Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

A post-graduation work permit is a federal permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to eligible graduates. A buyer may find employees holding one when reviewing the seller’s staff records.

What the permit rests on

IRCC says graduating from a designated learning institution does not automatically make a graduate eligible, and that the length of a PGWP depends on the level and duration of the study program and on the passport’s expiry date, whichever comes first. IRCC’s open work permit page lists post-graduation work permit applicants among those who can apply for an open work permit, which it describes as letting you work for any employer in Canada, except the employers it excludes.

What to check

• The expiry date printed on each employee’s permit.
• The conditions listed on the permit itself.
• Who tracks permit expiry dates, and whether the seller kept copies.

The employment liabilities a buyer inherits page covers other staff questions, and an open work permit has its own entry.