Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

What is the PGWP?

The PGWP is an open work permit for certain international graduates of Canadian education institutions. It allows graduates to work for any employer in any location in Canada, and to change employers freely.

This program is designed to help Canada attract and retain skilled and educated foreigners. It is a pathway to permanent residence for those students who wish to stay in Canada after graduating.

Eligibility for a PGWP has gone through substantial changes in 2024. You must be up to date with the current rules to make sure you qualify for a PGWP.

PGWP Requirements: Who is eligible for a PGWP?

With a PGWP you can get the work experience you need to qualify for permanent resident status.

But, make sure you’re aware of the requirements for getting your Post-Graduation Work Permit:

• If you applied for your study permit after November 1st, 2024, you must have completed a PGWP-eligible program of study. Note- There are no field of study requirements for university graduates with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree.
• You must currently hold valid temporary status or have left Canada.
• You must submit your PGWP within 180 days of the final date of your study program;
• You must have completed a program of study that lasted at least two full-time semesters of study, and that resulted in a certificate, diploma, or degree;
• You must have studied at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and hold a final transcript and letter from the institution confirming you completed the program;
• Your DLI and the course you study must be approved for a PGWP;
• You must have maintained full-time student status for the duration of your program (unless you took a leave of absence, or took part-time classes in your final semester), and
• You must demonstrate sufficient language ability according to your level of study.

What is a PGWP-eligible Program of Study?

Applicants who apply for a study permit after November 1st, 2024 may need to have studied in a targeted field of study to be eligible for a PGWP.

Bear in mind, that eligibility for a PGWP has required the program of study to be at least 8 months for many years – and this requirement will continue. This means that we can expect the first lot of applicants required to show an approved field of study to apply for a PGWP in July 2025.

At this time (July 2025), not all applicants will need to show that they have graduated from an eligible field of study. Applicants who graduate from a university bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree program will not need to graduate from an eligible field of study to be eligible.

Applicants who graduate from another university program or a college program, must graduate in an eligible field of study. These fields of study are tied to labour shortages and in-demand occupations in Canada.

What Are The Eligible Fields of Study?

The identified fields of study have been divided into 5 categories that match the occupations targeted in Express Entry category-based draws.

These are:

• Agriculture and agri-food
• Healthcare
• Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
• Trade
• Transport

In addition to dividing into categories, the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) has been used to classify post-secondary education programs according to field of study in Canada.

There are 966 programs identified as eligible, these are:

What Are the PGWP Language Requirements?

As of November 1st, 2024, all applicants who apply for a PGWP must submit proof of English or French language ability. The level of ability needed depends on the level of study completed.

PGWP applications who have graduated from a university program must score at least CLB level 7 in all four tested areas (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).

Applications from graduates from a college program must score at least CLB level 5 in all four tested areas (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).

Which Language Tests Are Accepted?

The following exams are approved for the purpose of applying for a PGWP:

English

• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General
• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) General
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core

French

• TEF Canada
• TCF Canada

Language tests results are valid for 2 years.

Eligible Universities and Colleges

The educational institution must be one of the following: The applicant must provide evidence that the program or programs of study were taken in Canada at one of the following eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs):

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, a trade or technical school, a university, or a CEGEP (in Quebec); or
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec; or
• a private secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS).

See the DLI list to verify schools’ eligibility.

Applying for a PGWP

Eligible graduates of Canadian educational institutions may apply for a PGWP within 180 days of graduating. It does not matter whether you are inside or outside of Canada when you apply, so long as you’re eligible and it’s within the 180 day time limit.

You will need to show proof that you attended and completed your program, and provide information about the name of your program and how long the program ran for. There are specific documents required.

When To Submit a PGWP Application

Within 180 days of the date of applying for the post-graduation work permit, you must also meet one of the following criteria:

• You hold a valid study permit, OR
• You held a study permit, OR
• You were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit under paragraphs 188(1)(a) and (b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations. This list is limited to private staff of diplomats, members of the armed forces of certain countries, and indigenous people, but it also includes people who enroll in a course or program of studies that is six months or less and will be completed within the period for their stay authorized upon entry into Canada.

Canada’s PGWP: The Rationale

Canada wants international students and graduates to plan for a long-term career in the country. To facilitate this goal, the post-graduation work permit program allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience.

With this experience, graduates not only earn professionally — they can also benefit from permanent residence immigration programs that reward Canadian work experience, such as the Canadian Experience Class.

PGWP Validity

A post-graduation work permit may be valid for up to three years, depending on the duration of the study program in Canada completed by the applicant. Moreover, the post-graduation work permit is an open work permit, allowing its bearer to work in any location in Canada, not restricted to any employer. Neither the applicant nor an employer needs to obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before the worker may begin working in Canada.

The post-graduation work permit is sometimes referred to as a post-graduate work permit.

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Eligible universities and colleges

The educational institution must be one of the following: The applicant must provide evidence that the program or programs of study were taken in Canada at one of the following eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs):

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, a trade or technical school, a university, or a CEGEP (in Quebec); or
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec; or
• a private secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS); or
• a Canadian, private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees, such as an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, but only if the student is enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree, as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution

Note: Starting May 15, Post Graduation Work Permits will be restricted and no longer available to students in public/private partnership programs, also known as curriculum licensing agreements.

See the DLI list to verify schools’ eligibility.

Applications can be submitted either online or on paper.

Work permit duration

How long the post-graduation work permit is valid for depends on the length of the study program.

PGWP Processing Time

This depends on where the applicant is at the time they apply for their PGWP. PGWP submitted within Canada are currently taking 4 months to process. The processing times for applications submitted outside of Canada will depend on the processing delays of the processing office.

Can applicants work while waiting for their PGWP?

Yes, applicants can work full-time during the processing of their PGWP so long as they had a valid study permit when their PGWP application was submitted, have completed the program of study and have respected the terms of their study permit.

Unlike other applicants on maintained status, applicants who are waiting for the processing of their PGWP may leave and re-enter Canada and continue working while they wait for their permit.

Reasons applicants may get a shorter PGWP than expected.

Imagine finally getting your PGWP and it is shorter than you expected! There are a few reasons why this could happen, the  main being your passport validity. If your passport expires in 6 months, so will your PGWP.

Can a PGWP be extended?

Prior to the pandemic, there was only one way a a PGWP can be extended. That is if the original PGWP duration was limited to the applicants passport validity. If you are looking for ways to stay in Canada once your PGWP expires, consult our list of options you may have.

Special Initiative: Post-Graduation Work Permits Extension 2023

International graduates whose PGWP is expiring in 2023 will quality for an additional or extended work permit to keep their status for up to 18 months.

Starting April 6, 2023, these measures will allow PGWP holders to opt in to a facilitative process to extend their work permit.

Foreign nationals whose PGWP has already expired in 2023 and those who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure will also have the opportunity to apply for an additional 18-month work permit. Those with expired work permits will be able to restore their status, even if they are beyond the 90-day restoration period, and will receive an interim work authorization while awaiting processing of their new work permit application.

In August 2022, Canada introduced a new open work permit program for Post-Graduation Work Permit holders whose work permits expire between September 20, 2021, to December 31, 2022. These workers are also eligible to work in Canada for an additional 18 months by either extending their work permit or applying for a new one. Those currently in Canada will also have the ability to work in the interim period while their permit is being extended or a new one is being issued.

IRCC confirmed on December 7th 2023 that they will not be extending PGWP further. Those who have a PGWP expiring will need to look at other options to extend their stay in Canada.

How many PGWP can a student get?

A student can only ever get 1 PGWP, even if they go on to complete additional studies after their initial PGWP. This means that applicants should be mindful of PGWP durations when they apply for study programs if their goal is to remain in Canada and study.

How do accelerated studies impact the length of the PGWP?

In cases of accelerated studies, the PGWP will be assessed against the length of the program of study not the time taken to complete the  studied. For instance, if a 2 year program was completed in 18 months the length of the PGWP will be that of a 2 year program.

Does work experience acquired on a PGWP count towards permanent residence?

In most cases an applicant can use work experience acquired on a PGWP towards eligibility towards permanent residence. In fact, some PNP’s target international student currently studying in Canada.

PGWP Fees: How much does a PGWP cost?

A PGWP costs $155 CAD. In addition to the PGWP fee, the applicant must also pay a $100 CAD open work permit fee.

Can spouses of PGWP holders get a work permit?

Yes, spouses are eligible for an open work permit if the PGWP applicant is working in Canada.

Moving2Canada now has a complete study section, dedicated to helping you come to Canada as a student and stay long-term. Visit the study section to learn more!