Comprehensive reference for international students at UBC.
Post-graduation work permits
As soon as your final marks are available or you have submitted your thesis or dissertation to the library, you have 90 days in which to apply for your post-graduation work permit. The date of your graduation ceremony does not affect the application period. You do not need a job offer to apply for the post-graduation work permit.
As of December 2009, the application for the post-graduation work permit went online. We strongly encourage you to apply online, rather than by paper.
Applying for the post-graduation work permit
Why should I apply online?
- It costs less (no mailing and photocopying fees)
- It provides document tracking and the ability to communicate online with CIC about your application
**Processing times may change throughout the year for both online and paper applications. Please check the CIC website for the most current application processing times.
Who can apply online?
Students who:
- are in Canada (you cannot apply after you leave)
- have a valid study permit
- have completed all degree requirements within the last three months
Note: If you must also extend the documents of your dependant family members, you may extend their documents online at the same time that you apply for your post-graduation work permit.
How do I apply online?
You may download the I. House tutorials for general instructions (246 KB PDF), or step-by-step instructions on completing an Online MyCIC Application (2.72 MB PDF) or a Paper Application (509 KB) for a post-graduation work permit.
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If you have not already done so, Create an Access Key and applicant profile by registering with MyCIC: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/mycic.asp
*Please note that if you created a MyCIC account in the past, you probably used the old service (e-pass). As soon as you login to your MyCIC account you will be prompted to update to the new Access Key sign-in service.
- Log into the secure online portal and provide some basic information about yourself.
- When you are asked “what do you want to do today?” choose the link that takes you to the post-graduation work permit application site.
- When you are asked how long you want to stay in Canada, use the following guidelines:
- If the official length of your program of study is two years of more, you may request a work permit which is three years in length.
- If the official length of your program of study is less than two years but more than eight months, you may request a work permit which matches the length of your program. For example, if you studies for nine months, you may request a work permit which is nine months in length.
- We strongly suggest to Master’s and Diploma students to include a copy of their official transcript in the application so that the CIC officer making the application decision can easily determine the number of months you have been enrolled.
- Upload the required supporting documents. You are required to submit proof that you have completed your program of studies:
- For December graduates, the only acceptable proof is a letter from your academic advisor or program office, stating that you have completed all of your degree requirements. This is because your official transcript is not considered a final transcript until May.
- If you are a Master’s or Diploma student, we strongly encourage you to submit a letter from your department and a copy of your official transcript (create one PDF that consists of two pages, and upload this document), to prove how long you have been studying at UBC.
- You are required to submit a PDF of your passport. This needs to include the information (face) page and any stamps made by Canadian officials when you have entered Canada. Create one PDF that contains all of this information and upload it.
- Pay the $150 fee
- You can pay by credit card from within the CIC website, or
- You can pick up a bank receipt at International House, pay your fee at a bank, and upload a PDF of the receipt showing that you paid.
How do I apply by paper?
Visit I. House for a detailed guide on how to complete your post-graduation work permit application. You may also download the I. House tutorial for step-by-step instructions on completing a Paper Application (482 KB PDF).
We encourage you to apply for the post-graduation work permit online before you travel.
If you must leave Canada after your application has been submitted, plan to have a friend receive your application (it must be mailed to a Canadian address) and send it to you abroad. That way, you can re-enter Canada with your work permit. You can also use your work permit if you have to apply for a TRV (temporary resident visa) abroad.
Travelling on a post-graduation work permit is different than travelling on a study permit. You may exit and re-enter Canada during the period of your post-graduation work permit. However, you must always carry proof of your current situation when you travel, as border officials often ask to see proof of your status when you are travelling on a work permit. If you are from a country that requires a TRV, you will still need to have a valid TRV in order to re-enter Canada. However, if you are ONLY travelling between Canada and the continental United States, you will not require a TRV to re-enter Canada. For a list of countries requiring a TRV, please check the CIC website.
The same proof will be needed when you apply for a TRV (temporary resident visa) if one is required for you to return to Canada.
Proof of your current situation
If you have a job in Canada:
- carry an official letter from your employer, stating your duties, wage and dates of employment. If your job pays less than $10,000/year, you must also carry proof of funds (a bank statement) showing that between your salary and your savings (or your family savings) you have at least $10,000 available to support yourself in Canada.
If you do not have a job in Canada:
- carry proof of funds in the amount of $10,000 available for your support this year (a bank statement or a copy of your parent’s bank statement)
- carry proof that you are going to try to get a job in Canada, such as copy of your resume and any emails or cover letters you have sent out recently to apply for jobs
Bridging extension
After completing your studies, you may work full-time with a valid off-campus work permit for 90 days, and if you submit your application for post-graduation work permit during this same period, you may continue to work until the post-grad permit has been approved.
If your study permit expires within 90 days after your final marks are available or you have submitted your thesis or dissertation, prior to the permit’s expiry date you can apply for a study permit “bridging extension.” This is a study permit extension and can be submitted online to MyCIC.
