{"id":3518,"date":"2025-09-22T13:18:31","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:18:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3518"},"modified":"2025-09-22T13:23:54","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T17:23:54","slug":"pgwp-rules-when-international-students-can-study-part-time-and-still-stay-eligible","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/?p=3518","title":{"rendered":"PGWP Rules: When International Students Can Study Part-Time and Still Stay Eligible"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>International students in Canada must maintain <strong>full-time student status<\/strong> during their studies to qualify for a <strong>Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)<\/strong>\u2014but there are <strong>two key exceptions<\/strong> to this rule.<br>Students who take an <strong>authorized leave of absence<\/strong> or are in their <strong>final semester<\/strong> may be eligible for a PGWP even if they are not studying full-time, provided they meet Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Key Takeaways<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PGWP Requirement:<\/strong> Normally, full-time enrollment is mandatory throughout the study period.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Two Exceptions:<\/strong>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Authorized leave of absence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Final semester of study.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Proof Required:<\/strong> Students must provide supporting documents to show eligibility when applying for a PGWP.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">What is Full-Time Status?<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>full-time student<\/strong> is defined by IRCC as someone enrolled in at least <strong>15 instructional hours per week<\/strong> during the academic year.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Designated Learning Institution (DLI) determines what constitutes a full-time course load.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students should confirm with their DLI to ensure they maintain full-time status.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Exceptions to Full-Time Requirement<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th>Exception<\/th><th>Key Conditions<\/th><th>Important Notes<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Authorized Leave of Absence<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Must be approved by the DLI.<br>&#8211; Leave cannot exceed <strong>150 days<\/strong>.<br>&#8211; Must resume studies in the next available semester.<\/td><td>Students <strong>cannot work<\/strong> on or off campus during the leave, even if their study permit allows it.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Final Semester of Study<\/strong><\/td><td>&#8211; Students may take a <strong>part-time course load<\/strong> if it is the last semester required to complete their program.<\/td><td>PGWP applications can only be submitted <strong>after<\/strong> receiving final marks and confirmation of graduation.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Authorized Leave of Absence<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Students may take a break from their studies without losing PGWP eligibility if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The leave is <strong>approved by the DLI<\/strong> and does not exceed <strong>150 days<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The reason for leave falls into one of these categories:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Medical reasons or pregnancy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Family emergency or serious illness\/death of a family member.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School closure (permanent or due to a strike).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change of schools or program deferral.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The student must <strong>resume studies in the next semester<\/strong>, even if it begins before the 150-day period ends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><em>PGWP Application Tip:<\/em> When applying, students must provide:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Proof the leave was <strong>authorized by their DLI<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirmation that the leave did not exceed <strong>150 days<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Last Semester Flexibility<\/mark><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Students in their <strong>final semester<\/strong> may study part-time if fewer courses are needed to complete their program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>PGWP applications can only be submitted <strong>after<\/strong> receiving:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>An <strong>official completion letter<\/strong> from their DLI, or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An <strong>official transcript<\/strong> confirming program completion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">PGWP Application Timelines<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-light-green-cyan-background-color has-background\"><thead><tr><th>Step<\/th><th>Deadline<\/th><th>Details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Apply for PGWP<\/td><td>Within <strong>180 days<\/strong> of receiving final marks<\/td><td>If applying before study permit expiry, graduates can work full-time while waiting for approval.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Restore Status (if permit expires)<\/td><td>Within <strong>90 days<\/strong> of study permit expiry<\/td><td>Pay PGWP fee (<strong>$255<\/strong>) + restoration fee (<strong>$389.75<\/strong>). Cannot work until work permit approval.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Application from Outside Canada<\/td><td>Anytime if status restoration period lapses<\/td><td>Must apply for PGWP from abroad if 90-day restoration window is missed.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><mark style=\"background-color:rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)\" class=\"has-inline-color has-vivid-red-color\">Important Rules to Remember<\/mark><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Students <strong>cannot work<\/strong> during an authorized leave, even if their permit lists work rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Failure to restore student status within 90 days of study permit expiry will require applying for a PGWP from outside Canada.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Always keep DLI letters, transcripts, and receipts for restoration or PGWP applications.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-white-color has-vivid-red-background-color has-text-color has-background has-medium-font-size\">For a <strong> consultation<\/strong> about Immigration options, reach out to the <strong>CAD IMMIGRATION <\/strong>today!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-16018d1d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cadimmigration\/profilecard\/?igsh=aWYzamtvMzlvZHUy\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">INSTAGRAM<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@cad_immigration?_t=8rYlOtSiktj&amp;_r=1\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(317deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TIKTOK<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/cad-immigration\/\" style=\"border-radius:50px;color:#fffffa;background:linear-gradient(42deg,rgb(135,9,53) 0%,rgb(179,22,22) 100%)\">LINKEDIN<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>International students in Canada must maintain full-time student status during their studies to qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)\u2014but there are two key exceptions to this rule.Students who take an authorized leave of absence or are in their final semester may be eligible for a PGWP even if they are not studying full-time, provided [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":3519,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[79,83,49,3,78,76,77,57,70,36],"class_list":["post-3518","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cicnews","tag-cad-immigration","tag-cad-immigration-news","tag-cadimmigration","tag-canadaimmigration","tag-immigration-canada","tag-immigration-new-rules","tag-immigration-new-updates","tag-immigration-trend","tag-immigration-updates-canada","tag-immigrationupdates"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3518"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3520,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3518\/revisions\/3520"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3519"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3518"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3518"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cadimmigration.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3518"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}