Avoid graduate work permit refusals: IRCC releases new instructions on how to prevent crucial mistake

In recent months, some international student graduates have seen their Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) applications refused for missing language tests and/or proof of field of study requirements in their applications.

The omission is understandable: due to what Canada’s immigration department describes as “system limitations,” the government has not added a section in their application portal for these documents.

This has lead some to believe these documents were not required and leave this information out of their application entirely.

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These individuals may face a refused application, which would lead them to lose the opportunity to work in Canada and to build eligibility for popular permanent residence (PR) pathways meant for international graduates.

As a result, on December 10, IRCC added a new section to its website on how to apply for a PGWP.

This new section specifically states how you can submit proof of language results and eligible field of study documentation with an application.

This article will cover:

• IRCC’s newly published method for submitting proof of language skills and documents proving eligible field of study;
• What to do if you have already submitted your PGWP application without these documents; and
• Clarify who needs to show language results and proof of field of study requirements.

How to include your language test results and proof of study requirements in your PGWP application

IRCC’s current system doesn’t show these items on its online document checklist (where these documents are uploaded).

In other words, you will not see a specific slot asking you to upload language test results or proof that your program is in an eligible field of study.

However, IRCC’s updated instructions specify that you are to upload both documents under the “Client Information” section of your online account.

Keep in mind:

• You can only have one file saved in the “Client Information” section.
• If you upload multiple files, only the most recent one will remain in your application.
• If you need to provide more than one document (for example, a language test report and a letter from your school confirming your program/field of study), you should combine everything into a single file (such as one merged PDF) before uploading it to the “Client Information” slot.

You may need to compress your file to ensure that it meets IRCC’s system requirements. Further guidance is provided on the department’s webpage.

What should I do if I already submitted my PGWP application without the needed documents?

PGWP applicants who may have already applied without including this important supporting documentation can update Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) about their submitted application via the department’s web form.

The web form is made to contact IRCC in a variety of situations, including missing documentation for a submitted application.

To add the needed documents to your application:

1. Navigate to the “ask about or update your application” section of the web form.
2. Choose the “Add a document to your application” form.
3. When asked, “Who are you?” choose the option “I’m the principal applicant”
4. Fill out the needed information on the form that is generated.
   • Make sure to include both your application number and Unique Client Identifier (UCI)—as well as which application you submitted—to make sure that IRCC can identify your application in its system.
5. At the end of the form, you will:
   • Be asked: “Did we ask you to add the document(s) to your application?”
     – Choose the option “No, I want to add the document(s) to support or complete my application”.
   • Be able to upload your documents. Unlike the application portal, you can upload multiple files here, as long as the total size of all files does not exceed 3.5 megabytes.

Who needs to meet the field of study requirements and show official language tests?

In 2024,  IRCC added two new requirements for PGWP applicants: language tests and field of study requirements.

If you are required to show one or both of these requirements, based on your level of study, proof that you meet them must be included in your PGWP application upon initial submission.

Language tests must be submitted by all individuals who apply for a PGWP—regardless of their level of study. These test results must be from an officially designated organization.

However, the level of proficiency that an applicant has to show in either English or French (as measured by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)) differs based on what level of the study program an applicant has completed and is using to apply for their PGWP:

Field of study requirements, on the other hand, only need to be met by PGWP applicants whose program is at a level of study below a college bachelor’s degree:

To prove that they have graduated from an eligible field of study, PGWP applicants are usually required to attach an official graduation letter from their Designated Learning Institution (DLI) (on the school’s official letterhead, and signed by a representative of the school’s registrar) showing the candidate’s program name and official Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) code.

Again, these documents (if required) must be included in the initial submission of the PGWP application.

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