Post-Graduation Work Permit

PGWP Announcement (Post Graduate Work-Permit Announcement) 

Upon completion of your program at York University, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) as long as you are eligible. Below is a general overview about the PGWP. You are encouraged to review IRCC’s website for detailed information about eligibility criteria, as well as resources prepared by York International’s licensed immigration specialists about the application process and the documents that you will need from York University.  

A PGWP is a type of open work permit that allows international student graduates to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada, for up to three years depending on the length of the program completed. Please note that certain occupations require the completion of an immigration medical examination before your PGWP can be issued. For the Master of Financial Accountability (MFAc) program, your completion letter will indicate that the program length is 4 terms and spans over two academic years. Therefore, according to the eligibility requirements, students who graduate from the MFAc program are usually eligible for work permit of three years. Please note that the final discretion in determining your eligibility and the length of your PGWP rests solely with IRCC.

Please note that to be eligible, you must have maintained full-time status as a student during each semester of your program (this does not include regularly scheduled breaks or your final semester). Part-time studies or gaps in studies that exceed 150 days and are not authorized by the University may make you ineligible for the PGWP.   

Applying from inside of Canada 
If you are applying from within Canada, you must ensure that your study permit is still valid at the time of submitting your PGWP application. Your study permit becomes invalid 90 days after completion of your studies (release of your final grades) or the expiry date printed on your study permit, whichever comes first.  

So long as you submit your PGWP application while in possession of a valid study permit, you may begin working full time while waiting for your PGWP to be processed. However, you must stop working if your PGWP application is refused. See here for more information. 

Note: If you are from a visa-requiring country, you will need to renew your visa sticker in your passport. You may only apply to renew your visa after your PGWP is approved.  

Applying from outside of Canada 
If you are applying from outside of Canada, you must apply within 180 days of receiving your final grades and you must have been approved for a study permit.   

Your PGWP application and visa will be processed together at the same time. 

Contact York International 
Please consult York University’s licensed immigration specialists at York International.  

For questions about this update and/or assistance on how to complete your study permit post-graduation work permit application you may:   

Attend a webinar: Please first check the York International calendar for monthly webinars, where the licensed advisors will go through the post-graduation work permit application process in more detail.   

You may also email an advisor at iadvisor@yorku.ca. However, attending a webinar or drop-in advising session is currently the quickest way to receive assistance.  

All students are encouraged to consult IRCC’s website  regularly for any changes to the application procedure relating to the PGWP.