When Can You Be Less than Full-Time and Still Keep Work Permit Eligibility in Canada?

Introduction

Many international students in Canada worry about losing their eligibility for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) if they fall below full-time study status. The good news: you’re allowed to be part-time in only very limited circumstances, without jeopardizing your PGWP eligibility. In this article, CougarImmi breaks down the rules clearly, so you know exactly when it’s safe to reduce your course load.

What “Full-Time Student” Means Under IRCC

Before we go into the exceptions, let’s clarify what IRCC considers a full-time student.

• According to IRCC, a full-time student must normally take at least 15 hours of instruction per week (in classroom education or workplace training) during the regular academic year.
• However, the precise threshold may depend on your Designated Learning Institution (DLI) — each school can define what “full time” means for your particular program.
• Always check with your school’s registrar or international office to confirm what they accept as full-time for your program.

Maintaining full-time status is critical because PGWP eligibility generally demands that you remain a full-time student unless you fall under one of the two exceptions below.

The Two Exceptions: When You Can Be Less than Full-Time

Here are the only two scenarios in which you may not be full-time but still remain eligible for a PGWP:

1. Authorized Leave of Absence

You can take an authorized leave of absence from your studies — but there are strict conditions:

• The leave must be authorized by your DLI (your school).
• The leave should not exceed 150 days in total.
• The reason for leave should fall under acceptable grounds, such as:
  • medical reasons or pregnancy
  • a family emergency
  • serious illness or death of a family member
  • or another type of leave recognized by your institution
  
• Also, if your school closes (permanently or temporarily, say due to strike) or you switch schools or defer your program start date, your leave might still be considered “authorized.”

Important: During this leave, you cannot work on or off campus—even if your study permit normally allows you to work.

When applying for the PGWP later, you must prove that:

1. The leave was authorized by your DLI,
2. The duration did not exceed 150 days.
   

If you cannot satisfy those, you risk losing PGWP eligibility.

2. Final Semester / Last Term

In your final semester or term, you may study part-time (i.e. take fewer courses) and still remain eligible for PGWP.

However, some caveats:

• You must clearly explain your course load and circumstances in the “Additional Client Information” section when applying for PGWP.
• You cannot apply for the PGWP before you complete your final semester. You must wait until you receive your final grades, or an official letter or transcript confirming completion.

Timing: When Should You Apply for PGWP?

Once you’re done your studies, here’s how the timeline works:

• You have up to 180 days after receiving your final marks to apply.
• If you apply before your study permit expires, you may start working full-time while waiting for the PGWP decision.
• If your study permit expires before you apply, you have up to 90 days after expiration to submit your PGWP application—but you’ll also need to restore your student status.
• To restore status, you need to pay the restoration fee and include proof. Meanwhile, you cannot work until your PGWP has been approved.

If you miss these deadlines (i.e. more than 90 days have passed after your permit expired), you’ll have to leave Canada and apply for your PGWP from outside the country.

Tips & Best Practices from CougarImmi

Here are some helpful tips to protect your PGWP eligibility:

1. Plan ahead. Don’t reduce your course load unless absolutely necessary and unless it qualifies under one of the two exceptions.
2. Get documentation. Maintain evidence of any authorized leaves (school approvals, medical notes, communications) to submit with your PGWP application.
3. Communicate early. If you anticipate needing leave, talk with your international student advisor or registrar well in advance.
4. Be precise in your application. Use the “Additional Client Information” section to clearly justify any part-time study in final term.
5. Don’t delay your application. Missing deadlines can jeopardize eligibility.
6. Check DLI policies. Some schools’ definitions of “full-time” or “authorized leave” may differ slightly from IRCC’s baseline — always confirm with your institution.

Conclusion

For most of your academic journey in Canada, staying full-time is essential for work permit eligibility. But CougarImmi assures you: the two narrow exceptions — an authorized leave of absence (≤150 days) and part-time enrolment in your final semester — give you flexibility without endangering your PGWP rights.

If you’re unsure whether your situation qualifies, or if you’d like help preparing your application, reach out to us at CougarImmi — we’d be happy to guide you step by step.