Starting a semester a few days late (for example, returning from vacation a few days after the term begins) generally does not put your Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility at risk, as long as your institution doesn't penalize you academically for it.
What group members advised:- A short delay is fine as long as your institution doesn't expel or formally penalize you and still allows you to complete your program. IRCC's focus is on whether you remained a genuine, active full-time student throughout your program, not on exact day-one attendance.
- Most institutions require around 80% attendance for a course — as long as you meet that threshold, missing the first few days of a term shouldn't be an issue.
- What matters most is passing your courses per your university's academic policy. As long as you keep meeting your school's standards and remain enrolled full-time, a short late start doesn't break PGWP eligibility.
Still, check your specific institution's attendance and late-arrival policy directly, since individual schools can set stricter rules than the general IRCC guidance.