PGWP Eligibility Depends on Your Program and Application Date

PGWP eligibility depends on your program, your study permit application date and whether you meet IRCC’s general requirements for graduates.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit allows eligible international graduates to gain Canadian work experience after completing an eligible program at a designated learning institution.

Graduating from a designated learning institution does not automatically make someone eligible. A school may offer both PGWP-eligible and ineligible programs.

What Is the PGWP?

The PGWP is generally an open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian institutions and programs.

It can allow a graduate to work for most compliant employers in Canada and may help the graduate build experience for a future permanent residence application.

There is no automatic PGWP simply because a student completed a Canadian program. Applicants must meet the applicable general, program-specific and location-based requirements.

Basic PGWP Eligibility Requirements

Most applicants must have completed a program at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution.

The program must normally have lasted at least eight months. For qualifying Quebec programs, the minimum may be 900 hours.

Students must generally have maintained full-time status during each semester of their program. Part-time study may be allowed during the final semester.

The applicant must apply within 180 days after receiving confirmation that the program was completed. The study permit must also have been valid at some point during the 180 days after program completion.

Applicants should check IRCC’s official DLI list and the specific program information before relying on PGWP eligibility.

Language Requirements for the PGWP

Applicants who submit a PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024 generally must provide proof of English or French ability. The exception is graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools.

The result must demonstrate reading, writing, listening and speaking. English results are measured using Canadian Language Benchmarks, and French results are measured using Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.

Program Type	Minimum Language Level
Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree	CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four skills
Other university program	CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four skills
College, polytechnic or other non-university program	CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four skills

Accepted tests include CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French.

Language test results must be less than two years old when the PGWP application is submitted.

Flight-school graduates are exempt from the language and field-of-study requirements, but they must meet the separate flight-school conditions, such as obtaining a Canadian commercial pilot licence or meeting the instructor-rating and job-offer requirement.

Field-of-Study Rules in 2026

A field-of-study requirement applies to graduates of other university programs and college, polytechnic or other non-university programs when the applicant submitted the study permit application on or after November 1, 2024.

Graduates with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree do not have to meet the field-of-study requirement.

Applicants who submitted their study permit application before November 1, 2024 are also exempt from the field-of-study requirement.

IRCC uses six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs codes based on CIP Canada 2021 to identify eligible fields. The eligible fields are linked to certain jobs in long-term shortage in Canada.

IRCC states that the eligible field list is frozen for 2026, meaning no eligible fields will be added or removed during 2026.

Students should confirm the program’s CIP code with their DLI and compare it with IRCC’s current list before applying.

How Long a PGWP Can Be Valid

The length of a PGWP depends on the level and duration of the study program and the expiry date of the applicant’s passport, whichever comes first.

A program lasting at least eight months but less than two years may lead to a PGWP valid for up to the same length as the program.

A program lasting two years or longer may lead to a PGWP valid for up to three years.

A master’s degree program lasting at least eight months may qualify for a three-year PGWP even when the program itself is shorter than two years. This rule does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.

Graduates who complete more than one eligible program may be able to combine program lengths if each program meets the applicable requirements.

A person cannot receive a new PGWP after completing an earlier program if they already received a PGWP.

IRCC cannot issue the permit beyond the passport’s validity date. If the passport shortened the permit, the graduate may apply on paper for an extension after obtaining a passport valid for the full eligible period.

Documents Needed for a PGWP Application

Applicants should provide proof that they completed their studies. Acceptable proof may include a degree, diploma or certificate, an official completion letter or an official transcript from the DLI.

Applicants must also provide proof that they were enrolled full time during the required study periods. An official transcript can help demonstrate both program completion and full-time enrollment.

Applicants subject to the language rule must include their language test results. Applicants subject to the field-of-study rule must provide proof that their program meets an eligible CIP description.

IRCC may request additional documents after receiving the application.

An upfront medical examination may be required if the applicant intends to work in an occupation for which a medical exam is required. A valid medical exam can prevent job restrictions from being placed on the PGWP.

When and Where to Apply

A graduate can apply for a PGWP from inside Canada or from outside Canada if they meet the applicable eligibility requirements.

Graduates in Canada should pay close attention to the expiry date of their study permit. If the study permit will expire before final marks are available, the graduate may apply for a visitor record or leave Canada and apply from outside Canada.

If the applicant remains in Canada after the study permit expires, restoration of student status may be required. A person who applies after the permit expires cannot work until the work permit is approved.

Applicants who apply while their study permit is still valid may be allowed to work full time while IRCC processes the application if they have completed the program, were eligible to work off campus during their studies and did not exceed the permitted work hours.

Applying at a Canadian airport, land border or marine port of entry is not available for PGWP applications.

PGWP Fee and Common Mistakes

IRCC lists the PGWP fee as $255. A graduate who must restore student status must also pay the applicable restoration fee.

Common mistakes include choosing a program that is not PGWP eligible, assuming every program at a DLI qualifies and missing the 180-day deadline.

Applicants may also face refusal if they submit an expired or incorrect language test, or if they fail to check whether a non-degree program meets the applicable field-of-study requirement.

Students should keep copies of their study permit, transcript, completion letter, language results and payment receipts.

PGWP Checklist for Graduates

• Confirm that the DLI and completed program are PGWP eligible.
• Confirm that the program lasted at least eight months or met the applicable Quebec hour requirement.
• Review whether the November 1, 2024 language rule applies.
• Check whether the field-of-study requirement applies based on the study permit application date and program type.
• Obtain valid language results if required.
• Collect proof of completion and full-time enrollment.
• Apply within 180 days of confirmation that the program was completed.
• Check passport validity before submitting the application.
• Pay the correct fees and retain the receipts.

What Graduates Should Check Before Choosing a Program

Future students should verify PGWP eligibility before paying tuition or submitting a study permit application.

The school should appear on IRCC’s DLI list as offering PGWP-eligible programs. The specific program must also be checked because a school may offer both eligible and ineligible programs.

Students entering a non-degree program after the 2024 rule changes should confirm the program’s CIP code and whether it meets IRCC’s eligible field-of-study rules.

Because immigration requirements can change, applicants should review the official IRCC pages again before submitting a PGWP application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fact-Checked: Checked against current IRCC pages for PGWP eligibility, language rules, field of study requirements, application documents, fees and 2026 field-list status.

Disclaimer: This article is general information and does not replace personalized advice from IRCC or a qualified Canadian immigration professional.