PGWP: stay and work in Canada after you graduate.
An open work permit that lets you build Canadian work experience after completing your studies, often the first step toward permanent residence through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program.
An open work permit, valid up to 3 years.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to international students who graduate from eligible Designated Learning Institutions. It allows you to work for any Canadian employer, in any industry, anywhere in the country, with no job offer required when you apply. Duration is based on the length of your study program: an 8 month program leads to an 8 month PGWP, while programs of 2 years or longer can result in a permit valid for up to 3 years. Since February 15, 2024, master’s graduates qualify for a 3 year PGWP even if their program was shorter than 2 years. If you complete two consecutive eligible programs, the durations can be combined. Your passport expiry date sets a hard limit: the PGWP cannot extend beyond it.
For most international graduates, the PGWP is the bridge between studying and permanent residence. The Canadian work experience you build during these months qualifies you for federal economic immigration programs, particularly the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry, and for several Provincial Nominee Programs. The PGWP can be used only once in a lifetime, so timing and accuracy at application matter. Since June 21, 2024, all applications are submitted online through your IRCC Secure Account; flagpoling at the border is no longer accepted.
Six requirements, all must be met.
Each of the six requirements below must be satisfied before you submit your application. Missing even one disqualifies you with no appeal.
The six core requirements
- Program length of at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec), leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- PGWP-eligible DLI on the IRCC list. Not all Designated Learning Institutions qualify.
- Full-time status in every semester of your program. Only the final semester can be part-time.
- 180-day window to apply, counting from your program completion confirmation (final marks, letter, or transcript, whichever is earliest).
- Valid study permit at some point during those 180 days. Your permit becomes invalid 90 days after completion regardless of the printed expiry.
- 50% in-class in Canada for programs that started on or after September 1, 2024. Online time outside Canada is deducted from your PGWP.
Since November 1, 2024, IRCC also requires proof of language proficiency for nearly all applicants, and a recognized field of study for non-degree graduates. Both have their own sections:
Common disqualifying factors
- You already received a PGWP. Granted once in a lifetime, no exceptions for new programs.
- Program shorter than 8 months (less than 900 hours in Quebec).
- More than 50% online for programs starting on or after September 1, 2024.
- Authorized leave longer than 150 days, or stopped actively pursuing your studies.
- DLI lost designated status, or program through a curriculum licensing agreement without grandfathering.
- Worked without authorization during studies, or missed the 180-day application window.
CLB 7 for degrees, CLB 5 for everything else.
Since November 1, 2024, IRCC requires proof of English or French proficiency for nearly all PGWP applicants. The level depends on what type of program you graduated from.
Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Other university programs (non-degree) require the same level, in addition to a field of study requirement.
College, polytechnic, and non-university programs, including diplomas and certificates, in addition to a field of study requirement.
All four language areas are tested: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. You must meet the threshold in each area. Tests must be taken in person.
Accepted language tests
Tests must be the General version, not Academic, and dated within 2 years of your PGWP application.
Who is exempt
- PGWP applications submitted before November 1, 2024. Applicants in this group are not required to provide language test results.
- Graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools. No language proof is required, regardless of application date.
For non degree graduates, field of study matters.
Since November 1, 2024, IRCC requires certain PGWP applicants to graduate in an eligible field of study. Whether the rule applies to you depends on your program type and the date you submitted your study permit and PGWP applications.
You graduated from a non degree program
- College, polytechnic, or non university programs (diplomas and certificates).
- University non degree programs such as post graduate certificates.
- Your study permit was submitted on or after November 1, 2024.
- Your program must appear in the IRCC list of eligible CIP codes.
You don’t need to meet this requirement
- Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree graduates from any field.
- PGWP application submitted before November 1, 2024.
- Study permit application submitted before November 1, 2024.
- Graduates of PGWP eligible flight schools.
How CIP codes work
Eligible fields of study are identified through Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes: six digit numbers (format XX.XXXX) maintained by Statistics Canada. Your program’s CIP code must appear on the IRCC list of eligible fields when you submit either your study permit application or your PGWP application, whichever places it on the list first.
The current list focuses on fields linked to long term Canadian labour shortages, typically including healthcare, STEM, skilled trades, agriculture and agri food, and transport. Most DLIs publish the CIP code of each program on their websites; if you can’t find it, contact your registrar before applying.
IRCC has confirmed that the PGWP eligible fields of study list will not be updated for the entirety of 2026. No programs will be added or removed during the year. The next review is scheduled for early 2027.
Five steps to your PGWP application.
Apply online through your IRCC Secure Account, from inside Canada, within 180 days of program completion. Border applications are no longer accepted.
How to apply
Confirm program completion
The 180 day window starts the day you receive written confirmation of program completion: final marks, completion letter, or official transcript, whichever is issued first.
Gather your documents
Collect proof of full time enrollment, valid passport, language test results, and proof of eligible field of study (where applicable). Language and field of study proofs upload in the Client Information section, not the document checklist.
Apply online
Sign in to your IRCC Secure Account and complete the application from inside Canada. Flagpoling at the border is no longer permitted.
Pay fees and submit biometrics
Pay the fees during submission. If you have not provided biometrics in the last 10 years, IRCC will email instructions to attend a collection appointment.
Wait for the decision
Processing times vary. Check the current estimate on the IRCC website. Avoid leaving Canada while your application is in process unless necessary.
Required documents
- Proof of program completion · final marks, completion letter, or official transcript (whichever is earliest).
- Proof of full time enrollment · transcripts confirming full time status every semester (final semester may be part time).
- Valid passport · PGWP duration cannot exceed your passport’s expiry.
- Language test results · if applicable, in Client Information section.
- Proof of eligible field of study · if applicable, in Client Information section.
- Biometrics confirmation · if not provided in the last 10 years.
- Medical exam results · only if working in healthcare, childcare, teaching, or agriculture.
Fees
Standard PGWP fees total $340 CAD: a $155 work permit processing fee, a $100 open work permit holder fee, and $85 for biometrics where applicable. If your study permit has expired and you must restore status before applying, an additional $350 CAD restoration fee applies.
From PGWP to permanent residence.
The PGWP is a temporary work permit, not a permanent residence pathway by itself. The Canadian work experience you accumulate during the PGWP is what qualifies you to apply for PR through one of several federal or provincial economic immigration programs.
The Starting Point
Your PGWP is the engine that builds qualifying Canadian work experience. To count for most PR programs, your work must be in an occupation classified as TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 under the National Occupational Classification, and performed while authorized to work. Self employment and any work done during studies (including co op placements) do not count.
Federal Route · Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a federal program managed through Express Entry, and the most direct route for PGWP graduates. You qualify with at least 1,560 hours (12 months full time, or equivalent part time) of skilled Canadian work experience accumulated within the last 3 years.
CLB 7 for TEER 0-1, CLB 5 for TEER 2-3, in all 4 abilities.
2025-26 CEC draw range. Score varies draw to draw.
Once you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), IRCC processes complete CEC files in approximately 6 months. CEC applicants must intend to live outside Quebec.
Provincial Route · PNPs
Each province (except Quebec and Nunavut) operates its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) with streams tailored to local labour markets. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points to your Express Entry score, virtually guaranteeing an invitation in the next federal draw.
- BC PNP · International Graduate, International Post Graduate, Skills Immigration.
- OINP (Ontario) · Masters Graduate, PhD Graduate, Foreign Worker streams.
- AAIP (Alberta), MPNP (Manitoba), SINP (Saskatchewan), and others.
- Enhanced PNPs link to Express Entry; Base PNPs run on a separate paper process.
Category Based Express Entry Draws
IRCC also conducts targeted draws for priority categories: healthcare, STEM, skilled trades, French language proficiency, education, and agriculture and agri food. These draws often invite candidates with CRS scores below the standard CEC cut off, providing a faster pathway for graduates working in priority occupations.
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
The BOWP is not a PR pathway. It is a temporary open work permit available to applicants whose PGWP is expiring while IRCC processes their PR application. It allows you to keep working legally for any Canadian employer until your PR decision arrives.
Available only after IRCC acknowledges your PR application under an eligible stream: CEC, FSW, FST, Enhanced PNP, or Quebec Skilled Worker. Apply when your PGWP is within 4 months of expiry.
If You Studied in Quebec
Quebec operates its own immigration system, completely separate from Express Entry. Most PGWP graduates of Quebec institutions apply through the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ), which offers an expedited path to permanent residence after Quebec work experience and demonstrated French proficiency.
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Three decades of immigration practice.
Under Canadian law, paid representation before Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is restricted to Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs), lawyers, and Quebec notaries. RCICs are licensed and regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), and operate under strict professional standards. For most PGWP applicants, an RCIC’s role is not to fill out forms: it is to assess whether your case has a genuine risk before you submit, and to identify the strategic pathway that maximizes your eventual route to permanent residence.
Megrez Immigration Consultants has operated from Vancouver, British Columbia since 1996. Jose Godoy, RCIC R411151, has been licensed since the firm’s founding and works directly with international graduates from across Latin America and beyond. We provide bilingual representation in English and Spanish, with particular focus on Spanish speaking applicants navigating PGWP eligibility, language testing strategy, field of study verification, and the transition from PGWP to permanent residence through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program.
Your route to permanent residence starts with a conversation.
Book a free assessment with a licensed RCIC. We’ll review your case and map your path to PR.
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