Work Permit
Work visa
Post Graduate Work Permit
Post-graduation Work Permit (PGWP), international students can apply for a post-graduation work permit for 1-3 years after studying in Canada and graduating according to the study time. This is an open work visa. International students can work for any employer or be self-employed.
Applicants who hold a valid study permit will have Implied status after submitting their post-graduation work permit and can start working immediately. As long as the work permit is valid at the time of submission of the post-graduation work permit, then the work permit expires during the trial process and the work permit has not been approved after graduation, you can continue to work.
- Only full-time study to complete a course of study at a designated Canadian public higher education institution (DLI) is eligible for a post-graduation work permit.
- The only exception is that the applicant has only the last study and has to switch to Part-time study due to insufficient course selection. If part-time study is caused by subjective factors (suspension, failure, deliberate insufficient course selection), the visa may be refused.
- Apply after graduation. You need to apply for PGWP within 180 days after graduation.
- When you submit your application, you hold a valid student visa (within 90 days after graduation) so that you are eligible to work in Canada while waiting for the PGWP application decision.
- If the student visa expires or you apply for PGWP 90 days after graduation, you will not be able to work in Canada after submitting the application. You will not be able to work legally until the PGWP is approved.
- Students who submit their application for a study permit before November 1, 2024 and submit their graduation work permit after November 1:
- To apply for a graduation work permit, they need to submit their language scores. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree or above/diploma need to reach CLB7 in English, and graduates of college or other programs need to reach CLB5 in English.
- Students who graduate from such colleges or other programs are not subject to major restrictions.
- For students who submit their study permit on or after November 1, 2024, to apply for a graduation work permit, they need to meet:
- To apply for a graduation work permit, they need to submit their language scores. Graduates with a bachelor’s degree or above/diploma need to reach CLB7 in English, and graduates of college or other programs need to reach CLB5 in English.
- University (University) Graduates with a bachelor’s degree or above/diploma are not affected by their major when applying for a graduation work permit.
- Graduates of college or other study programs must study in a prescribed major in order to apply for a graduation work permit. The prescribed majors are divided into five categories: agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), mechanics (Trade) and Transportation (Transport)
- For those who have studied in Canada for more than 8 months and less than 2 years, the time given by the work permit after graduation is generally the same as the project time studied for 2 years (or more).
- Projects can obtain a 3-year work permit after graduation.
- Completed two or more projects: PGWP that may add up to the same study time to the project (note: All projects need to meet the PGWP application conditions and are all over 8 months; if you have obtained PGWP, you cannot get another one. )
- Master’s degrees of more than 8 months (including less than 2 years) are not limited by the length of the project, that is, you can apply for a 3-year graduation work permit for more than 8 months.
- The school issues a formal graduation letter, or
- An official transcript of the degree or graduation certificate
Did not submit an application within 180 days of graduation
Have previously obtained a PGWP
Studied English or French as a second language
Took general interest or self-improvement courses
Did not meet the requirement for full-time study
Graduated from an institution that is not a designated public post-secondary institution (DLI) recognized by the Government of Canada
LMIA Closed Work Permit
A Closed Work Permit (Closed Work Permit) is a kind of work permit for a specific employer. The holder of a closed work permit can engage in designated work at the designated employer. Generally speaking, all applicants for temporary foreign worker visas are required to apply for a closed work permit. Common closed work permits are LMIA work permits for labor market impact assessment and agricultural pilot work permits.
The applicant must obtain a job offer from a Canadian employer
The Canadian employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval, if applicable
Employer compliance: the employer must be properly registered and meet the requirements set out by the province
The applicant’s education, field of study, language proficiency, work experience, and credentials must meet the requirements of the position
The applicant must meet Canada’s medical examination requirements for immigration and visas
The applicant must have no criminal record
Spouse Open Work Permit
Spousal open work permits are divided into three categories: spouses of study permit holders, spouses of work permit holders, and spouses of in‑Canada permanent residence applicants.
Spousal work permits are open work permits, allowing the holder to work for any employer during the validity period, be self‑employed, choose not to work (while maintaining legal status), or leave Canada and re‑enter using the work permit. In most cases, the duration of the work permit matches the validity of the spouse’s work permit or study permit.
If you hold a study permit and are enrolled in one of the following programs, your spouse may apply for an open work permit:
International students pursuing a master’s or doctoral program in Canada, regardless of field of study
Pilot programs designated by Quebec, or
Students in a university program leading to one of the following professional degrees:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD)
Bachelor or Doctor of Laws (LLB, JD, BCL)
Doctor of Medicine (MD)
Doctor of Optometry (OD)
Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm)
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN)
Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc)
Bachelor of Nursing (BN)
Bachelor of Education (BEd)
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc)
As of March 19, 2024, international students at Canadian colleges (Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology) and those enrolled in postgraduate certificate/diploma programs are no longer eligible for spousal open work permits. However, applications submitted before March 19, or spouses already holding an open work permit who need to extend it, are not affected by the new policy.
If you hold a work permit and fall under one of the following categories, your spouse may apply directly for an open work permit:
- You are employed in a medium- or high‑skilled occupation (NOC TEER categories 0, 1, 2, or 3). Once you have obtained a work permit, your spouse can apply for an open work permit (the principal applicant’s work permit must be valid for at least 6 months).
- You are a work permit holder under the Federal Agri‑Food Pilot Program, obtained with a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and you have also received confirmation of submission of your permanent residence application. In this case, your spouse can apply for an open work permit (the principal applicant’s work permit must be valid for at least 6 months).
- You have received a provincial nomination certificate or a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and hold either a bridging open work permit or a closed work permit supported by the provincial nomination.
- You have submitted a permanent residence application and are applying for a bridging open work permit, while at the same time applying for an open work permit for your spouse.
- If the spouse of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident submits an in‑Canada spousal sponsorship application and maintains legal status, they may apply for an open work permit after submitting the application and receiving the application number.
- Please note: only in‑Canada sponsorship applications qualify for the spousal open work permit. Outland (overseas) sponsorships do not qualify, and applicants who have not submitted a sponsorship application are also not eligible.
Bridging Open Work Permit
A Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP), also known as a transitional open work permit, is one of the options available for prospective immigrants to extend their work authorization while waiting for their permanent residence application to be processed. Since IRCC takes time to review immigration applications, in‑Canada applicants may face the risk of their current work permit expiring during the waiting period. In such cases, applicants can apply for a BOWP to maintain their status as foreign workers in Canada and continue working legally while awaiting a decision.
- The applicant is legally residing in Canada:
- he holds a valid work permit and a valid temporary resident status,
- has submitted an application for the extension of the work permit, and has maintained his status in Canada
- and is eligible to resume his temporary resident status, and is allowed to work with a work permit
- As the main applicant, he has applied for permanent resident status in Canada according to one of the following categories
- Using the fast track Express EntryProjects for applying for immigration
- Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Worker Category (QSWC)
- Nanny Pilot Program or Home Care Pilot Program Category (Home Child-Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot)
- Nursing Child Category or Nursing People with High medical needs
- Agri-Food pilot Project (AFP)
There is no restriction on the place of work, but according to the type of project corresponding to the application, there will be restrictions on the city and province where the work is located. Please consult us for details.
If the BOPP holder is currently engaged in a technical occupation in Canada, his spouse can apply for an open work permit. Dependent children can also accompany the BOPP holder by applying for access to records.
Note: The transitional open work permit allows foreign citizens to work in Canada, but cannot be used as a travel document alone. Foreign citizens must also hold a valid eTA or temporary resident visa in order to return to Canada with an open access work permit.
Foreign citizens must live in Canada to apply for BOWP.
