A foreign national can stay in Canada only under certain conditions. The person should be a permanent resident, a Canadian citizen or should have a legal work permit to visit, work or study in Canada.
If you are already in Canada as a visitor, student or on a work permit, then you will need to ensure that your status is legal and valid at all times. It is essential that you apply for a renewal or a new work permit or visa before the existing one expires
You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work. Graduation from a DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP
You have 180 days after you get your final marks to apply for a PGWP.
Most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada
There are 2 types of work permits.
1. Employer-specific work permit
An employer-specific work permit lets you work in Canada according to the conditions on your work permit, such as:
2. Open work permit
An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except for one that:
You can only get an open work permit in specific situations.
Spousal Open Work Permit
Your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit if you:
Processing an open work permit usually takes several months. There are many factors that can affect the processing time.Your spouse or common-law partner’s work permit will be valid for the same period of time as your study permit.