One of the many advantages of studying in Canada is its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. This post-study work visa allows international graduates to gain valuable work experience in Canada after they complete their studies. An international student may apply for PGWP if they’ve completed an eligible study program at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada.
Want to learn more? We’ll dive into what a PGWP is, who can apply, and PGWP length below.
Note: This blog is provided as information only, and is subject to change as policies are updated. For official guidance relating to Canadian student visas and immigration, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website, or connect with a Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant.
What is a PGWP?
A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) is an open work permit that international students can apply for after graduating in Canada. An “open” work permit means that students aren’t tied to a specific job or employer. If you’re interested in staying in Canada, work experience completed while holding a PGWP can also count towards qualifying for permanent residence.
Graduates holding a PGWP may:
- Be self-employed
- Work full-time anywhere in Canada
- Work part-time anywhere in Canada
To apply for a PGWP, you must have graduated from an eligible study program at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). You’ll also need to prove that you completed your program by providing your degree, diploma, transcript, or an official letter from your academic institution.
Note: Not all DLIs, or programs at DLIs, are PGWP-eligible. To see if your program is, check the Government of Canada’s DLI list.
Who Can Apply for a PGWP?
PGWP applicants must have graduated from a full-time certificate, diploma, or degree program at one of Canada’s DLIs.
Most applicants pursuing a PGWP after November 1, 2024, will also need to show:
Some PGWP applicants may also need to supply other supporting documents, or take a medical exam.
As of September 2024, students who enrol at public-private partnership institutions may no longer apply for PGWPs.
What’s That Term?
Public-private partnerships are an agreement between a public college and an affiliate private college. Public colleges licence their curriculum to the private college, so while students attend classes at a private college, they graduate with a diploma or certificate from a public institution.
You may apply for a PGWP from inside Canada or from another country. You must apply within 180 days after graduating from your Canadian study program. In most cases, you must apply online.
You must either have a valid study permit, a visitor record to bridge the gap between your studies and the start of your PGWP, or have renewed your student status in order to apply.
Studying in Quebec? Check the IRCC website to see how PGWP eligibility criteria has changed for some institutions.
How Long Does a PGWP Last?
A PGWP may be issued for as short as eight months or as long as three years. It is not renewable.
The length of your study program will be considered—using supporting documents for confirmation—when determining how long your PGWP will last. Regularly scheduled breaks in the study program, such as winter and summer holidays, will also be factored in.
Except for master’s degree graduates, PGWP length depends on how long the applicant’s study program was. Program length must be confirmed in writing, in an official letter or transcript from the DLI.
Remember, a PGWP cannot extend past your passport’s expiry date. So, ensure that your passport is valid for the full possible PGWP duration before applying.
How Long Was Your Study Program?
Eight Months to Two Years
PGWP Duration: Up to or matching the study program’s length
- For example, if the program was 10 months, you can get a PGWP of up to 10 months.
- Master’s Degree Exception: Starting on Feb. 15, 2024, students who graduate from master’s degree programs of less than 2 years (8 months minimum) may be eligible for a 3 year PGWP. The study program must meet all other PGWP requirements.
- Accelerated Study: If you complete an eligible program on an accelerated schedule (like finishing a 12-month program in 10 months), you’ll be eligible for a PGWP which is as long as the original program. In this case, your PGWP could be up to 12 months long.
Two Years or More
PGWP Duration: Up to three years
More than One Program within Two Years
PGWP Duration: Combine the length of each program
- Each program of study must adhere to all PGWP program eligibility requirements, and be at least eight months in length.
- If the combined length of the programs is two years or longer, the work permit may be valid for up to three years.
Remember, you can only ever receive one PGWP. So, if you graduate from a postgraduate certificate program that’s one year long, apply for and receive a one-year PGWP, work for that year, then enrol in a one-year master’s degree program, you are not eligible to apply for a PGWP after finishing your master’s.
Extending a PGWP
To streamline the application process, make sure your passport is valid until after your PGWP ends. If your passport expires earlier, the government can only issue you a PGWP that is valid until your passport expires.
While it’s possible to extend a PGWP that ended prematurely due to an expired passport, students can typically only apply for an extension when they’re told to do so by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Extensions also must be done by print application (not online).
Wondering what working might look like during your studies? Check out our blog on working hours in Canada for international students.
Program Types and PGWP Eligibility
Distance and Online Learning
If you either started your study program OR your study permit receipt was dated between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2024 (whichever happened first):
- 50% or more of the program must be completed in Canada, either in person or online
- Any time spent studying online from outside of Canada before August 31, 2024 counts towards PGWP length, as long as it makes up less than 50% of the study program duration.
If you started your study program OR your study permit receipt is dated after September 1, 2024 (whichever happened first):
- Time spent studying outside of Canada after December 31, 2023 does not count towards your PGWP.
- Only time spent studying after applying for a study permit counts towards your PGWP.
DLI Strikes
If a strike impacts your studies, you’ll still be considered a full-time student throughout the strike period. Although missing classes due to a strike won’t affect your PGWP eligibility, it’s important for you to meet all other PGWP requirements.
Overseas Component
A student is eligible for a PGWP if they complete a program of study in Canada with an overseas component, as long as they earn an eligible Canadian educational credential from an eligible DLI.
However, the length of the PGWP is based on the duration of their studies in Canada. Officers may contact the DLI to confirm that the studies took place in Canada.
What If My Study Permit Expires Before I Get My Marks, Degree, or Diploma?
Before your study permit expires, you can:
Once your study permit expires, you have up to 90 days after that to apply for a PGWP—but you’ll also have to restore your status as a student, which costs an additional C$390 as of July 2025. If you don’t apply to renew your student status within 90 days of its expiry, you must leave Canada.
Can I Bring my Spouse or Common-Law Partner?
Spouses and common-law partners may accompany graduates holding a PGWP, and may be eligible for their own study permit or a visitor visa. In some cases, spouses and partners may be eligible for an open work permit.
If you’re planning to have family accompany you while you hold a PGWP, connect with your academic institution’s international student office for the most up-to-date advice.
As an international student, your future is open to many opportunities, and a PGWP can be a great way to get Canadian work experience. We hope that this information has cleared up some of your questions about the program, but if you’d like to learn more, check our blog archive for related posts.
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