Apply Online for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an official document issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and allows you to remain in Canada and work full-time after you complete a certificate, diploma, or degree program that is at least 8 months in length.

For students who are interested in applying for permanent residency (PR) in Canada, the PGWP provides an opportunity to gain skilled work experience in Canada and can help you meet the requirements for various permanent residency pathways.

Important Note: You can only apply for the PGWP once in your lifetime.

To be eligible to apply for a PGWP, you must have:

• Completed a program of study at least 8 months in length, that led to a degree, diploma or certificate
  
• Maintained full-time student status (at least 3 courses or 9 credits) during each regularly scheduled semesters (except in your final semester)
  
• A valid passport
  • IRCC will only issue a PGWP that is valid until your passport expires, so make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time of your PGWP validity to ensure you get the full length you were eligible for.
  • *If your passport will expire before the validity period of the PGWP and you didn't get the full length you were eligible for, you may be eligible to apply for an “extension” with your new passport.
    
• A valid study permit at some point within 180 days post-completion. IRPR Section 222 (1) states; "a study permit becomes invalid either 90 days after the permit holder completes their studies OR on the day the permit expires, whichever comes first.") This means that if you complete your study program in April 2023 but your permit expires in December 2023, your permit will become invalid in July 2023 because the 90 day period comes before the actual written expiry date on your permit.)
  
• Not previously received a PGWP
  
• Be over the age of 18 at the time of application

In addition to the requirements listed above, applicants must also:

A) Apply within 90 days after final grades are posted (undergraduate students) or after receiving decanal approval (graduate students) and have a valid study permit at the time of application OR

B) Apply within 180 days after final grades are posted (undergraduate students) or after receiving decanal approval (graduate students) and have valid status at the time of their application (i.e. applied to extend their temporary resident status before the expiry of the study permit) or have applied from outside Canada.

Your International Student Advisors strongly recommend applying for the PGWP using option (A) to eliminate potential for losing work opportunities. If you are unsure how to proceed, contact your International Student Advisors.

Applying online through the IRCC Secure Account allows you to track your application and receive regular updates regarding the approval process of the application. You will complete a questionnaire and generate a "document checklist" that lists the required documents you need to upload and submit with your application.

• Apply online from inside Canada: Applicants who are inside Canada will need to complete the questionnaire indicating that their current country of residence is "Canada".
  ​
• Apply from outside of Canada: If you have returned home for personal or other reasons, you may certainly submit either an online application or paper application to a Visa Application Centre (VAC).
  • When completing the questionnaire in your IRCC Secure Account, you will simply indicate your current country of residence to trigger the correct application form (IMM 1295: Work Permit from outside Canada).
  • If you are submitting your PGWP application from outside Canada, we recommend that you consult with an International Student Advisor before proceeding with this option and/or submitting the application.

Most PGWP applicants applying through the IRCC Secure Account will be required to submit the following form(s) and supporting documents:

IMM 5710e: Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay, or Remain in Canada as a Worker

• The application form can be downloaded from your document checklist once you have completed the questionnaire in your IRCC Secure Account.

Letter of Completion

• This letter is provided to you by the International Centre. When final grades are posted on the Bridge (undergraduate students) or decanal approval is received (graduate students), complete the completion letter request form on our website: Request for PGWP Completion Letter

Official Transcripts with Final Grades

• Official transcripts can be requested by visiting the Registrar’s Office (SU140) or requested through the Bridge & then downloaded from MyCreds.
• If you are requesting your transcripts before final grades are posted, when requesting them in your Bridge account, select “hold for grades” so that your final grades for the current term are on your transcript.
• Note: If you have an outstanding balance owing and a Cash Hold on your account, please contact your International Student Advisors.

Proof of Language Ability (If you are applying for the PGWP on or after November 1, 2024)

• Include proof of language ability demonstrating your skill in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
• IRCC accepts English test results from the CELPIP - General test, IELTS General Training test, or PTE Core.
• A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 is required for university graduates.
• Note: Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.

A scan or clear photos of your passport

• This should include the biodata page, as well as any other pages with markings, stamps or visas.
• If you have recently received a new passport, include both your new passport (first) and your old passport, both clearly labelled.
• Note: All pages/photos will need to be compiled and saved as one PDF document.

Digital photo

• Colour photo and must show full front view of head, face in the middle and include the top of the shoulders against a white backdrop.
• Note: This photo does not need to be an official passport photo. IRCC has some examples of acceptable photos.

Medical exam (if required)

• This is required if you will be working in certain jobs
• Note: IRCC has a temporary public policy in place until October 5, 2029, allowing some students to use a previous medical exam in their PGWP application as long as the medical was completed in the past 5 years. Learn more here. 

Optional Documents:

• Client Information
  • Use this space to upload a letter of explanation if your situation is unusual
  • You can also use this space to upload additional information/documentation to help the processing officer understand your application better. 
     
• Schedule 1: Application for Temporary Residence (IMM5257b)
  • This document is required with your application only if you have answered "Yes" to any of the Background Information questions 3 through 6 on the IMM5710 form.
  • Please contact the International Student Advisor for guidance.

Work eligibility before PGWP application is submitted:

If you have completed your program requirements, you may continue working part time, up to 24 hours a week off-campus, until you receive the Confirmation of Completion Letter.

• Undergraduate students must stop working once your Confirmation of Completion Letter is issued from the International Office.
• Graduate students must stop working once they receive decanal approval from School of Graduate Studies.

To be eligible to work after you have completed your program requirements, all of the following must be true:

• You were allowed to work off-campus according to your study permit and you were a full-time student in each term of your program (with the possible exception of your final term)
• You have completed the academic requirements for your program
• You have not yet applied for a work permit, nor have you applied for a study permit extension, nor enrolled in a new program of study
• You have submitted your request for a Confirmation of Completion Letter 
   

Work eligibility after PGWP application is submitted: 

• To be eligible to work full-time while waiting for a decision on your PGWP application, at the time you submit the application, all of the following must be true: 
   
  • You must have a valid study permit 
  • You have completed your program of study and will apply within 90 days of program completion
  • You were eligible to work off campus while you studied 
  • You did not work more hours than you were allowed during your studies

To start the application process, you'll need create an IRCC Secure Account, if you don't already have one. You'll have the option to create either a GC Key or Sign-in Partner - we recommend creating a GCKey.

• If you are creating an account, click the "Register" button at the bottom of the page and enter a username, password, and some security questions.
  • Tip: Make note of your security questions and answers so that you'll be able to access your account if you forget your password.
• Once logged in to your IRCC Secure Account, scroll down to where you see “Start an application” near the bottom of the page, click “Apply to come to Canada”
   
• Under “I do not have a Personal Reference Code”, click “Visitor, study and/or work permit”
   
• Begin the questionnaire, indicating that you would like to work in Canada. Make sure you indicate your current country of residence is "Canada".
  • Note: If you are applying for the PGWP from outside Canada, make sure you indicate your country of residence is the country you are applying from. 
     
• After completing the questionnaire it should indicate that you are eligible to apply for an Open Work Permit (outside Canada). Select that option and click "Continue" until you arrive at your document checklist.

In the document checklist, click on “Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker (IMM5710)” to download the latest version of the application form.

• If when trying to download the form you see a "Please Wait..." message on a white page, click the download button in your browser and save the form to your computer as PDF document. If you do not have Adobe Reader, follow the instructions on the "Please Wait..." page to download it. Use Adobe Reader to open the downloaded application form from the saved location.

Here are some important tips for completing the IMM 5710 application form:

• Use IRCC's step by step instructions to help you complete the form.
   
• UCI stands for “Unique Client Identifier” and is also known as Client ID. It is an eight or ten-digit number found on your study permit. On the application form, enter your UCI number without spaces or dashes. 
   
• PGWP applicants should check the box "Apply for a work permit for the first time or with a new employer".
   
• Personal details:
  • Select “Student” as your current status in Canada.
  • Enter the “from” date as your study permit issue date and enter the “to” date as your study permit expiry date. You will find both dates on your study permit. 
     
• Language: A language test from a designated testing agency is not required for this application.
   
• National Identification Card: Has your country of citizenship issued you an identification card? Select Yes or No.
  • Note: A national ID is not the same as your passport or driver's licence. 
     
• Coming into Canada:
  • #1: Enter the date of your first entry into Canada and the port of entry you entered through.
     
  • #3: Have you left Canada for a visit home or taken a trip elsewhere while you were studying? Enter the date of your most recent entry into Canada and the port of entry you entered through.
    Note: You only need to answer #3 if your most recent entry to Canada is different than your original entry.
     
  • #4: The document number of your study permit beings with “F” and typically can be found on the upper right-hand corner of your study permit.
     
• Details of intended work in Canada: Select "Post-Graduation Work Permit" from the drop down menu.
  • Note: For PGWP applicants, no information is required for questions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7. 
     
• Education: Complete this section by including details of your recently completed post-secondary program at uLethbridge. 
   
• Employment: For PGWP applicants, a full 10-year employment history is not required. **However, information in #1 "Current Activity/Occupation" is required in order to validate the form.**
  • Enter “Student” as your current activity, the University of Lethbridge’s as your employer, and include details of when you started and stopped studying in this section.
     
• Signature: an electronic signature will occur prior to payment so no physical signature is necessary for IMM 5710. DO NOT print and scan this form.
   
• Validate & Upload: When you have completed the application form, click the blue “Validate” button at the end of the form. If you have made mistakes or missed any fields, these sections will be highlighted red and you will need to complete these areas prior to attempting to validate again. Once you have successfully validated, a page of black bar codes will be generated as the final page of the document. Save the validated form on your computer and then upload this form in the IRCC account.

Upload your documents into the corresponding field in the document checklist:

• IMM 5710e - Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay, or Remain in Canada as a Worker
  • Make sure that the information entered on this application form is up-to-date and that you have validated the form. 
     
• Letter of Completion
  • This letter is provided to you by the International Centre. 
     
• Official Transcripts with Final Grades
  • For Undergraduate students - Make sure that your final grades are on your transcripts.  
  • For Graduate students - Make sure your thesis grade was rolled over as “P” instead of “X”.
     
• Proof of Language Ability (If you are applying for the PGWP on or after November 1, 2024)
  • IRCC accepts language test results from the CELPIP - General test, IELTS General Training test, or PTE Core for English.
  • Note: Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.
     
• A scan or clear photos of your passport
  • This should include the biodata page, as well as any other pages with markings, stamps or visas.
  • If you have recently received a new passport, include both your new passport (first) and your old passport, both clearly labelled.
  • Note: All pages/photos will need to be compiled and saved as one PDF document. 
     
• Digital Photo
  • ​Ensure your photo meets the IRCC temporary resident photo specifications. 
     
• Medical Exam​
  • Upload a copy of your eMedical print out that the Immigration Medical Exam doctor provided. 
     

Optional Documents:

• Client Information
  • Use this space to upload a letter of explanation if your situation is unusual
  • You can also use this space to upload additional information/documentation to help the processing officer understand your application better. 
     
• Schedule 1: Application for Temporary Residence (IMM5257b)
  • This document is required with your application only if you have answered "Yes" to any of the Background Information questions 3 through 6 on the IMM5710 form.
  • Please contact the International Student Advisor for guidance.

After uploading the completed application form(s) and all supporting documents, you will click “Continue” at the bottom of the page. On the next page you will provide your electronic signature by typing in your full name as it appears on your passport.

• The fee for the PGWP is $155 CAD as well as an additional $100 Open Work Permit Holder fee for a total of $255 CAD. Payment will be made by credit card.
   
• Take screenshots of any confirmation numbers regarding payment and application submission. If you need to leave the application and return at a later time, your application will be saved in your GCKey account for 60 days from the time that you first complete the questionnaire to create the application.
   
• You will be able to follow the processing of your application via your IRCC Secure Account. If IRCC requests any additional documents for your application, you will upload and submit them them via your online GCKey account. You must provide any documents requested by the deadline given by IRCC, or your application will be refused. If your email has a strong junk mail filter, consider logging in to your GCKey account at least once a week to check for messages.

If your Post-Graduation Work Permit application is approved, IRCC will notify you with a message in your IRCC Secure Account. They will mail your physical work permit to the mailing address you entered on your IMM5710.

• Check PGWP processing times: Select "Temporary residence" > Work permit extension
  
• If your application was made prior to the expiry of your study permit (either 90 days after program completion or before the expiration date), you may begin to work full-time if you meet all eligibility requirements.
  
• Once you receive your PGWP, you should:
  • Extend your Alberta Health Care at a registry office
  • Extend your Social Insurance Number at a Service Canada location or online.
  • Apply for a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) if necessary

Remember that your International Student Advisors are here to support you through this process of applying for the PGWP and for your eventual TRV application. Even if you have completed your program and graduated, we are still available to support these applications.