September 29, 2025
PGWP Canada: When Can International Students Study Part-Time and Still Qualify?
If you’re an international student in Canada, you’ve likely heard this golden rule: to qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you must maintain full-time student status during your studies.
But here’s the good news—there are two exceptions when students are allowed to be less than full-time and still keep their PGWP eligibility intact.
At MyWorld Immigration, we regularly guide students in Chestermere, Calgary, and across Canada through these tricky scenarios to ensure they don’t lose out on their chance to stay and work in Canada after graduation.
Let’s break it down.
📌 What Does “Full-Time Student” Mean?
According to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), a full-time student is someone who:
- Maintains at least 15 instructional hours per week (classroom or workplace training), and
- Is registered as full-time according to their Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
Since each school defines full-time status differently, students should always confirm with their institution what counts as a full-time course load.
✅ The 2 Exceptions to Full-Time Status for PGWP
1. Taking an Authorized Leave of Absence
Sometimes life happens—medical issues, family emergencies, pregnancy, or even a school strike. In such cases, students can take an authorized leave of absence without losing PGWP eligibility.
Conditions:
- The leave must be officially approved by your DLI.
- It must not exceed 150 days.
- Valid reasons include:
- Medical reasons or pregnancy
- Death or illness of a family member
- Family emergencies
- School closures or strikes
- Change of schools or deferral of program start
Important:
- Students on an authorized leave cannot work on or off campus, even if their study permit allows them to work.
- You don’t need to inform IRCC immediately, but when applying for your PGWP, you must prove that:
- Your leave was officially authorized by your school.
- The leave did not exceed 150 days.
2. Studying Part-Time in Your Final Semester
If you’re in your last semester and only need a few courses to finish your program, you can study part-time and still remain eligible for a PGWP.
Key things to note:
- You cannot apply for a PGWP until you have completed your studies.
- To apply, you’ll need either:
- An official completion letter from your DLI, or
- An official transcript showing your final marks.
- Once you graduate, you have up to 180 days to apply for your PGWP.
🕒 When and How to Apply for a PGWP
- If you apply before your study permit expires, you can start working full-time immediately while waiting for your PGWP decision.
- If your study permit has expired, you have 90 days to apply for your PGWP along with a restoration of status application.
- PGWP fee: $255 CAD
- Restoration of status fee: $389.75 CAD
- If you miss the 90-day window, you’ll need to leave Canada and apply from abroad.
🚨 Common Mistakes That Can Cost You Your PGWP
❌ Taking unauthorized breaks without DLI approval.
❌ Working during an authorized leave of absence.
❌ Not maintaining status when your study permit expires.
❌ Applying too late (beyond the 180-day or 90-day timelines).
🌍 Why Choose MyWorld Immigration?
As a local Chestermere immigration consultant, we at MyWorld Immigration understand how confusing Canada’s study permit and PGWP rules can be. We help international students:
- ✅ Maintain compliance with IRCC regulations.
- ✅ Prepare error-free PGWP applications.
- ✅ Avoid costly mistakes that can lead to refusals.
Whether you’re a student in Calgary, Chestermere, or anywhere in Canada, we’re here to guide you every step of the way.
📲 Contact MyWorld Immigration Today
👉 Call / WhatsApp: +1-672-399-0000
👉 Website: www.myworldimmigration.com
👉 Email: info@myworldimmigration.com
👉 Instagram: @myworldimmigration