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Staying in Canada

ճ  provides graduating international students with the opportunity to pursue Canadian work experience after completing an eligible post-secondary program. 

Most international students who graduate from AVֲ are eligible to apply for a PGWP if they meet . The PGWP has a validity period of up to 3 years — the length of the PGWP given depends on the length of your program of study. Please refer to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for more information on .

Important information 

PGWPs are issued only once in a lifetime. If you have plans to pursue further studies in Canada, you may wish to consult an international student advisor to discuss when to apply.

Application requirements

For PGWP applications from within Canada

  • You must apply within 90 days of receiving confirmation of degree completion (e.g. a letter from the Registrar’s Office for undergraduate students, or a letter from the Faculty of Graduate Studies for graduate students).

  • Submit your PGWP application while your study permit is still valid. If your study permit is due to expire before the end of the 90-day PGWP application window, be sure to submit your PGWP application before your study permit expires.

For PGWP applications from outside Canada

  • Apply within 180 days of receiving confirmation of degree completion (e.g. a letter from the Registrar’s Office for undergraduate students, or a letter from Faculty of Graduate Studies for graduate students). Failure to do so will result in the loss of your PGWP eligibility until you complete another qualifying program.

  • If you miss the PGWP application period, or if you have questions about the PGWP application process, please consult with an International Centre immigration advisor.

Language proficiency

You must provide proof of English OR French proficiency in your PGWP application.

  • For students graduating from university programs, the minimum requirement for English proficiency is set at Level 7 according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) standards.

  • The minimum requirement for French proficiency is set at Level 7 according to the Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).

  • Test scores must be less than two years old.

Approved English proficiency tests are: IELTS, CELPIP, and the PTE Core. Visit the  on the IRCC website for more information.

How to apply

If you are a new user, you need to register  .

You will be asked to enter a personal reference code. If you do not already have a code, go to the section, "I do not have a personal reference code" and click on “Visitor visa, study and/or work permit.”  Answer all the questions that follow.

For assistance, please use the Post-Graduate Work Permit Eligibility Questionnaire Guide. [PDF-365KB] 

1. Complete the . Validate and save the form as an unsigned copy. For assistance, please review the Guide to complete the IMM 5710 form. [PDF-294KB]

2. Gather the following supporting documents:

  • Digital photo (420x540 pixels)

  • Passport (pages with stamps, visas, photos only). Make sure your passport is valid for the length of the PGWP.

  • Program completion letter: Undergraduate students can request a Program Completion Letter from the AVֲ Registrar’s Office. Graduate students can request a Program Completion Letter from the Faculty of Graduate Studies (go to “Forms & Documents” and select “Degree Requirements Met Request Form”).

  • Official language proficiency test result: See information about approved language tests above. Due to IRCC system limitations, the document checklist won’t ask you to provide language test results. You must upload your language test results in the “Client information” section.

3. Once you have all the documents ready, save them electronically. The documents must be less than 4MB each, and can be saved as pdfs, jpegs, or Word documents.

4. Upload the IMM 5710 form and supporting documents in your online account.

5. Visit the  on the IRCC website to make sure you are completing your application correctly.

Pay the $255 CAD fee online with a credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express). Remember to print a receipt.

Save or print your confirmation of successful transmission for your records. After you submit your application, IRCC may contact you for additional documents. If you are contacted, make an appointment with an international student advisor to ensure you respond accurately and punctually to the IRCC request. 

Immigration support for former international students

The International Centre provides immigration advising support to current international students at AVֲ and King’s. Once you have completed your program, our services are limited to:

  • Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications

  • Temporary resident visa (TRV) applications (for those who have received a PGWP)

For all other immigration matters, such as permanent residency pathways or work permit extensions beyond the PGWP, we encourage graduated students to consult a licensed immigration professional or .

Work eligibility after completing your studies

After completing your studies, you may continue working under the conditions of your study permit until one of the following occurs:

  1. Your final marks are released and posted in Dal Online, OR

  2. The university confirms you have met all degree requirements (e.g. program completion letter).

Once one of these things happen, you must stop working immediately and apply for a PGWP if you wish to continue working in Canada, provided you meet all  .

Work eligibility while waiting for PGWP application status

For PGWP applications from within Canada

  • Once you submit your PGWP application (refer to the steps and requirements above), you are eligible to work full-time* while you wait for a decision from IRCC about the status of your PGWP application.

  • If your application is approved, you can continue working.

  • If your application is denied, you must stop working and leave Canada unless you have obtained alternate legal status.

*Check to see if you meet the  while waiting for IRCC to process your PGWP application.

For PGWP applications from outside Canada

You must wait for a decision from IRCC about the status of your application before you can start working. For full details, including visitor visa or eTA requirements for return travel to Canada, visit the  on the IRCC website.

Work permit conditions

Work permits issued by IRCC, such as internship/co-op, off-campus, and post-graduate work permits may be subject to restrictions.

International students who were not required to undergo an immigration medical examination before coming to Canada may be subject to the following occupation/workplace restrictions that require an immigration medical examination:

  • Health care setting

  • 󾱱峦

  • Primary and secondary educational facilities

There is a complete list of occupations and  on the IRCC website.

Becoming a permanent resident

If you plan to stay in Canada to live and work after graduating, you may want to apply for permanent residency (also known as landed immigrant).

If you want to , there are a few different ways to apply. You will need to decide which immigration program will work best for you and your family.

Although we are unable to assist you with permanent residency advising, we are pleased to offer information sessions throughout the academic year, delivered by IRCC, Nova Scotia Office of Immigration, and a local immigration law firm.

If you would like to apply for permanent residency while you are still a student, research your options on the . You can also visit the  or the federal government’s  for more information.