Post-graduation work permit guide

1. Apply for completion letter and transcript

After grades for all courses have been posted MyAdmin 

• Request a Letter of Completion for the post-graduation work permit from the Registrar's Office:  You will need to request a letter of completion from the Registrar's Office as a supporting document for your PGWP application. Download and complete the letter of enrolment request form (select Completion Letter) through your MyAdmin account and email it to the Registrar's Office.

• Request an official transcript through your MyAdmin account: You will also need your official final transcript to support your PGWP application.

Normal processing time for letters of completion is five business days, but it may be longer during peak periods. While you wait for your letter of completion and official final transcript, you can start your online application for the PGWP.

Please note - Eligible students authorized to work on and/or off-campus may continue working until you receive your Letter of Completion or final transcript, whichever is received first. After receiving one of these documents, you must stop working immediately, as you are no longer considered a full-time student. Once you submit your PGWP application, you should receive an automatic Acknowledgment of Receipt and a work authorization letter from IRCC. If you meet these eligibility criteria, you can work full-time while your application is being processed. 

If you do not have a valid study permit or have worked more hours than authorized, you will not be eligible to work while you wait for the decision. If you have a study permit extension being processed, we strongly advise you to reach out to immigration@royalroads.ca.

2. Sign in to your IRCC secure account

Sign in to your IRCC secure account.

Having trouble signing in? The IRCC technical help page provides more info to troubleshoot your problem.

3. Start an application

Once logged in to your IRCC account, scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will find the information under Start an application.

Click Apply to come to Canada. 

Please note - IRCC no longer allows PGWP applications through "flagpoling" (leaving and re-entering Canada at the port of entry).

4. Personal checklist

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will find the information under I do not have a personal reference code.

Click on Visitor visa, study and/or work permit.

5. Complete the questionnaire to generate a personalized document checklist

Find out if you're eligible to apply

If you are applying for the post-graduate work permit online, you will answer a few questions before IRCC provides you with the option to continue with your PGWP (in Canada) application. The eligibility requirements, document checklists, and applications for immigration programs vary. You can always modify your answers before submitting your application.

 When you complete the questionnaire, click on the question mark sign (?) by each question for more information

Frequently asked questions

• What would you like to do in Canada? - Work
• How long are you planning to stay in Canada? - Temporarily more than 6 months
• What is your current immigration status in Canada? - Student
• Do you have a written job offer? - No
• Do you have an official letter from your school that confirms you've completed your study program, as well as a copy of your final transcript? - Yes
• Based on the information you provided, the result(s) should indicate and give you an option to select: Post-Graduate Work Permit - in Canada
• Do you want to submit an application for a family member?

Yes, if your family member is in Canada and want to apply for work permit extension/visitor visa. Read IRCC document requirement for extending your spouse work permit extension along with your PGWP

Or

No, if you don’t want to apply for family member

• Have you had a medical exam performed by an IRCC authorized panel physician (doctor) within the last 12 months?

- In Canada applicant: IRCC has placed a temporary public policy for immigration medical exams (IME) until October 6, 2024. See the IRCC page for more information

• Are you giving someone access to your application? - No

Note: If you would like to modify your answer before submitting an application

6. Application form and document checklist

IRCC will give you 60 days to upload and submit the application. The document checklist may vary.

Download the Application Form (IMM5710).

• Troubleshoot: How do I download and open a PDF form from IRCC’s website?

Supporting Documents

• Final Transcript
• Letter of Completion
• Passport: Valid passport with the page that shows your birth date and country of origin, and any pages with stamps, visas, or markings, along with a study permit.  Also include your previous passport if you have since renewed it.
• Digital Photograph: Please visit IRCC page to know more about the photograph specifications
• Proof of Upfront Medical Exam: IRCC page for more information
• Valid English or French Language Test:  Visit IRCC page for requirements and recognized tests (IELTS Academic not accepted). Ensure to book the test well in advance to avoid delays in submitting your PGWP application. 

Additional supporting documents are required for applicants applying for family member(s)

• Use of a family member representative for online application (IMM5713)
• Application form for a family member
• Passport

Note: Combine all the pages into 1 file before you upload the document on IRCC page. The maximum file size is 4 MB. If your file is bigger than 4 MB, you need to reduce the size to upload your document and submit the interest to sponsor form.

Optional Documents:

• Schedule 1 – Application for a Temporary Resident Visa. Required as additional information if answering "yes" to background information questions 3, 4, 5, or 6 on IMM5710.
• Client Information: If you would like to provide additional documents or supporting letter, please upload in ‘Client Information’

7. How to complete the application form? IMM 5710

If you are applying online, do not print out your application form to fill or sign it. IRCC Guidebook and FAQ on how to complete the form

Frequently Asked Question:

• UCI: UCI stands for “unique client identifier”, and is also known as “Client ID.” It is the 8 or 10 digit number that is found on your study permit in the following format: xx-xxxx-xxxx
• Applying for the following: Apply for a work permit for the first time or with a new employer

Personal Details: Status: Student | From: date of your initial study permit | To: date should be the expiry date of your current study permit

National Identity Document: Yes: If you have National Identify Document from your home country and provide more information | No: If you don’t have the document

Contact Information: Current Mailing Address: You need to provide the Canadian address so that IRCC will mail you the work permit

Coming into Canada:

• The original date of entry is usually the same as your initial study permit was issued
• Most recent entry to Canada can be varied from the original date if you left Canada and returned after your original date. You can confirm the date from the stamps on your passport
• The place of original/most recent entry to Canada is the city where you went through the Canadian Customs and Immigration
• Original Purpose: Study
• Document Number - A document number appears on official immigration documents, e.g. study permits. It is usually printed in black ink as a letter (an "F" for study permits) followed by 9 numbers

Details of Intended Work in Canada:

• What type of work permit you are applying for: Post Graduate Work Permit
• If you chose post-graduation work permit, no information is required for question: 2,3,4,5,6 and 7

Education: Your Royal Roads program start date, end date, level of study and more.

Employment (Your “Current Activity/Occupation” should be as follows):

• The dates of your Current Activity/Occupation should be a student “from” the beginning of your studies at Royal Roads University “to” the current date.
• Don’t forget to include any activity or occupations in the last 10 years under “Previous Activity/Occupation” 

Background Information: You need to be honest in completing the application form. Write a letter of explanation to provide additional information

How do I sign the form if applying online? If you’re applying online; you should upload the form without signing it. After uploading all your documents, you will later be asked to sign your application by typing your name

Validate: After you finish your application, click on the “Validate” button located at the top or bottom of the form. This will generate a barcode page at the end of the application. Every time, you edit the application form, you need to Validate the form before you save and upload it. 

8. Talk to Royal Roads a immigration advisor

If you have questions about your PGWP application, book an appointment with an immigration advisor to clarify IRCC questions, documentation, or to avoid common errors before submitting your application.

Remember, immigration is your responsibility, but immigration advisors are here to help.

Book your appointment online: http://libcal.royalroads.ca/appointments/

9. Pay the fees

It is a good idea to take screenshots while submitting your application in case any issues arise afterward. Store them in a secure location where you can easily access them.

Once you upload the application form and supporting documents, the Continue button will appear. Click Continue to pay your fees and submit the application. 

After you have electronically signed your application, you will be asked to pay your fees. Your fees must be made with a credit card. You will be required to provide credit card information to complete your payment. IRCC accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, JCB, China Union Pay) or a Visa Debit or Debit MasterCard. Payment methods are subject to change, please refer to IRCC website.

Please follow IRCC's instructions regarding the payment. Ensure to keep a copy of your payment receipt. 

10. Receive a confirmation message and if the application exceeds normal processing times

Interim Proof of Work: 

1] You will receive a generic temporary resident acknowledgment of receipt

2] You will receive a second letter indicating your work authorization under paragraph R186(u). According to IRCC 

"The letter is provided to applicants as proof that they have continued authorization to work, and the validity date is added to give employers and other stakeholders a more concrete period of time of authorized work. IRCC has found in the past that employers and stakeholders are reluctant to accept an unknown period such as “until a decision is made.”

Letter Validity: The letter has a 120-day validity from the date of receipt, and you should receive a decision before the letter expires. Even if the 120-day validity period of the letter expires, you are still authorized to work. We still recommend requesting continued proof of authorization to work two weeks before the end of the 120-day validity period using the IRCC webform.

Processing Time: Check your application status through this IRCC page.

11. Report important changes

If you have an application in progress you can check the status of your application online, and make sure your contact information and your application details are up to date on your IRCC account. You can also use the IRCC web form to contact IRCC to check the status of your application or to inform IRCC of changes in your application or if the application has exceeded normal processing times

Review the following resources:

• IRCC processing times
• IRCC web form
• IRCC guide to check the status of your application online

12. After your application is approved

If your application is approved,

• IRCC will mail the PGWP document to your current mailing address.
• Save a digital copy of your PGWP
• You need to update your SIN Number and MSP
• If your TRV is expired, you may need to apply for a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). See the RRU resource on - How to apply for TRV within Canada.