December 11, 2023
Question: I am a Manager in a hotel and have had a couple of foreign students who have recently graduated from a BC college or university tell me that they can come and work for me. All I need to do is to offer them a job and they will get a work permit. I have been turning these students away because I am reluctant to offer a job to someone who doesn’t already have a work permit and I’m not in a position to sponsor them through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Any suggestions?
Answer: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) allows certain recent graduates of Designated Learning Institutions in Canada to work for up to three (3) years to obtain Canadian work experience. Individuals must apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving written confirmation that they completed their program of study.
Applicants may even begin working full-time after submitting their PGWP application and while awaiting a decision on this application as long as, at the time of submission, they were holders of a valid study permit, had completed their program of study, were authorized to work off-campus without a work permit, and did not exceed the allowable hours of work.
When approved, the individual is issued an open work permit, allowing them to work for most employers in Canada. PGWPs are issued for varying terms, depending on the applicant’s educational program. This is helpful for new graduates looking to gain work experience and for employers looking to fill labour shortages. From the graduate’s perspective, he/she can apply for a PGWP and then go looking for a job.
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