Post-graduation work permit

01 What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit

A post-graduation work permit, commonly called a PGWP, is an open work permit for eligible graduates of certain Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs). It can let you work for most employers in Canada without a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

Graduating from a DLI does not automatically make you eligible. Your specific program must be PGWP-eligible, and you must meet the requirements that apply to your credential and study history.

02 Who Can Apply

In general, you must meet all of the following requirements:

• complete a PGWP-eligible program at a PGWP-eligible DLI that is at least eight months long, or 900 hours for an eligible Quebec program
• maintain full-time student status in Canada during each semester, although part-time study may be permitted in your final semester
• apply within 180 days after your school confirms that you completed the program
• have held a valid study permit at some point during those 180 days
• meet the current language requirement and, where it applies, the field of study requirement
• meet the location, distance-learning, and other rules that apply to your study history

03 Language and Field of Study Rules

The requirements differ by credential. For PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, most graduates must provide valid results from an approved language test covering reading, writing, listening, and speaking. IRCC says these tests should be taken in person.

04 How to Apply

You can apply from inside or outside Canada if you meet the requirements. The usual process is:

05 Documents and Special Situations

Your personalized checklist may vary, but common evidence includes:

• Passport — its expiry date can limit the length of the permit issued
• Proof of program completion — an official letter, transcript, or eligible credential from your school
• Full-time enrolment evidence — usually shown through official transcripts
• Study permit records — including proof that your permit was valid when required
• Language results — from an approved test, covering all four abilities and less than two years old when you apply
• Field of study proof — evidence connecting your program to an eligible CIP code, if the rule applies
• Medical examination proof — where needed for the work you plan to do

Field of study proof must currently be uploaded in the Client Information section of the online application because the standard checklist may not request it directly.

Authorized Leave and Part-Time Study

Part-time study is generally allowed only in your final semester. If you took a leave, provide the DLI's written authorization and records showing the dates and reason; an authorized leave of up to 150 days may be accepted in limited circumstances, while an unauthorized leave can affect eligibility.

School Transfers and Distance Learning

For a transfer between DLIs, provide transcripts and enrolment records from each school to show at least eight months of eligible study. If you transferred from a non-DLI, only time at the DLI counts. For distance learning, include course-delivery and location records because the applicable limit and the time deducted from the permit depend on when and where you studied.

Private-Public Curriculum Licensing Programs

Programs delivered by a private college on behalf of a public institution are generally not eligible, subject to limited transition rules tied to the province and program start date. Provide the admission letter, enrolment agreement, program delivery details, school records, and proof of the date you began.

Applying after Your Study Permit Expires

If you stayed in Canada without changing to visitor status, you may apply for the PGWP and restore student status within the separate applicable 90-day period after the study permit expired. Include the restoration fee receipt, expired permit, completion proof, and an explanation of your status history. You cannot work while waiting when your study permit was expired when you applied.

06 How Long the Permit May Last

The possible length depends on your credential, the normal length of your eligible program or programs, and your passport expiry date. You cannot receive another PGWP if you have already been issued one.

• Eligible master's degree: a program of at least eight months may support a three-year PGWP, even when the degree is shorter than two years
• Other eligible program under two years: the PGWP may be issued for up to the same length as the program
• Eligible program of two years or more: the PGWP may be issued for up to three years
• More than one eligible program: the lengths may be combined if each program meets the requirements, including the minimum program length

07 After You Apply

You may work full-time while IRCC processes the application if, when you applied, you had a valid study permit, had completed your program, were eligible to work off campus without a work permit, and had followed the permitted work-hour limit during academic sessions.

If those conditions do not apply, you must wait for the work permit before starting work. If IRCC refuses the application, any interim work authorization ends when you are notified.

Leaving Canada after applying does not by itself end qualifying interim work authorization, but a PGWP application does not guarantee re-entry. A Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) border services officer decides whether you may enter, and you still need the appropriate passport and travel document.

08 Frequently Asked Questions