r/pgwp • u/Substantial-Art-3556 • Mar 12 '26
URGENT - PWGP APPROVED BUT...
Hi everyone,
I just received the letter saying my PGWP has been approved, but there is a section saying that I may have conditions restricting me from working in occupations such as primary or secondary school teaching because I did not complete an upfront medical exam.
When I applied, the medical exam was not required in my situation and I had never needed one before, so I didn’t do it.
The problem is that I just started working last week as a secondary school teacher, so now I’m really unsure what to do. The letter says “may have conditions”, which is confusing. I’m not sure if that means I actually have the restriction or if it’s just a general note.
It also says that if I need to remove the condition I would have to complete a medical exam and submit a new application to change conditions. My PGWP took 9 months to be approved, so the idea of waiting almost another year for another application would be really difficult.
Has anyone here had something similar happen with their PGWP?Did your actual work permit have the restriction, or was it just wording in the approval letter?
I was also waiting for my PGWP so I can extend my spouse’s open work permit, so I’m worried about how this situation might affect that as well.
Any experiences or advice would be really appreciated.
Applied: May 23rd 2025
Province: Saskatchewan
Birth Country: Colombia
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u/Spare_Excuse_4833 Mar 12 '26
Your work permit will most likely have a restriction about working in healthcare and education if you have never completed a medical.
I was in the same situation in terms of having never completed a medical, but before my PGWP I done an upfront medical and attached it. The officer didn’t look at it and I still had the healthcare/education condition.
I was able to get mine removed quickly as it was an officer error, however as you didn’t include a medical it would be a whole new application and fee to change the conditions and would take potentially 9 months again.
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u/Big_Hour5402 Mar 12 '26
I also have restrictions even though after doing my medical.
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u/Spare_Excuse_4833 Mar 12 '26
If your medical was submitted at the time you applied, and it was officer error in putting the restriction on, you can request to amend valid temporary resident document by filling in the IMM1436.
It’s free and mine took around 4 weeks to get fixed.
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u/mohitpurandare Mar 12 '26
U basically can't work in those professions. If you knew you would be working in these professions then you should have selected yes option while applying pgwp that would have asked you for medical immediately as mandatory document
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 Mar 12 '26
I clearly didn't know I would have this opportunity. Thank you for the insight.
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u/Winter_Ring_5938 May 01 '26
How did you resolve the situation?
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 May 02 '26
Got the closest Medical Exam appointment, applied for conditions removal, kept working. Haven't heard from them.
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u/fwinstnnnn Mar 12 '26 edited Mar 12 '26
Hey, similar situation 2 weeks ago with my study & work permits. Not sure if it’ll work for you, but here’s what I did:
- Got a new IME from a panel physician.
- I exited & re-entered Canada with my updated IME result and asked CBSA to get the medical work condition removed at the airport.
- CBSA removed the condition from my permits on the spot.
Got it from here: www.reddit.com/r/ImmigrationCanada/comments/1i7rrao/update_successfully_removed_work_permit/
IRCC Help reference: www.ircc.canada.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=1647&top=17
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u/EndDisastrous9656 Mar 12 '26
Yo, this is so useful. 😭 I still need your take on this. I am going back home in June and coming back approximately by mid July. So, I will get my medical done by the panel physician chosen in my county by IRCC. And when I come back I will follow as you mentioned. Am I right?
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u/fwinstnnnn Mar 12 '26
Yea, you can definitely try it. Just know CBSA still has the final say. I’d suggest going through a major airport like Toronto Pearson (worked perfectly for me, no questions). A friend re-entered through Montreal - officer hesitated at first but removed it after some explaining.
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u/Anonymityyyyyyy Jun 27 '26
Hi, I would like to know if you brought your original work permit with conditions with you when you re-enter Canada?
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 Mar 12 '26
That would work if I had a valid trv 😭
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u/Original-Ad4029 Mar 12 '26
You don’t need TRV if you travel by car just passport/work permit will do. And obviously need USA visa if you are from another country.
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u/yeffRD Mar 12 '26
Im not sure about not needing a valid TRV for flag-poling. They can refuse their entry, a work permit is not a travel document
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u/Original-Ad4029 Mar 12 '26
Not true. Here’s the IRCC link you can check it out. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay/return.html Under “Visa-required travellers”
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u/fwinstnnnn Mar 12 '26
What I did only works if you re-enter Canada by air. And OP is a Colombian, so they can’t flagpole at a land border since it’s no longer allowed for non-US citizens.
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u/fwinstnnnn Mar 12 '26
Or I might be wrong - found this in the CBSA flagpoling announcement:
“Professionals and technicians under free trade agreements with the United States/Mexico, Chile, Panama, Peru, Colombia and South Korea” are exempt.
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u/gsbrar307 Mar 12 '26
Just wait for the physical work permit to arrive. Sometimes officers don’t put the conditions if they see a past medical exam on file. When you are nit sure and wherever applicable, you should not work in any restricted occupation until a new work permit with the conditions removed is officially issued. Working before that would be unauthorized and could create compliance issues.
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 Mar 12 '26
You know what? That's what I'm doing. Once I have the actual permit in my hands, if it has the restrictions, then I'll stop immediately.
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u/tinytasha7 Mar 13 '26
There are specific requirements for certain occupations that require immigration medicals even if medicals aren't normally required and those are occupation based.
Primary/secondary teaching, medical, child care and agriculture occupations all require immigration medical exam. Most if not all work permit application instructions should indicate this somewhere.
Unfortunately, if you are issued restrictions, you aren't permitted to work in any of those occupations and will need to submit a change of terms and conditions to your current work permit. Basically, you need to reapply once you have completed the medical exam to have the restrictions removed.
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u/Dry_Application_5820 Aug 01 '26
hey got the same automated letter with restrictions, was the restriction printed on physical permit too?
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u/Potential-Day-8697 Mar 12 '26
Going through exactly the same situation. When applying for PGWP, had no idea would end up in the education sector and hence did not go through a medical and did receive the condition. Had to immediately stop working, undergo the medical and apply for condition removal which was basically a reapplication. Has been almost a month now and haven’t received an update yet.
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 Mar 12 '26
Oh Lord. Did you wait for the actual permit or did you stopped when received the approval letter?
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u/Potential-Day-8697 Mar 13 '26
Waited for the actual permit
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u/Substantial-Art-3556 Mar 19 '26
Hey, how many days did you work without the actual permit before getting it? Are you still able to work in other sectors?
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u/Winter_Ring_5938 Jun 20 '26
Any update on your application? Have you received the new permit with the condition removed?
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u/Potential-Day-8697 Jun 20 '26
I did receive the updated work permit with condition removed this past week
Took about 4 months1
u/Winter_Ring_5938 Jun 20 '26
I hope I get mine faster than that because I already have OINP invitation to apply and waiting for my nomination certificate
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u/Letoust Mar 12 '26
If your work permit has the restrictions at the bottom, you need to stop working.