Post-Graduation Work Permit in Canada
Post-Graduation Work Permit, also known as PGWP, allows international students who have graduated from one of the Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) to work in Canada and obtain valuable Canadian work experience. With Post-Grad Work Permit international students do not need an LMIA and can work for any employer in Canada without any limitations. Having obtained skilled work experience in Canada international students can apply for various provincial and federal Canada Permanent Residence programs.
PGWP eligibility requirements
To obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) international students must meet the following minimum eligibility requirements:
be at least 18 years old;
If applying from inside Canada - must have a valid temporary resident status (can also apply from outside Canada);
have completed and graduated from an academic, vocational, or professional training program at an eligible DLI in Canada. The program must be:
at least 8 months in duration, and
leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate;
have maintained full-time student status in Canada during each academic session of the program (some exceptions apply);
have received a transcript and an official letter from their DLI confirming that they have met the requirements to complete their program of study;
Apply within 180 days of the date of completing their program at the DLI.
You are ineligible for PGWP if you:
have obtained a PGWP before;
received funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC);
This does not apply to Study in Canada Scholarship recipients
participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by GAC
obtained the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada–Chile;
participated in the Canada–China Scholars’ Exchange Program;
participated in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program;
completed the majority of the credits toward the completion of your program of study by distance learning;
completed a program delivered by a non-Canadian institution located in Canada, regardless of your length of stay in Canada.
Eligible institutions for PGWP
To be eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit you must prove that you have completed and graduated from the PGWP-eligible program at one of the following eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLI):
a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, a trade or technical school, a university, or CEGEP (in Quebec);
a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec;
a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
a Canadian, private institution authorized by provincial statute to award an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree to students enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree.
Not all Designated Learning Institutions offer PGWP-eligible programs.
Check if your school offers PGWP-eligible programs here:
How long your PGWP is valid for?
The validity of your PGWP depends on the duration of your program - the longer theprogram, the longer your PGWP will be valid for.
| Length of the program or programs of study | Length of Quebec vocational programs with a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) | Length of the Post-Graduation Work Permit |
|---|---|---|
| The program of study is at least 8 months and less than 2 years. | The vocational program of study is at least 900 hours and less than 1,800 hours. | The length of the work permit should coincide with the length of the program, as confirmed by the eligible DLI in the written confirmation of program completion (such as an official letter of completion or transcript). Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, regularly scheduled winter and summer breaks) should not be subtracted from the length of the post-graduation work permit. --- Note: For graduates with a DVS or AVS, a prorated calculation may be performed to determine the work permit length. Each additional 112 hours of an authorized program of study provides the applicant with an additional 1 month of work permit access. Officers should round up to the next full month. --- Note: Officers may issue 3‑year post-graduation work permits to individuals who complete a master’s or doctoral degree in Canada when the eligible DLI has confirmed in the written confirmation of program completion that the degree is 16 to 23 months in length, and does not include regularly scheduled breaks. |
| The program of study is 2 years or longer. | The vocational program of study is 1,800 hours or longer. | If the length of the program is confirmed by the eligible DLI in the written confirmation of program completion (such as an official letter or transcript), the length of the work permit should be 3 years. Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, regularly scheduled winter and summer breaks) should not be subtracted from the length of the post-graduation work permit. |
| The student completed more than one program from an eligible DLI within 2 years. --- Note: Each program of study must meet all PGWPP eligibility requirements and be at least 8 months in length. |
The student completed more than one DVS or a DVS and an AVS from an eligible DLI within 2 years. --- (The DVS program must be at least 900 hours in length. The AVS program can be less than 900 hours in length, if submitted in combination with a DVS.) |
The length of the work permit should combine the length of each program. --- If the combined length of the programs is 2 years or longer (or 1,800 hours or longer for a combination of a DVS with an AVS in Quebec), the work permit may be valid for up to 3 years (provided that the DVS program in Quebec is at least 900 hours in length). |
Accelerated Learning
If you complete your studies in less time than the normal length of the program, your PGWP should be assessed on the length of your program of study.
Distance or Online Learning
If you complete your program exclusively by distance learning (outside or within Canada) are not eligible for a Post-Grad Work Permit
If more than 50% of your program is completed by distance learning (outside or within Canada) you are not eligible for a Post-Grad Work Permit
If less than 50% of your program is completed by distance learning (within Canada) you may be eligible for a Post-Grad Work Permit. Validity of your PGWP will be based on the length of the program.
* distance-learning courses completed outside Canada are excluded from the time accumulated toward the length of the PGWP
How to apply for PGWP?
You can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) within 180 days from the date of your completion and graduation from the PGWP-eligible program at the eligible DLI. When you apply for a PGWP, you must be able to prove that you attended and completed your program by submitting your degree or diploma, your transcript, or an official letter from your DLI school.
Inside Canada with a valid status
If you want to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit from Inside Canada it is important that you maintain valid status in Canada. The easiest way to do this is to apply for a visitor record before your Study Permit expires. If you are in valid status and applied for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, you can start working as soon as you received that Acknowledgement of Receipt for your PGWP application and IMM 0127 E – WP-EXT for PGWP letter confirming your interim authorization to work while IRCC processes your PGWP application.
Outside Canada
You can apply for a PGWP from outside Canada within 180 days of graduating from your program at the DLI. If your PGWP is approved while you’re outside Canada you may enter Canada as a worker. However, if your PGWP application is not approved yet and you want to return to Canada you will need to have a valid Visitor Visa or eTA.*
You can enter as a Visitor and work in Canada without a Work Permit while your PGWP application is being processed by IRCC.
* If you don’t already have a valid Visitor Visa, you have to take into account that IRCC will issue your a TRV only upon approval of the post-graduation work permit.
How to apply for PGWP from inside Canada without valid status and with an expired Study Permit?
If you did not change your status to Visitor and your Study Permit expired, you must apply for restoration of status and for PGWP within 90 days from your Study Permit expiration date. If you don’t apply for restoration of status and PGWP within 90 days you must leave Canada.
However, it is important to remember that you can’t work until your Restoration of Status and Post Graduate Work Permit applications have been approved.
Speak to a lawyer about applying for PGWP or to develop your immigration strategy as an international student in Canada