Study and Post-Graduation Work Permits

Study Permits

Once students have received their formal Letter of Acceptance and have paid their Commitment Fee, they should immediately apply for the necessary study permit and other travel documentation. This can include:

• A Study Permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
  
  • All students studying for longer than six months are required to apply for a study permit. Visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada webpage for more information about Canadian study permits. Apply for your study permit online.
• An Electronic Travel Authorization
  
  • All visa-exempt foreign nationals (except U.S. citizens and certain other small groups) travelling to, or transiting through, Canada by air are to apply for an electronic travel authorization (eTA). Apply for your eTA online.

For more information about what you need prior to your arrival in Canada, please visit the EduCanadaPre-departure Guide for International Students or the WelcomeBC website.

Submit Proof of your Study Permit

The deadline to submit proof of your study permit depends on your term of intake.

For example:

• January intake: Submit your study permit by December 1
• May intake: Submit your study permit by April 1
• September intake: Submit your study permit by August 1

Submit proof of your study permit by emailing a colour-scanned copy of your study permit to the Office of International Affairs with your name and student number.

Working While Studying

As of November 8, 2024, students can work off campus up to 24 hours per week without a work permit. Additional information regarding eligibility requirements to work while studying in Canada can be found on the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada webpage.

Who Can Work Off Campus

You may work off campus without a work permit if you meet all of the following requirements:

• You are a full-time student at a designated learning institution (DLI).
• You are enrolled in:
  
  • A post-secondary academic, vocational, or professional training program, or
  • A secondary-level vocational program (Quebec only).
• Your study program is at least 6 months long and leads to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
• Your studies have already started.
• You have a Social Insurance Number (SIN).

Your study permit must include conditions allowing you to work during your studies. If eligible, you don’t need a separate work permit.

⚠️ Important: Ensure you meet the requirements before working. Starting work without eligibility may result in having to leave Canada.

How Many Hours You Can Work Off Campus

During regular school terms or semesters

• You can work up to 24 hours per week, across one or multiple jobs, as long as you meet your study permit conditions.

During scheduled breaks (e.g., winter/summer holidays, reading week):

• You can work unlimited hours if you are a full-time student before and after the break.
• You can take part-time or full-time courses during the break without affecting your ability to work unlimited hours.

If your program has no scheduled breaks:

• You are limited to 24 hours per week.

⚠️ Working more than the allowed hours violates your study permit and could result in loss of student status, future permit denial, or removal from Canada.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows international students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

Upon completing a certificate, diploma, or degree program of at least 8 months in length, you may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to work full-time in Canada for up to three years after graduation. You don’t need a job offer to apply and can work anywhere in Canada in any occupation.

Reasons to Apply for Your PGWP

There are several reasons why you might consider applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after completing your studies at JIBC. For one, it can help you advance your career goals and gain valuable Canadian work experience. Additionally, if you're interested in pursuing Canadian permanent residency, a PGWP can serve as a pathway to prepare you for certain permanent resident programs.

It's worth noting that you can only apply for a PGWP once in your lifetime. If you're unsure whether you'll stay or return to Canada after your studies, it's a good idea to apply for the PGWP in case your plans change, as you'll lose the opportunity to apply after 180 days. To help you make an informed decision, you may want to consult with an International Student Advisor. It's also important to note that you don't need to live in Canada or hold a job at all times to keep your work permit valid.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you must generally meet the following requirements:

• You must have completed a program of study that lasted at least 8 months and led to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
  
  • If you are in a diploma or certificate program and you apply for a study permit on or after Nov 1, 2024, your program must meet a field of study requirement.
• You must have studied full-time for immigration purposes each academic session without taking gaps in studies that are not considered actively pursuing studies unless you took “authorized leave.” You may take scheduled program breaks.
• You must have completed at least 50% of your program in class (in person) in Canada.
  
  • Online courses completed outside Canada after Aug 31, 2024, do not count towards the length of your PGWP and could be deducted from the PGWP length. If you are in a short program, it could also impact your eligibility for a PGWP.
  • If you will take online courses outside Canada, you must still study full-time for immigration purposes to maintain eligibility for a PGWP.
• You must meet the language requirement.
  
  • As of November 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must provide proof of language ability. Learn about proof of language ability.

  • You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas. Find out what your language level is based on your language test results.

• You have a valid study permit or had a study permit that was valid in the last 180 days, and you apply for a PGWP within 180 days of when your letter of completion first became available.

Additional situations in which you may still be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) include:

• You studied part-time in your final academic session only.
• You took an authorized gap in studies for less than 150 days.
• You were eligible for the temporary PGWP policies in place until August 31, 2023, which allowed courses moved online due to COVID-19 to count towards the length of your PGWP.
  
  • Students who begin a program between September 2022 and August 2023
  • Students who were enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program in March 2020 or began a program between May 2020 and August 2022

You can find full eligibility details on the Government of Canada website.

If you took time away from studies or studied part-time, it's recommended that you draft a letter of explanation and gather supporting documents, and consult International Student Advising before submitting your application. Ultimately, officers will make the final decision.

Before you apply

Complete a language test: As of November 1, 2024, all PGWP applications require proof of language ability in English or French.

Only some language tests are accepted, and your language test results must be less than 2 years old at the time you submit your PGWP application.

If you have recently completed a language test, confirm if it meets the requirements. Otherwise, you should book a language test well in advance of applying for your PGWP. Consider planning enough time to retake the test, if necessary.

As a college graduate, You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas. Find out what your language level is based on your language test results.

For English, you need a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5. You can provide:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP): CELPIP-General option
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS): IELTS General Training option
• Pearson Test of English (PTE): PTE Core option

Applying For Your Work Permit (PGWP)

Step 1: Log in to your GCKey (or create your GCKey)

Once you log in to your online account, click on “Apply to come to Canada,” and then click on “Visitor visa, study, and/or work permit.”

Step 2: Complete the questionnaire and you will see a document checklist.

Step 3: Gather your documents and upload them to your IRCC online account. If you apply for your PGWP from within Canada, you will need the following:

• Completed application form: Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker - IMM 5710
• An Official Letter of Completion issued by JIBC International – Applicants must provide a letter stating that they have completed all the requirements of their program.
• Final Transcript – This can be an official transcript or an unofficial transcript. You must wait until ALL final grades have been released before requesting a transcript. Students wishing to obtain their Official Transcript may order them online via Self-Service.
• Photocopies of passport pages clearly showing the passport number and the dates of issue and expiry (include all pages with photos, signatures, stamps, visas, and other markings)
• Photocopy of your valid English or French language proficiency test
• Photocopy of your current immigration document (i.e study permit)
• A digital photo that meets photo specifications
• An explanation letter (optional, can be uploaded to “Client Information”)

Step 4: Pay the $255 application fees and $85.00 CAD for biometrics, if applicable

Processing times: IRCC processing times may vary depending on many factors. Check typical processing times on the IRCC website.

When to Apply: You are recommended to apply for your PGWP within 90 days after your completion date while your study permit is still valid, even though you can apply under another temporary status within 180 days.

See the full instructions by IRCC – Application Guide 5580

Frequently Asked Questions

What programs offered at JIBC are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit?

On this page, you will find the list of programs offered full-time and on-campus at JIBC that will qualify international students for study and post-graduation work permits upon completion.

What should I do if my study permit is expiring, and I need more time to apply for my Post-Graduation Work Permit?

• You may apply for a post-graduation work permit from within Canada if you have a valid temporary status. If your study permit is expiring soon after the completion of your program, we strongly recommend you apply for a study permit extension to ask for an additional three months. You should include a Letter of Explanation to support your application for a short study permit extension so that you have enough time to apply for a PGWP.

Can I work after submitting my post-graduation work permit application?

• Graduates who apply for a post-graduation work permit before the expiry of their study permit are eligible to work full-time without a work permit while waiting for a decision on their application if meeting all requirements.

My study permit expired a few months ago and I applied to extend it. Can I work after I submit my PGWP application while I am under “Maintained Status"?

• If you have applied for your study permit extension before its expiry, you are under maintained status. You are NOT authorized to work after you submit your PGWP application while on implied status. You will be able to work after your PGWP application is approved.

If you still have questions, the Office of International Affairs team is here to support you. Get in touch with us via email or book a virtual call with one of our International Student Advisors.