Have you recently graduated from a university in Canada, and you wish to acquire professional experience in the country? Maybe the postgraduate permit is the best option for you.
However, holding a diploma from a Canadian university is not sufficient to be eligible for this permit. You also need to respect:
- the general criteria of admissibility,
- the criteria based on your program study, and
- the criteria based on your geographical location.
Furthermore, additional conditions have recently been added, which make it slightly harder for the students to obtain the postgraduate permit.
JuriGo can help you understand if you are eligible for the Canadian postgraduate permit!
Who Can Apply For A Postgraduate Work Permit?
If you wish to apply for a postgraduate permit, you must first make sure you meet all eligibility requirements, which are separated into 3 categories:
- General eligibility criteria,
- Criteria based on your study program, and
- Criteria based on your location.
1) General Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for the postgraduate work permit, you must first have completed a program of at least 8 months, or 900 hours, at a designated learning institution. During your studies, you must also have maintained full-time student status in Canada, except for the last semester, which can be done part-time.
When should I apply? You must apply for the postgraduate permit within 180 of the confirmation that you completed your program and that you passed your exams. Your study permit should still be valid when you submit your application.
Regarding the duration of your studies, special rules will apply to specific situations, such as:
- Distance learning,
- School exchange,
- Accelerated programs,
- Program licensing agreement, or
- Canadian programs that include an international component.
Nonetheless, certain persons will simply not be eligible for a postgraduate work permit. That will be the case if you:
- Studied at a non-recognized institution,
- Have already received the postgraduate permit before,
- Studied French (or English) as a second language,
- Completed your program outside Canada,
- Took general interest (or self-improvement courses), or
- Received a scholarship that required you to return to your home country.
2) Eligibility Criteria Based On Your Study Program
If you completed a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, you must be able to demonstrate that you have French and/or English skills with a minimum level of 7 in all 4 of the language abilities.
For other university programs, you will have to show proof of language skills and that you hold a diploma in an eligible field of study.
If you graduated from a college, polytechnic, or non-university institution, you must have a minimum level 5 in all 4 language abilities and have completed a diploma in an eligible field.
Did You Know? If you graduated from a flight school, you must hold a Canadian commercial pilot’s licence or be in the process of obtaining an instructor rating with a job offer from a flight training centre to apply.
However, flight school graduates do not need to meet any language criteria to qualify for the postgraduate work permit.
Do you wish to apply for a postgraduate permit? JuriGo helps you find an immigration lawyer to submit your application!
3) Eligibility Criteria Based On Your Location
When you apply, you can do it either from inside or outside Canada. However, the rules will be different depending on where you are.
Applying from inside Canada: You can do so once you meet the eligibility requirements and if you still live in Canada. In that case, you must apply before your study permit expires.
Otherwise, you will need to either leave the country or apply for a visitor visa before applying for a work permit. This may lead to delays and, more importantly, additional fees.
Applying from outside Canada: In that case, you can still qualify if you meet the distance learning requirements. However, this mostly applies to students who studied only during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What Documents Do You Need To Apply For A Postgraduate Work Permit?
If you wish to apply for a postgraduate work permit, you will need the following documents:
- Proof that you completed your studies,
- Proof that you were enrolled full-time in a program lasting at least 8 months,
- Proof of language skills,
- Proof that your diploma is in an eligible field of study (if applicable), and
- Proof of medical exam.
Regarding the medical exam, it will be required only if you plan to work in a job that requires one (in the public health care, for example).
The language tests must necessarily be taken in person. It must also assess the following skills:
- Writing,
- Reading,
- Speaking, and
- Listening.
Depending on the language of your test (French or English), you need to take an accepted test, and the results must be less than two years old.
| French Tests | English Tests |
|---|---|
| TEF Canada | CELPIP-General |
| TCF Canada | IELTS General Training |
| PTE Core |
Submit Your Application With An Immigration Lawyer
When you verify your eligibility and you have collected the documents, the last step will be to apply online. Although there are free guidelines, it might be complicated for someone without any legal knowledge to apply.
In such a case, the best option is to seek help from a professional. Not only will the immigration lawyer be able to prepare the documents for you, but he will also put all the chances on your side to receive the permit.
Fill out the online form today, and JuriGo can connect you with an immigration lawyer for free!