Permits & Visas

• Temporary measures to allow some students to work off-campus more than 20 hours a week will be extended to April 30, 2024. This will apply to students already in Canada and those who submitted a study permit application on or before December 7, 2023.
• The facilitative measure that has allowed international students to count time spent studying online towards the length of a future post-graduation work permit, as long as it constitutes less than 50% of the program of study, will continue to be in place for students who begin a study program before September 1, 2024. This measure will no longer apply to students who begin a study program on or after that date.
• Temporary policies for open work permits for PGWP holders will not be extended after Dec. 31, 2023.

• As of January 1, 2024, a single study permit applicant will need to show they have $20,635 for the cost-of-living requirement in 2024, in addition to their first year of tuition and travel cost.

  Please review the "Revised requirements to better protect international students" news release for more details.

• IRCC announced new caps on the number of new international students for the coming years. For 2024-2025, Canada will welcome 485,000 new post-secondary students. 
• To confirm new students have been approved by Mohawk College and Ontario, a “Provincial Attestation Letter” (PAL), is now required as part of all initial study permit applications.

Please review the "Canada to stabilize growth and decrease number of new international student permits issued to approximately 360,000 for 2024" news release.
 

• Mexican citizens now require a temporary resident visa (TRV) sticker in their passport to enter Canada

Please review the "Updated travel information for Mexican citizens coming to Canada" news release.

• Canada announces the intention to increase student off-campus work hours from 20 hours to 24 hours in the fall. 
• Students may work no more than 20 hours a week during the academic year until further notice from IRCC and as long as their study permit allows them to work. 

Please review the "Canada to introduce new rules around off-campus work hours for international students" news release.
 

• Students must apply for their Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) online. “Flagpoling” and making the application with CBSA at the land crossings will no longer be permitted.

Please review the "Canada improves fairness for applicants by ending post-graduation work permit "flagpoling" news release.

• Caps for international students for 2025/26 academic year reduced 10% to 437,000. As of this announcement, IRCC intends to hold new post-secondary study permits at this level for the 2026/27 academic year as well.
• A significant change to the PGWP program and college graduates. 
  • If you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, you must graduate from an eligible field of study. The broad categories are:
    • agriculture and agri-food
    • health care
    • science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
    • trade
    • transport
  • Students graduating from a PGWP qualifying program at the college level must now also submit a language test as part of the PGWP application. Students must score at least a CLB5 on all four tested competencies (reading, writing, speaking, listening). The language test must be no more than 2 years old.

Please review the "Strengthening temporary residence programs for sustainable volumes" news release.

• Change to the number of hours international students may work off campus that was proposed earlier this year. With this change, eligible students can now work up to 24 hours per week off campus while their classes are in session.
• As of November 8, 2024, international students must apply and be approved for a new study permit before changing learning institutions.  

Please review the "New International Student Program regulations take effect" news release.

On January 14, 2025, IRCC announced policy changes for spousal open work permits which are effective on January 21, 2025. 

For your spouse or common-law partner to be eligible for a spousal open work permit while you are applying for/have a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you must be employed in TEER 0 or 1 occupations, or selected TEER 2 or 3 occupations (the list will be available Jan 21, 2025), and have at least 16 months remaining on your work permit at the time of application. Dependent children are no longer eligible for a work permit.

You can find more information at "Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) [R205(c) - C43] – International Mobility Program".

To be eligible for a PGWP, you must have:

• Successfully completed an eligible program of study that was at least eight months long that led to a degree, diploma or certificate.
• Maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program.
  • This doesn’t include your final semester, which can be part-time, or if you took an approved leave from your studies.
• As of November 1, 2024, you must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas.
• Study permit applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, may be subject to the new field of study requirement
• Received a transcript and an official letter (PGWP letter) from Mohawk College confirming that you have met the requirements to complete your program of study.
• Either hold or have held a valid study permit within 180 days of the date of applying for the post-graduation work permit.
• You have not had previously been issued a post-graduation work permit.

Please visit the IRCC website to review full PGWP eligibility requirements
 

The student will need the PGWP Letter and the Transcript to apply for their PGWP.

1. PGWP letter - Log into MyMohawk > Registration > International Students > Letter Request Form 
   Post Grad Work Permit (letter issued after student confirmed on grad list) Letter Request Form | Mohawk College
2. Transcript - Log into MyMohawk > Academics > My Grades > Transcript Request (Select the With End of Current Term Grades)
    

The time you spend studying online from within Canada until August 31, 2024 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, 2024. 

On or after September 1, 2024:

• you must complete at least 50% of your program in class inside Canada
• The time spent studying outside of Canada will be deducted from the length of your PGWP
   

You must have continuously studied full-time in Canada. However, if you meet all the eligibility requirements, with the exception of full-time status during the final academic session, you are still considered eligible for this program and may work off-campus up to 24 hours per-week.

If you are eligible to work in your final term, you can continue working up to 24 hours a week off campus and/or full time on campus until the Grad List is posted or your Letter of Completion (PGWP Letter) becomes available, whichever happens first.

Once the Grad List is posted or your Letter of Completion becomes available, you’re no longer eligible to work and must stop working immediately until further action is taken.

If you are working after finishing your last program requirement, such as your last final exam, it is important to be aware of those dates.
 

After submitting your PGWP application online, you may immediately begin working full-time while your application is being processed if at the time you submit your application:

• You have a valid study permit and apply within the first 90 days after the Grad List or your Letter of Completion first became available, and
• You have completed your program of study, and
• You were eligible to work off campus without a work permit during your studies, and
• You did not work off campus for more than 20 hours per week up until November 8, 2024, and/or no more than 24 hours after November 8, 2024, during academic sessions (unless authorized)

If you apply while you are on maintained status (formerly implied status) for your study permit extension, you will not be able to work in Canada until you receive a valid PGWP. Alternatively, you could wait for your study permit to be processed before applying for the PGWP then you would be able to work after submitting your application if you meet the above criteria, as long as you still apply within 90 days after program completion. 

To avoid a long gap in work eligibility between receiving your Letter of Completion and applying for the PGWP, prepare your PGWP application in advance so that you can apply as soon as your letter becomes available. You can work continuously if you apply the same day your Letter of Completion first becomes available. 

If you plan to work in a job which requires a medical exam, you cannot start working in that position until you’ve received your work permit with correct conditions, however if you meet the above criteria you can work in other jobs which don’t require a medical exam while you are waiting for your work permit.

Please note: Your study permit expires on whichever date comes first:

• the date marked on the permit or 
• 90 days after the day you complete your studies
  
   

You can check the processing time on the IRCC website.

You can leave Canada and return, as long as your visa or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is still valid. Your permit (study or work) is not a visa and doesn't allow you to travel back to Canada.

If your visa or eTA is expired, you have to get a new one before you return to Canada.

When you return to Canada:

• You may enter as a student if your study permit is still valid.
• If we approve your post-graduation work permit while you’re away, you may enter as a worker.
• If we’re still processing your post-graduation work permit, you may enter as a visitor, and you can work without a work permit until we make a decision on your application.

A border officer will have some questions for you when you arrive back in Canada. The officer may ask you for proof that you applied for a post-graduation work permit, such as a copy of your application or the fee payment receipt.

If the officer believes there is reason to refuse your re-entry, you won’t be able to enter Canada.
 

Yes, but only if you:

• were a full-time student at Mohawk College in a post-secondary academic, vocational or professional training program,
• already completed your program of study, and
• didn't exceed the number of hours you could work on and off-campus.

If IRCC refuses your post-graduation work permit, you must stop working immediately.
 

The post-graduation work permit is an open work permit. This means that you can work in any occupation anywhere in Canada, and change employers any time you wish.

Note: You may not work for an employer on the ineligible employers list.
 

The college does not provide explanation letters regarding any gaps during your study period. The student should write their own explanation letter to IRCC and include supporting documentation.

The college cannot provide supporting letters. The student should write their own explanation letter to IRCC and include supporting documentation. The student can meet with their international student advisor to discuss their case. 

PGWP letters can only be issued after the Grad List is posted. If your study permit will expire before the grad list is posted, you must apply to extend your study permit at least 3 months before it expires so that you have enough time to apply for your PGWP.