Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can allow eligible international graduates to remain in Canada and gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies. However, graduating from a Canadian school does not automatically make someone eligible for a PGWP.

Eligibility can depend on the institution and program, study history, application timing, language results and, for some graduates, the field of study. Checking these requirements before applying — and ideally before choosing a program — can help avoid problems that may be difficult to correct after graduation.

Anka Canada Immigration Consulting assists graduates with reviewing PGWP eligibility and preparing applications based on their individual study and immigration history.

Services are provided by Volkan Sacilik, RCIC-IRB, CICC Licence No. R1042981.

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What Is a Post-Graduation Work Permit?

A PGWP is an open work permit available to eligible graduates of certain programs at designated learning institutions (DLIs). It generally allows the holder to work for most employers in Canada without requiring a specific job offer or LMIA.

A PGWP can also provide an opportunity to gain Canadian work experience that may later be relevant to permanent residence pathways. However, obtaining a PGWP does not itself guarantee eligibility for permanent residence.

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Who May Be Eligible?

General eligibility usually includes completing a qualifying program at a PGWP-eligible DLI, maintaining the required student status during the program and applying within 180 days of receiving confirmation that the program was completed. The study permit must also have been valid at some point during that 180-day period.

Students are generally expected to have maintained full-time status during each academic semester, although part-time study during the final semester may be permitted. Special rules and exceptions can apply in some circumstances.

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Language and Field of Study Requirements

PGWP rules changed significantly for applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024.

Graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs generally need to demonstrate at least CLB/NCLC 7 in all four language abilities. Graduates of many college, polytechnic and other non-university programs generally require at least CLB/NCLC 5.

Some non-degree graduates must also have completed a program in an eligible field of study, depending in part on when the study permit application was submitted. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from the field-of-study requirement. IRCC has confirmed that the eligible field-of-study list is frozen for 2026.

This makes it important to check both the school and the specific program, rather than assuming that every program offered by a DLI leads to PGWP eligibility.

How Long Can a PGWP Be Issued For?

The potential length of a PGWP depends on the type and duration of the completed program and passport validity.

Generally:

• programs of at least 8 months but less than 2 years may result in a PGWP of up to approximately the length of the program;

• programs of 2 years or more may result in a PGWP of up to 3 years;

• eligible master’s degree graduates may qualify for a 3-year PGWP even when the master’s program is less than 2 years, provided the program was at least 8 months and the other requirements are met.

Passport expiry can shorten the period initially issued.

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Can You Work While the PGWP Is Being Processed?

Some graduates who apply for a PGWP may work full-time while IRCC processes the application.

To qualify, the applicant generally must have had a valid study permit when the PGWP application was submitted, have completed the program, and have been eligible to work off campus during studies without exceeding the permitted hours.

This should be assessed carefully because submitting a PGWP application does not automatically give every graduate the same work authorization.

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Common Issues to Watch For

PGWP applications may become more complicated when:

• the school is a DLI but the specific program is not PGWP-eligible;

• required language results are missing or insufficient;

• a field-of-study requirement applies and the program’s CIP code is not eligible;

• there were part-time semesters, study gaps or authorized/unauthorized leaves;

• the 180-day application period is misunderstood;

• the study permit has already expired;

• passport validity may reduce the potential permit length.

Because a person can generally receive a PGWP only once, confirming eligibility and application requirements before filing can be particularly important.

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How Anka Canada Immigration Consulting Can Assist

Anka can review your school, program, study-permit history, transcripts, completion documents, language results and applicable field-of-study requirements to assess whether a PGWP is the appropriate work permit application.

Where retained, we can prepare the application, organize supporting evidence and identify issues such as study gaps, status concerns or documentation inconsistencies before submission.

The objective is to ensure that eligibility is assessed first and the application accurately reflects the graduate’s study and immigration history, rather than assuming that graduation alone guarantees a PGWP.

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Important Information

PGWP eligibility rules can change and may depend on when a study permit or PGWP application was submitted. Information on this page is general and does not guarantee eligibility or approval.