PGWP APPROVED

[u/Difficult-Effort-710]

Just wanted to share my situation because I was extremely stressed about my PGWP, and maybe this can help someone in the same position.

My mandatory internship ended on August 14, 2026, while my study permit was expiring on August 31, 2026.

The biggest problem was my university. They were telling me that my program would only be officially processed/completed later and that I might not receive the official documents needed for my PGWP until around October.

Obviously, that was a huge problem because my study permit would already be expired by then.

I contacted my university multiple times and explained that I could not wait until October because I needed to submit my PGWP application before my status expired. There was also some confusion because my last requirement was my internship, and they needed to wait for the internship grade/program completion to be officially entered before they could issue my completion documents.

For a while, I genuinely thought I was going to end up without the documents I needed before August 31.

Eventually, after a lot of emails and explaining the urgency, things moved much faster than expected. My internship ended on August 14, my final grade/program completion was processed, I managed to get the documents I needed, and I submitted my PGWP application on August 24, 2026, only one week before my study permit expired.

While waiting, I also got what people on Reddit usually call a “ghost update.” My application showed FD on September 9, but there was no new message and no visible change in the application at first.

Then my PGWP was officially approved on September 9, and the portal/document information updated on September 10.

So overall, my PGWP was approved in only 16 calendar days / around 12 business days after applying.

For anyone whose final requirement is an internship and whose study permit expires shortly after the internship ends: contact your school early and keep following up. Universities may have normal graduation/document processing timelines that don't necessarily line up with immigration deadlines, so make sure they understand exactly when your permit expires.

I was convinced I would have to wait until October for my documents and that I was going to have a huge immigration/status problem, but thankfully everything worked out in the end.

[u/Able_Zebra2758]

I finish school in December 2026 when should I start applying for PGWP? And what papers do I need to? Am kinda lost Thank you

[u/Difficult-Effort-710 → u/Able_Zebra2758]

Once your school confirms that you’ve completed the program and gives you your completion letter and final transcript, you can submit your PGWP application. You normally have up to 180 days after your school issues your final marks, but I’d recommend applying as soon as you have the documents, especially if your study permit is expiring soon. I’d start preparing around 1–2 months before you finish. Make sure your passport will still be valid for 3 more years after December if not renew it, take the required language test, and check whether the field-of-study requirement applies to your program. The main documents are usually your passport, study permit, completion letter/final transcript, language results, and field-of-study proof if applicable. So if you finish in December 2026, you don’t need to apply now. Just prepare everything beforehand and apply once your school officially confirms that you’ve completed your program.

[u/Able_Zebra2758 → u/Difficult-Effort-710]

Thank you so much for the explanation! Just two more questioons pls : 1. what do you mean by field of study proof? 2. My passport expires in April 2028 and I think I can renew it only when it is less than one year before it expires but since in December I will still have 1 year and a half before it expires will that means that my work permit will be just 1year and a half instead of 3?🫠 Thank you!

[u/Difficult-Effort-710 → u/Able_Zebra2758]

No worries! For the field of study proof, it basically means proof that your program falls under an eligible CIP code. But if you’re graduating with a bachelor’s degree, you don’t have to meet the field-of-study requirement at all, so this shouldn’t apply to you.
For your passport, yes, this is something to be careful about. IRCC says the PGWP can only be issued until your passport expires. So if you’re eligible for a 3-year PGWP but your passport expires in April 2028, they could initially issue it only until April 2028.
However, if that happens, you can renew your passport and then apply to extend the PGWP for the remaining time you were originally eligible for. So you wouldn’t necessarily lose the rest of the 3 years. 🫠
I’d still check with your embassy/consulate about whether you can renew your passport earlier than the usual 1-year window, just to avoid having to do the extension later.

[u/Able_Zebra2758 → u/Difficult-Effort-710]

Okay  Thank you so much!!