Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an exceptional opportunity for international students who have graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada. This permit allows you to gain professional work experience in Canada and pave the way for building your career and potentially obtaining permanent residency.
General Eligibility Criteria for PGWP
You are generally eligible to apply for a PGWP if:
- You completed a program of study at a PGWP-eligible DLI that lasted at least 8 months (or 900 hours for certain programs in Quebec).
- You maintained full-time student status throughout each academic term in Canada (except your final term, which may be part-time).
- You apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving confirmation of program completion.
- Your study permit was valid at some point within those 180 days after graduation and before submitting your PGWP application.
Language Requirements
If you graduated with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree:
- You must demonstrate proficiency in English or French with a minimum level of CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all four language skills.
If you graduated from a college or a non-university program:
- You must show language proficiency with at least CLB 5 (English) or NCLC 5 (French) in all four skills.
Important Note: As of November 1, 2024, PGWP eligibility criteria have changed. If you applied before this date, or graduated from a flight school, you are not subject to the new rules.
You do not need to meet the new program-of-study requirements if:
- You applied for the PGWP before November 1, 2024 (regardless of your level of study).
- You graduated from a flight school eligible for PGWP.
- You graduated with a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree.
- You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024.
If none of the above applies to you, refer to the IRCC’s program list to confirm whether your program is eligible under the new PGWP criteria.
Eligible programs now fall under six main categories:
- Agriculture and Agri-food
- Education
- Health Care
- STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
- Trades and Technical Skills
- Transportation
PGWP Validity Duration
The length of your PGWP depends on the duration of your academic program:
- If your Master’s program lasted at least 8 months, even if less than 2 years, you may receive a PGWP of up to 3 years.
- If your program lasted less than 2 years but at least 8 months, your PGWP will usually match the length of your program (e.g., a 9-month program gets a 9-month PGWP).
- If your program lasted 2 years or more, you may be eligible for a 3-year PGWP.
- This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.
If you completed multiple programs consecutively, each at least 8 months long, your PGWP may combine the durations of all programs.
Note: Your passport must be valid for the entire period of the PGWP; otherwise, your PGWP will only be issued until your passport’s expiry date.
Who Is Not Eligible for PGWP?
You are not eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit if:
- You have already received a PGWP in the past.
- You studied English or French as a second language.
- You completed more than 50% of your program online (distance learning, e-learning, or correspondence).
- Note: If you studied online from outside Canada due to COVID-19, you may still qualify.
- You completed your program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada.
- You studied at a DLI that is not PGWP-eligible.
Why Is PGWP Important? Having a PGWP gives you the opportunity to work in Canada after graduation and gain valuable Canadian work experience. This experience significantly improves your chances of obtaining Permanent Residency (PR).
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