A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows graduates to stay and work in Canada after finishing their education. The length of PGWP is determined by the duration of the program they studied. That is, if students finished a one-year course at a DLI institute, they are eligible for a one-year PGWP, whereas students who completed a two-year or longer degree can stay in Canada for up to three years.
Unfortunately, the Canadian government does not extend or renew this type of work permit. However, there are several possibilities that allow PGWP holders to stay in Canada temporarily or permanently.
PGWP holders have several options available for staying in Canada once their PGWP expires, depending on your goals and personal circumstances.
Express Entry
Express Entry is a method for managing immigration applications for three federal programs: The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program are all federally funded programmes (FSTP).
To immigrate through Express Entry, applicants must be eligible for one of the three programs. Following that, they are placed in a pool of candidates who are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This is determined by characteristics such as age, education, work experience, and English or French language fluency.
Candidates can apply for immigration only after receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Provincial Nominee Program
Provincial Nominee Programs are separate pathways managed by individual provinces to invite eligible immigration candidates to meet their specific labour market demand. PNPs do not require candidates to have any prior experience in the province or a job offer, though both are beneficial. There are two broad categories of PNPs: Enhanced & Base.
Enhanced PNPs invite candidates to apply for a provincial nomination from the Express Entry pool. Such Express Entry candidates get an automatic 600 points toward their overall CRS score. This enhances their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply in the next federal draw for permanent residence in Canada.
Those who do not qualify for Express Entry may still be able to immigrate to Canada through a base PNP. These programs allow them to apply for a provincial nomination directly to the province, which then supports their application for permanent residence to the federal government.
Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Immigration Program helps recent graduates of Atlantic post-secondary institutions in obtaining permanent residency. Through this, PGWP holders can stay in Canada after their permission expires.
Candidates applying through AIP must have completed a two-year qualifying program. Graduates must also have an employment offer in one of the following provinces: New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador. The employment offer could be of skill type A, B, C, or 0.
This program has the advantage of not requiring qualifying overseas graduates to have a certain amount of job experience. PGWP holders can apply even if they haven’t started working yet. PGWP holders who haven’t earned enough job experience to apply through other programs before their permit expires may find this useful.
On December 31, 2021, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program came to an end. On March 6, 2022, it will be replaced by the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
Candidates graduating from a publicly financed post-secondary institution in one of eleven rural locations across Canada are eligible to apply under the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot if you (RNIP).
Candidates for the pilot program must have earned a master’s degree or a two-year post-secondary program and have spent a minimum amount of time in the community. Each rural town has its own set of eligibility requirements for those interested in applying to their program.
Work Permit
Employers need to go through the time-consuming and expensive procedure of getting a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to obtain most work permits.
The government also offers other ways to apply for a work permit that do not require an LMIA. The International Mobility Program (IMP) in Canada allows Canadian firms to hire temporary foreign workers without first completing a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Their job must provide broader economic, cultural, or other competitive advantages for Canada, as well as reciprocal benefits experienced by Canadians and permanent residents, to qualify for an LMIA-exempt work permit.
Candidates may be eligible for a bridging open work permit if they are eligible to apply for permanent residency before their PGWP expires. Through this permit, they can work in Canada while waiting for the finalization of their permanent residency application.
Enroll in a post-secondary program
Enrolling in a new post-secondary program in Canada allows candidates to work up to 20 hours per week while remaining in the country. Applicants who have qualified for Express Entry but have yet to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) can stay in Canada while waiting.
It’s vital to remember that candidates cannot work in Canada if they don’t have a valid work permit or maintained status. To stay in Canada, they must have a valid status.
Thus, these methods can help graduates stay in Canada even after their PGWP expires. Since the FSW draws are currently on halt, opting for other immigration options or applying for work permit can help foreign national remain temporarily or permanently in Canada. The gained experience while working on PGWP can also benefit them in getting a Permanent Residence in Canada.
