The PGWP helps students gain work experience and be eligible for PR pathways. Eligibility for this document is contingent on a few factors, one of the most significant being maintaining full-time status for every semester of the entire duration of a student’s studies. Moreover, taking extended breaks from one’s studies can, therefore, be detrimental to a student’s PGWP eligibility. So, here’s how to take a break from studying and keep your work permit.  

Note: While full-time is different based on each school’s method of counting course credits, IRCC generally defines it as students actively pursuing their studies, taking a minimum of three courses per semester. 

How To Take A Break From Studying And Keep Your Work Permit  

While students do need to maintain full-time status during their studies, there are exceptions that IRCC makes if conditions are met. 

Specifically, these are: 

  • If a student was not a full-time during a scheduled time off
  • Having to stop studying or change to part-time study between March 2020 and the fall semester of that year because of complications arising from the pandemic 
  • If a student took an authorized leave of absence for less than 150 days
  • If a student was not full-time for the last semester of their studies.

Students who need to take a leave from their studies during study periods can thus apply for an authorized leave of absence. 

This is a document provided by a student’s Designated Learning Institution that explains to IRCC that the student had a legitimate need to leave their studies for less than 150 days and had the school’s approval. DLIs are the only schools in Canada that are authorized to accept and provide housing for international students. 

Authorized leave of absence letters can be requested for various different reasons, some of the most common of which are: 

  • Medical illness
  • Pregnancy
  • Family emergency 
  • Parental leave
  • Mandatory military service
  • Change of program at the same school
  • Suspension from school 

How Can One Request An Authorized Leave Of Absence Letter From School? 

Different schools have varied processes to request an authorized leave of absence. However, these processes follow general themes. 

Usually, students will have to submit a request form to petition a leave of absence letter. At this time, they may also be asked to submit supporting documentation for their request to verify their need to pause studies. Moreover, students might be asked to submit immigration and travel documents, including: 

  • A copy of their study permit
  • A copy of their student visa or economic travel authorization
  • A copy of their passport 

Most schools have an immigration expert or even an international student hub that students can consult about their specific cases. 

Below are the dedicated authorized leave of absence letters for some of Canada’s most popular DLI’s: 

  • The University of Toronto
  • Waterloo University 
  • McGill University 
  • Queen’s University 
  • The University of British Columbia 

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].