I graduate in May but my PGWP won't be approved until August — can I work in between?
Yes — but only after you submit your PGWP application, and only if, at the moment you submitted it, you held a valid study permit, had completed your program, were eligible to work off campus, and had kept to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions. The window between receiving your completion letter and submitting the application is a hard no-work period.
The timeline, phase by phase
| Phase | Can you work? |
|---|---|
| Studying, before written confirmation of completion | Yes, under normal student rules (off campus up to 24 hrs/week during academic sessions) |
| After receiving your completion letter, before submitting the PGWP application | No — you must stop working |
| After submitting the PGWP application, while waiting for a decision | Yes, full-time — if all four conditions below applied when you submitted |
The rule comes straight from IRCC: you may work full-time while waiting for a PGWP decision if all of the following applied at the time you submitted your application:
- You had a valid study permit.
- You had completed your program of study.
- You were eligible to work off campus without a work permit.
- You did not work off campus more than 24 hours a week during academic sessions.
Details that catch people
The WP-EXT letter. After you apply, IRCC may send you a WP-EXT for PGWP letter (IMM 0127E) confirming you're authorized to work while the application is processed — typically valid 180 days. Even if that letter's validity expires before your PGWP is decided, IRCC confirms your authorization continues until a decision is made. Show it to employers who ask for proof; if you need an updated one, request it through IRCC's web form.
Maintained status doesn't count. If you were on maintained (implied) status when you submitted the PGWP application — for example, you'd applied to extend your study permit and were waiting — that does not count as holding a valid study permit, and you are not authorized to work while waiting. This is the single most misunderstood point in the whole process.
The 180-day clock. You must apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of completion (not your convocation date). Your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days.
If the application is refused, you must stop working the moment IRCC notifies you — and any work done without authorization can affect your immigration record and future applications.
Frequently asked questions
My study permit expires two weeks after graduation — am I still covered?
As long as the permit was valid on the day you submitted the PGWP application (and the other three conditions were met), yes. You can keep working full-time while waiting, even after the permit's printed expiry date passes.
I never received the WP-EXT letter — can I still work?
IRCC's guidance is that without the letter you may not be authorized to work while awaiting a decision. Request one through IRCC's web form rather than assuming you're covered.
I picked up a few shifts during the no-work window — how bad is that?
Bad. That is unauthorized work, and it can affect your immigration record and future applications. The completion-to-application gap is the one phase where stopping is mandatory — don't test it.
Sources
- Entry source: https://wildmountainimmigration.com/work-permits/pgwp
- IRCC Help Centre — "Can I work while I am waiting to receive my post-graduation work permit?" (the four conditions, WP-EXT letter): https://ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1181 and https://ircc.canada.ca/ENGLISH/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1181&top=15
- University of Ottawa — working while applying for a PGWP (no-work window, maintained-status rule, 180-day deadline): https://www.uottawa.ca/study/international-students/immigration/working-in-canada/apply-for-post-graduation-work-permit