding a valid study permit with remarks authorizing you to work, you may be able to work full-time during the processing time of your PGWP. For more information please visit this webpage: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/after-you-apply.html 

Instruction Guide (applying within Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5580-applying-work-permit-student-guide.html

2. Apply for your PGWP from outside of Canada

If you decide to submit an outside of Canada application, you CANNOT in Canada until you obtain your new PGWP.

Instruction Guide (applying outside Canada): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5487-applying-work-permit-outside-canada.html

How to Apply

You will require a Program Completion Letter (page 2 of the Confirmation of Enrolment report available in your Student Centre about up to 6 weeks after all grades are submitted) and a Transcript (official or unofficial) before you can apply. On this date you are a graduate and must stop working off-campus 24 hours per week until you apply for the PGWP. If your study permit is valid when you apply and you have off-campus work conditions, you may start full-time work as soon as you have submitted your PGWP application.

1. Create a Government of Canada account: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html – log in and select “Start an Application/Apply to Come to Canada/Work Permit”
2. Complete the Eligibility Questionnaire which will lead to an application centre and form to complete
3. Upload the Required Documents (see the Document Checklist here): https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/ircc/migration/ircc/english/pdf/kits/forms/imm5583e.pdf
4. Pay and submit

Required Supporting Documents

• Program Completion Letter
• Official or Unofficial Transcript
• Proof of language proficiency

NOTE: Program Completion letters are only issued if your tuition payment has been made and no outstanding fees are due.

Proof of Language Proficiency 

Proof of language proficiency is now required for all applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024.

You must demonstrate your skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence lingquistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas:

• reading
• writing
• listening
• speaking

Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application. We accept language test results from these tests:

 

Application Tutorials

The following links are from the Post-graduation Work Permit hands-on session and are easy to follow.

1. Part I: Completing the eligibility questionnaire and documentation

https://youtu.be/FPiRg25jGUM

2. PGWP – Part II – Document Checklist

https://youtu.be/3IO8lsQ_6Wk

3. PGWP – Part III – Completing the Form

https://youtu.be/hBH5vMpxeV0

Immigration Medicals: a medical examination with a panel physician may be required if you need a work permit to work in certain designated occupations such as hospital staff, laboratory workers, childcare, agricultural occupations, etc. Students are advised to refer to and follow the specific IRCC instructions for completing an immigration medical. Failure to do so may result in processing delays.

Working after you apply: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/after-you-apply.html

More questions? Contact international@flemingcollege.ca

 

The Government of Canada can change rules, regulations, policies, and eligibility requirements at any time. The contents of this webpage were based on policies and legislation of the drafting date. Students are responsible for ensuring that they are in compliance with all Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regulations at all times during their studies and while in Canada. Fleming College staff are not authorized to provide advice or guidance on immigration-related matters, other than our International Student Advisors. Applicants and students should consult the IRCC website at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html  or contact the IRCC Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100 to confirm or clarify immigration-related information and requirements.