What the PGWP is
The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work permit for international students who graduate from an eligible program at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada. It lets you work for almost any employer in Canada, and the Canadian work experience you gain can count toward permanent residence. You can get a PGWP only once.
Who can apply (as of 2026-10-11)
- Eligible program: at least 8 months long, at a DLI and in a program that leads to a PGWP. Check the DLI list; not every program at a DLI qualifies.
- Full-time studies during each academic session, apart from permitted breaks and the final session.
- Deadline: apply within 180 days of receiving confirmation that you completed your program, and you must have held a valid study permit at some point during those 180 days.
- Not eligible: programs delivered under a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement.
Field of study
- Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates have no field of study requirement.
- Other graduates (for example, college diplomas and certificates) must have studied in an eligible field if they applied for their study permit on or after 1 November 2024.
- IRCC has said it will not add or remove fields for 2026. See IRCC's field of study page.
Language
For PGWP applications made on or after 1 November 2024, you need results from an approved test, less than 2 years old when you apply:
- CLB/NCLC 7 in all 4 abilities for university bachelor's, master's or doctoral programs;
- CLB/NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities for college and other programs.
Graduates of some flight schools are exempt. Convert your scores with our CLB/NCLC converter.
How long the PGWP lasts
- Program of 8 months to less than 2 years: up to the length of the program.
- Program of 2 years or more: up to 3 years.
- Master's program: up to 3 years, even if the program was shorter than 2 years.
The permit can't be valid beyond your passport's expiry date. Check the eligibility page for your situation.
Practical points
- Working while you wait. If you apply from inside Canada before your study permit expires, and you were eligible to work off campus, you may be able to work full-time while IRCC processes your application. Check IRCC's conditions before you start.
- No flagpoling. IRCC stopped issuing PGWPs at the border to people who leave and re-enter Canada just to get one on 21 June 2024.
- Fees and times: see the IRCC fee list and processing-times tool.
From PGWP to permanent residence
Skilled work done on a PGWP can count toward the Canadian Experience Class and some provincial nominee streams. Plan early: a PGWP can't be extended in most cases. French-speaking graduates can also look at the Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot.
Recent changes
- 2026: IRCC freezes the field of study list for the year.
- 1 November 2024: field of study requirement for non-degree programs, and language test requirement for all PGWP applicants.
- 21 June 2024: PGWP flagpoling ends.
How we can help
Anasse Boulbaroud, RCIC, can check your program's eligibility, review your field of study and language results, prepare your PGWP application and plan your next step toward permanent residence. Only IRCC decides. Book a consultation.