Hey everyone, I’ve been going over the PGWP rules lately and I keep running into confusion around the exact moment you’re allowed to start working after finishing your program. I know the general idea is that you can work as long as you’ve completed your studies and are waiting for your PGWP, but there’s a lot of grey area around timing—especially when it comes to the completion letter and your actual program end date.

I’ve heard stories of people starting to work a few days after their last class, thinking they’re good to go. But I’ve also seen posts saying you need the official completion letter from your school before you can legally work. So here’s where I’m stuck:
- What’s the official cutoff? Is it the day your program ends, or do you have to wait until your school issues the completion letter?
- If your school sends the letter a week after your last day, can you still start working on the day you finish, or do you have to wait until you receive the letter?
- How important is it to keep a paper trail—like a copy of your final grades, a signed confirmation from your school, or even a note from your program coordinator?

I’ve read that maintaining your student status until the end of your program is key, and that you can work during the gap between program completion and PGWP approval. But I’m not 100% sure how strict IRCC is about the documentation side of that. Some people seem to be working without the letter, but I don’t want to take a risk.

I’d love to hear from others who’ve been through this. What did you check first after finishing your program? What details did you make sure to keep on hand? Was your school prompt with the completion letter, or did you have to follow up?

Looking forward to your real-life experiences—thanks in advance!

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