NEXT STEPS AFTER GRADUATION: INTERNATIONAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
On January 22, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) announced a number of updates and measures to the International Student Program. The complete details can be found on the IRCC website on our News & Updates page.
Last updated: December 20, 2022
Work Permit & Travel
As an international undergraduate student who has applied for graduation during Fall 2022, please carefully review the detailed information below regarding your immigration & travel documents after completion of your program.
Should you have any questions, please connect with an International Student Advisor for assistance. We wish you all the best with your future endeavours.
Note: This page will be updated as information changes. The information below is only applicable to SFU students and is current as of the last updated date. While we do our best to ensure that the advice given is accurate and up to date, please note the information below does not replace the specific information provided by the government and other relevant authorities. Please be aware that all information provided is subject to change without notice.
Frequently Asked Questions:
- What is a PGWP?
- When should I apply for PGWP?
- When does my study permit become invalid?
- How can I apply for my PGWP within Canada?
- My study permit will expire before I can submit the PGWP application. How should I proceed with my PGWP?
- I am currently outside Canada. Can I apply for a PGWP from outside Canada?
- My study permit has already expired and I am holding maintained/implied status now. Can I apply for a PGWP?
- Can I work before applying for a PGWP?
- Can I start working once I have applied for a PGWP?
- Will my eligibility for the PGWP be impacted if I studied part time or took time off at some point in my SFU Program?
- Do I need to provide biometrics for my PGWP?
- I have a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer and I am eligible to work while waiting for my PGWP. What proof of work authorization can I provide them?
Full-time international students may be eligible to apply for a PGWP upon completion of their studies in Canada. The PGWP is a once in a lifetime opportunity. It is an open work permit of up to three years in length, and you don't need a job offer to apply.
Click below to know more.
- PGWP eligibility requirements
- PGWP Info Session (SFU Recording: November 28, 2022)
As instructed in the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s official website, you may apply for a PGWP within 180 days of receiving a written confirmation of your program completion from SFU. The calculation of the 180-day period begins the day the final marks are issued or the day formal written notification of program completion (such as the Credential Completion Letter or the Senate letter) is received, whichever comes first.
To align with IRCC’s Program Delivery Instructions, we recommend that you begin counting the 180-day period from the day your final grades are released in your final term of study, as the final grades will be issued prior to your Credential Completion Letter and/or your Senate Letter. You must apply for a PGWP within 180 days of receiving your final grades from SFU, which you will receive prior to your Credential Completion Letter.
If needed, the onus is on you to demonstrate when your final grades are issued and when you are first notified of your program completion (e.g. your credential completion letter, your Senate Letter, etc).
Note: The date of your convocation ceremony has no relation to the 180-day application period for your PGWP.
| Applying from within Canada | OR | Applying from outside Canada |
You must have valid temporary resident status in Canada (e.g. a valid study permit or valid visitor status) at the time of your application. Visit here to know more about how to apply for a PGWP from inside Canada. If you are applying (or have applied) for a PGWP while holding maintained status (e.g. you apply to extend your study permit or change your status to visitor before your permit expires), you may not be eligible to apply for PGWP from inside Canada. Please connect with an International Student Advisor to find out how this impacts your PGWP application. |
You may have the option to apply for the work permit from outside Canada within 180 days of receiving your final grades from SFU. Visit here for more information on how to apply from outside Canada. |
Your study permit will automatically become invalid 90 days after the day you completed your studies, or on the expiry date printed on your study permit, whichever comes first.
As noted in IRCC’s website, the 90-day period will begin on the date when you receive the first notification of program completion from SFU. To assess the validity of your study permit, it is our recommendation that the 90-day period should be counted from the date when your Credential Completion Letter (CCL) is issued as it is the first official notification of program completion that students receive at SFU. Visit our FAQ to know more about CCL.
In most cases, you must apply online. You must include the following supporting documents from SFU with your application:
- A final transcript (an unofficial transcript from goSFU showing your final marks is sufficient), and
- An official letter confirming the successful completion of your academic requirements. You may use one of the following for this purpose:
Credential Completion Letter (CCL) OR Senate Letter / Formal Notification of Graduation Must be manually downloaded via goSFU (You will not receive an automatic notification when the CCL becomes available on goSFU) Emailed to your SFU email address starting February 7, 2023 after your degree is awarded by the Senate Available on January 24, 2023 after your graduation application is approved You cannot access your CCL after February 3, 2023 after 1:00 PM. Please retain a copy of your CCL for future reference.
Review the links below on how to request the above documents and apply for your work permit online:
- Click here for instructions on how to access your credential completion letter.
- Click here for instructions on how to request a transcript.
- Click here for instructions on how to apply for a PGWP within Canada and the required supporting documents.
- Click here for details on how to generate an online in-Canada application checklist and complete the application form.
If your study permit will expire or become invalid before you can submit your PGWP application, you have several options for how to proceed. If you are unsure what your best option would be, consult with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist for advice.
Option 1: Apply to extend your study permit within Canada, if eligible
Given that Fall 2022 is your final term, you may submit an application to extend your study permit within Canada for an additional 90 days (e.g. you may request your study permit to be extended to the end of March 2023) which is also known as a “bridge extension”.
If you apply to extend your study permit prior to its expiry date, you can continue to remain in Canada under maintained status while waiting for a decision to be made on your study permit extension application.
If you plan to apply for a PGWP while holding maintained status (e.g. you apply to extend your study permit or change your status to visitor before your permit expires), you may not be eligible to apply for PGWP from inside Canada. Please connect with an International Student Advisor to find out how this impacts your PGWP application.
Option 2: Apply to change your status to visitor
To remain in Canada longer, you may also apply to change your status to visitor. To do so, you must apply for a visitor record before your study permit expires or becomes invalid.
While your visitor record application is in process, you may continue to remain in Canada and submit your PGWP application under maintained status. However, you will not be eligible to work and must wait to receive your work permit first before you can start working.
Option 3: Apply for a PGWP outside Canada
If you will apply for your PGWP from outside Canada, you should either leave Canada before your current status expires, or apply to extend your stay in Canada (if you plan to leave later) using Option 1 or 2 above.
Please refer to the next question on how to apply for a PGWP from outside Canada.
You may have the option to apply for a PGWP from outside Canada within 180 days of receiving written notification of your program completion from SFU.
To be eligible to apply for a PGWP from outside Canada, you must either have a study permit, or have received a study permit approval (i.e. port of entry letter of introduction confirming that your study permit has been approved).
In assessing and weighing your options between an in-Canada and outside Canada PGWP application, various factors should be taken into consideration such as:
- your eligibility to apply for a work permit outside Canada;
- IRCC’s current processing times;
- availability of biometrics enrollment appointments at biometrics collection sites abroad;
- access to third-party service providers such as panel physicians for immigration medical examinations (if applicable);
- whether your have the proper immigration travel document (such as a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization to return to Canada; and
- your travel plans, if any.
Upon approval of your PGWP application from outside Canada, please ensure that you monitor Canada's COVID-19 border measures when planning for your departure and meet the entry requirements to travel back to Canada. Visit here for more information on how your travel may be impacted by the current travel restrictions.
If you would like to discuss your options for how you should proceed, please contact an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist for assistance.
If you are applying (or have applied) for a PGWP while holding maintained status (e.g. you apply to extend your study permit or change your status to visitor before your permit expires), you may not be eligible to apply for PGWP from inside Canada. Please connect with an International Student Advisor to find out how this impacts your PGWP application.
If you were eligible to work in your final term, you may continue to work up to a maximum of 20 hours per week until the first date you receive your credential completion letter. Your study permit must also remain valid during this period.
You must stop working when your credential completion letter is issued via goSFU. Keep in mind that you will not receive an automatic notification when the credential completion letter becomes available. You must request the letter online via goSFU.
After submitting your PGWP application, you may start working on a full-time basis only if you meet certain eligibility requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If you don’t meet those requirements, you must wait to receive your work permit first before starting or resuming work.
With the exception of part-time studies in the final term, continuous full-time enrollment in each academic session (i.e. Spring and Fall term) throughout your studies is a requirement that you must meet to be eligible for the PGWP. For undergraduate students at SFU, the Spring and Fall terms are considered as academic sessions for immigration purposes. Please note that SFU does not have a formal leave of absence process in place for undergraduate students. If you took a term off during your studies at SFU, in support of your PGWP application, you should include a letter from SFU confirming SFU's leave policy for undergraduate students.
If you were not able to maintain continuous full-time enrollment in all Spring and Fall terms (e.g. you studied part time or took a term off) at SFU, it is strongly recommended that you include a letter of explanation with your application detailing your unique circumstance(s). Depending on the circumstances, supporting documents may also be submitted as evidence of reason/s for any gaps in your full-time enrollment.
i Enrolled part time or took a term off in the Spring 2020 term?
If you were unable to maintain full-time enrollment (e.g. you dropped to part-time studies or took the term off) in Spring 2020 due to COVID-19, it should not negatively impact your eligibility for the post-graduation work permit. To demonstrate how your studies in Spring and or Summer 2020 were impacted by COVID-19, you should include the following documents in your application:
- A letter of explanation to the immigration officer explaining why you were not able to maintain full-time enrollment.
- SFU’s announcement on updates and changes to academic policies and procedures for the Spring and Summer term (e.g. in-person instruction cancelled for the Spring 2020 term, the extended withdrawal period for the Spring term), and any other relevant correspondence you have received from SFU.
- IRCC’s Program Delivery Instructions referencing the flexibility on full-time enrollment requirements for Spring 2020 due to COVID-19
When processing your application, IRCC may contact you to request additional documents to assess your eligibility.
Although IRCC has announced an intent to be flexible on the full-time enrollment requirement in cases where students’ studies were impacted by COVID-19 in Spring 2020, PGWP approval is never guaranteed, and the final decision will be made at the discretion of the immigration officer who processes your application. Therefore, you should provide a clear explanation, along with any applicable supporting documentation as evidence of the reason/s you could not study full time.
Under normal circumstances, valid biometrics (fingerprints and photo) are required for IRCC to complete processing of your application. If you have not already provided your biometrics in the past 10 years and are not exempt from the requirement, you will need to give your biometrics for your post-graduation work permit application. Click here to find out how to give your biometrics.
If you gave biometrics in the past as part of an application to come to Canada (e.g. applying for a temporary resident visa or a study permit outside of Canada), they may still be valid. To check whether your biometrics are still valid and when they will expire, visit the Check Status Tool on the IRCC website.
If you will be applying for your PGWP outside Canada, biometrics enrollment will still be required unless you are exempt, or you already have valid biometrics with IRCC. You will have 30 days from the date of your biometrics instruction letter (BIL) to give your biometrics. If the biometrics collection sites still remain closed in your country and or you are unable to complete your biometrics enrolment within the given deadline, you should contact IRCC directly via its web form requesting an extension on your biometrics enrollment. You should submit a letter of explanation addressing why you are unable to give your biometrics in time.
According to the immigration regulation R186(w), if you meet the eligibility criteria to work while waiting for your PGWP, you may continue to work until a decision is made on your PGWP application, even if you leave and re-enter Canada. For more information on travelling to Canada, please refer to the Travel & Border Measures section of this page.
Once IRCC receives your PGWP application, they will issue your Submission Confirmation Letter along with your Interim Proof of Work Letter (IMM 0127 E – WP-EXT for PGWP).
The Interim Proof of Work Letter generally has a validity of 120 days which corresponds to IRCC's standard service delivery. If you do not receive your PGWP decision by the specific validity period as noted in your Interim Proof of Work Letter and you still need proof of work authorization to continue working, you may request one by submitting a webform.
i The 120-day validity of the Interim Proof of Work Letter in no way overrides R186(w). For more information on this, please review this IRCC webpage.
i If you do not meet the eligibility criteria to work while waiting for a PGWP, you must wait for your work permit to be approved before you start working.
i Few reminders when applying for a PGWP
- Make sure that you have applied for graduation for the Fall 2022 term
- Review how COVID-19 is affecting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Review ISS COVID-19 FAQ page on study permits, visas, medical insurance and travel information.
- Speak with your Departmental Advisor if you have questions about your credential completion letter.
- Check your passport expiry date as the post-graduation work permit will not be issued beyond the validity of your passport.
- Review the online resources handouts and step-by-step instruction guide on how to apply for the PGWP within Canada.
- Review the PGWP Information Session online recording and customize your own post-graduation work permit timeline.
- Review and check your work eligibility during the transition period to the PGWP.
- Check IRCC's estimated processing times for PGWP applications.
- Closely monitor the Government of Canada’s website for the most up to date information on border measures.
- Connect with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist should you have any questions.
According to our Academic Dates calendar, the next Convocation ceremony will be held between June 6-9, 2022. If your friends and family wish to visit you in Canada to attend your Convocation ceremony, refer to the following resources that may help your friends/family prepare for their visit to Canada:
- Click here for IRCC’s website on visiting Canada
- Click here to review how COVID-19 is affecting TRV or eTA applications outside Canada
- Click here to find out if your family or friends need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Click here for documents you can prepare to assist your family members (includes a sample invitation letter)
- Click here for the processing times on TRV or eTA applications
While COVID-19 border measures have ended, it is strongly recommended that your family or friends closely monitor the Government of Canada website for the most up to date travel alerst and information.
Visit our COVID-19 FAQ for additional information on what resources and supports are available at SFU and how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact immigration, travel, and medical insurance for international students.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Visit here for information on how COVID-19 is affecting IRCC and its operations. It is important to keep in mind how COVID-19 may impact the eligibility and processing of your PGWP:
Enrollment status in the Spring 2020 term
Visit here for more information if you were unable to maintain full-time enrollment status in Spring 2020 term due to COVID-19.
Note that this IRCC’s flexibility on full-time enrollment status has not been extended beyond the Summer 2020 term. As of September 2020, students must meet the full-time enrollment requirement (with the only exception of part-time studies in the final term) to qualify for a PGWP.
Remote learning in and outside Canada
Remote learning in Canada
IRCC has confirmed that online studies completed within Canada due to COVID-19 will not adversely impact your eligibility for the PGWP. The time you spend studying online from within Canada until August 31, 2023, still counts toward the length of your PGWP. However, it’s highly recommended that you attend in-class options when offered.
The temporary policy change for in-Canada students studying online ends on August 31, 2023. Visit here for more information.
Remote learning outside Canada
Under normal circumstances, distance-learning courses completed outside Canada are excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the PGWP. However, on an exceptional basis, IRCC has implemented the following temporary policy changes to accommodate eligible online studies that have been completed in and outside Canada.
- Applicable for students who were enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program in March 2020, or who started a program of study between March 2020 and August 31, 2022
- Not required to complete 50% of their program (or programs) of study in Canada. Up to 100% of their program can be completed online from outside Canada
- Time spent studying outside of Canada can be counted toward the overall length of the PGWP until August 31, 2023.
Processing times
Biometrics Collection in and outside Canada
Please visit here for information on how COVID-19 may impact biometrics collection for your PGWP application.
Before travelling to Canada, please make sure that you know what you need to do before and after your arrival in Canada and take the proper steps to comply with all the entry requirements. Visit this FAQ to learn more about the entry requirements for temporary workers.
If you have questions or would like to discuss your travel plans and options, please connect with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist.
If you plan to travel abroad while your PGWP application is being processed within Canada, your ability to enter/return to Canada may depend on a variety of factors including the validity of your immigration documents and the timing of your arrival/return to Canada.
Generally speaking, you must have a valid immigration travel document (such as a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization) to return to Canada. Upon your return, you may continue working full-time while you wait for a decision in your PGWP application provided that you meet the eligibility criteria.
When you arrive at the border, you must:
- carry your valid passport and valid immigration travel document (such as a temporary resident visa or electronic travel authorization, unless exempted);
- convince the border services officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your authorized period of stay by proving that you have ties to your home country (e.g. job, home, family, and/or financial assets);
- have proof of financial means to support yourself in Canada;
- be criminally and medically admissible (no criminal or immigration-related convictions, or any health conditions that would be an excessive demand or would endanger the public health & safety); and
- have valid immigration medical exam (if you need one)
Note that a Border Services Officer will make the final decision on whether you are eligible to enter Canada.
For more information, please visit this IRCC webpage and this IRCC FAQ Page.