Post-Graduation Work Permit

The SAIT programs listed below are eligible for PGWP and currently meet IRCC's requirements. This list is accurate as of Monday, July 7, 2025, and may be revised to include more programs, so check back regularly.

The SAIT programs listed below are eligible for PGWP and currently meet IRCC's requirements. This list is accurate as of Friday, May 30, 2025, and may be revised to include more programs, so check back regularly.

A field of study requirement does not apply to students who submitted their study permit application to IRCC before November 1, 2024. All SAIT programs that meet the requirements listed below are eligible for the PGWP program:

• Minimum 8 months in duration and lead to a degree, diploma or a certificate credential.
• Distance learning did not form more than 50% of the program.

You must submit a Letter of Completion and your transcript.

Because your credential (diploma, certificate, etc.) will be awarded on the appropriate conferral date, please review the below details to receive your Letter of Completion:

1. Apply to graduate through mySAIT during the appropriate timeline.
2. Review your unofficial transcripts to ensure your final grades have been entered.
3. Once all final grades are entered, the Office of the Registrar will run a graduate audit. This process can take up to two weeks to complete before a letter of completion can be generated.*
4. A Letter of Completion will be automatically created for you if you are eligible to receive one. You do not need to request it.
5. The Letter of Completion will be uploaded to the MyCreds™️ platform, and you’ll receive an email when it is ready to view and share. Check that you have an active email on your student profile.

You also need to request a copy of your official transcript through mySAIT.

_{*We are unable to generate a Post-Graduation Work Permit letter of completion until the Office of the Registrar completes the graduate audit detailed above. If your study permit expires soon, please contact the International Centre.}

If you took a leave of absence during your studies, ensure you also request a confirmation letter from the International Centre for your PGWP application.

Request a Confirmation of Enrolment letter

You will need to scan and upload a copy of your passport on the bio-data page (the page with your photo and all other personal information), and any other pages with stamps, visas, or markings from any county.

If you have a new passport, you need to provide copies of both your new and old passports.

Your passport photo should be less than six months old and meet the IRCC photo specifications.

Depending on your nationality, the Family Information form might be required. You should only provide it if it’s included in your document checklist.

This form needs to be printed out and signed by hand. Please note you might need to sign multiple places on this form.

• If you indicate that you don’t have a spouse or common-law partner, sign and date Section A.
• If you indicate that you don’t have children, sign and date Section B.
• Finally, sign and date Section C.

IRCC might make a minor adjustment to application forms without notice. Please check for instructions for each form and make sure the form is thoroughly completed.

The Schedule 1: Application for Temporary Residency form is usually included in the “Optional Documents” section of your checklist, and most students do not need to include it in the application.

If you do require it, this form doesn’t need to be signed, but it does need to be validated.

A Letter of Explanation is a self-written document that an applicant can use to provide additional information in support of their application. You should provide a Letter of Explanation if you want to explain something about your application—for instance, a gap in your studies (i.e. a leave of absence) or part-time studies during a scheduled break.

If you need any additional support with drafting a Letter of Explanation, you may contact an International Student Advisor.

Note: We strongly recommend PGWP applicants who take any courses during the scheduled break period to submit a self-drafted Letter of Explanation in addition to a Scheduled Break letter (see below for details) issued by SAIT in their PGWP application. These letters should be uploaded under the Client Information section in your application along with the Language test results.

If you require a letter confirming your scheduled break period for the purpose of employment or an immigration application, please submit a request using the Confirmation of Enrolment request form (choose scheduled break as the purpose of your request) Once you submit your request, you should expect to receive a letter confirming your scheduled break period within 3-5 business days via email to your SAIT email. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the International Centre for assistance.

Download the template

Proof of language proficiency should be uploaded under “Client Information” section under the “Optional documents” section in your application checklist.

Detailed information about the language score requirement and which language tests are accepted can be found on the IRCC website.

We strongly recommend that you book your language test at least a couple of months prior to your anticipated program completion date to avoid any delays.

If you have provided biometrics in a previous application, you don’t need to provide them again. Your biometrics will be valid for 10 years. You can use the online tool to find out if your biometrics are still valid.

Biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) are collected to confirm your identity and will facilitate your entry to Canada. While exemptions can be granted, most study permit applicants will be required to provide biometrics.

Once you have paid your biometrics collection fee ($85 CAD) and submitted your online application, you will receive a biometric instruction letter in your account. Then, you can go to the nearest biometrics collection center with the letter.

You may be required to complete an immigration medical exam if:

1. you have lived in a designated country or territory for more than six months in the past year, or,
2. you will participate in a workplacement, co-op or practicum that will bring you close to patients, children, the elderly, etc. This includes public health, health sciences, or agriculture-related fields (for example, healthcare workers, and primary and secondary school teachers.) Please refer to your program page for specific practicum information.

If you need a medical exam, you can choose either:

• submit your application first, and wait for the medical exam instruction letter from IRCC, or,
• do an upfront medical exam first and include the exam confirmation receipt in your application.

In general, it can save some processing time when you provide an upfront medical exam.

Your medical exam result will be valid for 12 months from the date of the exam and should be valid at the time when you travel. The exam is taken during the initial study permit application period; therefore, if you have been studying outside Canada since recieving your study permit approval, you will need to make sure your results are still valid when traveling to Canada.

You may need a new IME result if you are a continuing student who has left Canada for six months or more in the past year.

Find a panel physician that can conduct your medical exam.

It depends. Refer to the IRCC Help Centre for more information before you travel.

No. Once you receive your PGWP you can then apply for a new TRV.

Before you receive written notice of program completion

If you were eligible to work part-time (up to 24 hours per week) during your final semester, you can continue working part-time until you receive notice of program completion (letter from SAIT.)

Once you receive the notice of completion

You must STOP working until you submit the PGWP application.

After you submit the PGWP application, you can start working full-time if you:

• were eligible to work part-time during your academic semester and didn’t work off-campus more than 24 hours during academic semesters
• have a valid study permit at the time of applying for your PGWP.

If your PGWP is refused, you must stop working immediately.

You can now order your unofficial transcript through your MySAIT account.

Please check the Quick Reference Guide for easy steps to follow.

You MUST have a valid temporary status as a student or a visitor in order to apply for a PGWP.

If your study permit expires around your program completion time, you should consider applying for your study permit extension early so that you still hold a valid status to bridge your graduation period.

If you have not applied to extend it before it expires, you must stop studying and working and apply for a restoration of status.

Effective June 21, 2024, students can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the Canada-US border.

All eligible graduating students should apply for their PGWP online before their study permit expires. For more information, visit the IRCC website or email international.advising@sait.cafor assistance.