Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Overview

The PGWP lets eligible graduates of Canadian designated learning institutions work for any employer in Canada. Canadian work experience gained on a PGWP can later support permanent residence through Express Entry. Eligibility rules, including program and language requirements, have changed in recent years.

Who may qualify

• Graduates of an eligible program at a designated learning institution
• Maintained full-time student status (with limited exceptions)
• Apply within 180 days of receiving final marks
• Meet current language and field-of-study requirements where they apply

The process

1. 1Confirm your program is PGWP-eligible
2. 2Get your final transcript and completion letter
3. 3Take an approved language test if required
4. 4Apply within 180 days
5. 5Receive your PGWP

Timeline: Check IRCC's current processing times

Check the institution, program and study history

A PGWP is an open permit for eligible graduates of qualifying Canadian programs. A job offer is not normally required. Admission to a designated learning institution does not establish eligibility: the particular institution, program, credential and delivery arrangement must qualify. Check before enrolling, transferring or paying non-refundable tuition.

General requirements include an eligible program lasting at least eight months, or 900 hours for qualifying Quebec programs, and full-time status during academic semesters with a permitted final-semester exception. Authorized leave, transfers, distance learning and unusual schedules require review. Keep evidence of interruptions instead of assuming a completion letter resolves the study history. The school’s DLI status alone does not establish that your specific program qualifies.

Requirements checklist: language and field of study

For applications on or after November 1, 2024, language evidence is generally required, with exceptions such as eligible flight-school graduates. Degree graduates generally need CLB or NCLC 7 in all abilities. Other university graduates generally also need level 7; college and other non-university graduates generally need level 5. Use an accepted test and correct version with valid results at submission.

Field-of-study requirements are separate. Bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees are exempt, as are applicants whose study permit application predates November 1, 2024 and certain other groups. Where applicable, identify the program’s six-digit CIP code. Check date-specific eligibility and eligible-code history against relevant application dates; a similar program title is not proof. Obtain a school confirmation rather than choosing a nearby code because it appears on a list.

Separate filing deadlines from lawful status

The usual filing window is 180 days after confirmation of completion. Record when the school first provided completion information and retain the email, transcript or letter. Graduation ceremonies do not necessarily start the clock. Study-permit validity requirements must also be satisfied under the applicable rules.

The 180-day window does not grant 180 days of immigration status. A study permit normally becomes invalid 90 days after completion or on printed expiry, whichever is earlier. Plan before that date. Depending on facts, you may need a change of status, an outside-Canada application or restoration if eligible. Restoration has its own deadline and fees and does not automatically authorize work. Completion, permit expiry and application dates are different dates and should be tracked separately.

Establish authorization before working

After completion confirmation, student work permission does not necessarily continue unchanged. Full-time work during a pending PGWP generally requires application with a valid study permit, completion, prior eligibility for off-campus work and compliance with work limits. Filing within 180 days alone is insufficient.

Applying after study-permit expiry or with visitor status does not automatically permit work while waiting. Keep submission evidence and documents supporting any pending-application exemption. Follow current IRCC rules for an authorization letter whose printed date passes before a decision. If refused, stop work when notified and assess remaining status. Employers also need a reliable basis to understand your authorization; a general statement that you applied is not always enough.

Permit length, travel and future planning

Length depends on credential and duration, with special rules for eligible master’s degrees and combined programs. Passport expiry can shorten issuance. Extension may be possible where passport validity alone prevented the full eligible period, but PGWPs are generally a one-time opportunity rather than renewable open permits.

A PGWP does not guarantee PR, qualifying Canadian experience or a spouse’s permit. Consider occupation restrictions, medical requirements and independent PR criteria before accepting a role. The permit is not a travel document. Check visa or eTA needs before leaving, and assess re-entry and work effects rather than assuming a pending application guarantees admission. Plan future authorization before expiry instead of waiting until the permit ends.

Government fees

Government amounts are in Canadian dollars and must be checked on the official fee list before payment. Professional fees, translations, medical examinations and other third-party costs are separate. Exemptions and family maximums may apply; paying a fee does not purchase approval.

Processing times: Use the linked live IRCC processing-times tool for your application type and location. Published estimates are not deadlines or guarantees. Allow separately for document preparation, biometrics, medical examinations and any passport submission. A processing estimate does not extend immigration status.

Document checklist

• Passport with sufficient validity and relevant permits
• Completion letter, final transcript and documented completion date
• Study permits, extension decisions and relevant submission receipts
• Semester enrolment records and supported leave, transfer or part-time explanations
• Accepted valid language results at the required level
• Confirmed CIP code and date-specific eligibility where applicable
• Medical evidence where required for intended occupations
• Completed forms, fee receipts and personalized-checklist evidence

Common refusal reasons

• Institution or specific program not eligible
• Deadline or study-permit validity rules not met
• Unexplained part-time studies or unauthorized breaks
• Missing, expired or insufficient language results
• Applicable field-of-study requirement unmet
• Contradictory dates or undisclosed employment violations

Frequently asked questions