Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Applications in Canada

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is one of the most important pathways for international students in Canada. It allows graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience and often serves as a stepping stone to permanent residence.

While many students qualify without difficulty, those with part-time semesters, study gaps, medical or family leaves, or prior refusals face additional scrutiny. In these cases, a strong application — backed by documentation, legal precedent, and clear explanations — is essential.

PGWP Eligibility Basics

To qualify for a PGWP, you must:

• Graduate from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
• Complete a program of at least eight months in length.
• Have maintained full-time student status in each semester, with one key exception: IRCC permits part-time study in the final semester if you only needed fewer courses to finish.
• Apply within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of program completion (e.g., transcript or completion letter).

IRCC confirms:

“Students are allowed to study part time in their final academic session if a full-time course load is not required to complete their program of study.” (IRCC – PGWP eligibility)

Common Challenges and How to Address Them

1. Part-Time Enrollment

• Final Semester Only: Allowed if you were full-time in all previous terms and your reduced course load was only because you had fewer courses left to graduate.
• Earlier Semesters: More complicated. If you were part-time due to illness, financial crisis, or family emergency, you’ll need supporting documents (doctor’s note, affidavit, financial records). Courts (Drakes 2021; Munyanyi 2021; Sharma 2022) have confirmed that IRCC must weigh such evidence fairly.

2. Authorized Leaves and Gaps

• Medical or Family Leave: Strongly supported when you can show institutional acknowledgment and physician/family records.
• Short Gaps (<150 days): Generally acceptable if you remained enrolled and resumed promptly.
• Longer Gaps (>150 days): Riskier, but officers must still consider “equitable factors” like severe illness or currency restrictions (Munyanyi).

3. Application Timing (90–180 Day Rules)

• Apply within 180 days of program completion.
• If your study permit expired, you can restore status within 90 days (IRPR s.182).
• If you applied for an extension before expiry, you remain covered by implied status (Kaur 2020).
• Courts have urged IRCC to use fairness where a delay was minor but the applicant otherwise met requirements.

4. Clerical and Administrative Issues

Technical errors are surprisingly common:

• Missed $100 open permit fee.
• Outdated IRCC form used.
• Transcript uploaded late due to portal glitches.
• Blank electronic signature.

Federal Court decisions (Kaur 2020; Sharma 2022) stress that corrected errors should not defeat eligibility. Always document corrections (receipts, re-submissions, emails).

5. Program or Institutional Issues

• DLI Status Changes: If your school temporarily lost DLI status but regained it before you graduated, you may still qualify.
• Multiple Short Programs: Two consecutive programs (each at least 8 months) can be combined to meet the eligibility requirement.
• Online Learning: During COVID, IRCC waived the 50% in-person rule. Many online-heavy programs from 2020–2021 remain eligible.