When Can International Students Be Part-Time and Still Keep PGWP Eligibility?

If you are an international student in Canada planning to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you normally need to stay enrolled as a full-time student throughout your studies. However, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows only two exceptions to this rule:

1. When you take an authorized leave of absence
2. When you are in your final semester of study
   
   

What Counts as Full-Time Studies?

According to IRCC, a full-time student is enrolled in at least 15 hours of instruction per week during the academic year. Instruction can include classroom learning as well as work placements that are part of your program.

Your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) has the final say on whether you are considered full-time, so always confirm with your school what counts as a full-time course load.

Authorized Leave of Absence

Sometimes students need to pause their studies. If your DLI authorizes this break, you may still remain eligible for a PGWP.

An authorized leave:

• Must not exceed 150 days
• Must be officially approved by your school
• Must fall under one of these categories:
• Medical reasons or pregnancy
• Family emergency or serious illness/death of a family member
• School strike or permanent closure
• Changing schools or deferring your program start date
  
  

Important rules:

• You must return to your studies in the next available semester.
• You are not allowed to work (on or off campus) during the leave, even if your study permit says you can.
• You don’t need to inform IRCC during the leave, but when applying for your PGWP you must prove:
• The leave was authorized by your DLI
• It lasted 150 days or less
  
  

Part-Time in Your Final Semester

If you are in your last semester, you are allowed to study part-time and still keep your PGWP eligibility.

When applying for the PGWP, include a note in the “Additional Client Information” section to explain your situation.

To apply, you must have either:

• An official letter from your school confirming program completion, or
• An official transcript (or copy) from your DLI

Remember: you can only apply for a PGWP after receiving your final marks.

Applying for a PGWP

• You have 180 days after receiving your final marks to apply.
• If you apply while your study permit is still valid, you can start working full-time right away while waiting for a decision.
• If your study permit has expired, you have up to 90 days to apply for your PGWP and restore your student status.
  
  

Restoring your status means:

• Paying the PGWP fee ($255)
• Paying the student status restoration fee ($389.75)
• Uploading the receipt for the restoration fee with your PGWP application
  
  

During this period, you cannot work until your PGWP is approved. If you miss the 90-day restoration window, you must leave Canada and apply from outside the country.

Final Thoughts

Maintaining full-time student status is critical to PGWP eligibility, but IRCC makes two exceptions—for students on an authorized leave of absence and for those in their final semester. By following your DLI’s rules and IRCC’s conditions, you can protect your eligibility and smoothly transition from student life to working in Canada.