Post-graduate Work Permit
(PGWP)
Turn your Canadian education into career success
Step into your career path in Canada
Our PGWP service helps international graduates work anywhere in Canada, gain valuable experience, and accelerate their path to permanent residency. The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows eligible graduates to gain essential Canadian work experience for a stronger future.
PGWP eligibility requires graduation from an approved DLI and program. Not all courses qualify, and completion alone doesn’t ensure approval. IRCC introduced updated criteria effective November 1, 2024.
Program Completion Isn’t Enough, You must meet IRCC criteria—finishing a DLI program doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP.
New Requirements (Nov 1, 2024): As of November 1, 2024, IRCC updated PGWP eligibility criteria.
Exemptions: If you submitted your PGWP application before Nov 1, 2024 or are a flight school graduate, you remain exempt from the new field-of-study and duration requirements.
PGWP: Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a PGWP, you must:
- Complete a full-time program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada (minimum 8 months or 900 hours in Quebec)
- Maintain valid student status at the time of application or apply within 90 days of program completion
- Apply online within 180 days of receiving your final transcript or completion confirmation
- Hold a valid passport for the full duration of the requested work permit
Recent Changes to the PGWP Program
Effective July 4, 2025, IRCC has introduced key updates to the PGWP rules:
- Reinstated CIP Field-of-Study List: Programs removed on June 25 have been reinstated and remain eligible through early 2026.
- Extended Grace Periods: Graduates now have 90 days (instead of 60) after program completion to submit their PGWP application.
- Online-only Extensions: All reinstatement and extension requests must now be filed through IRCC’s secure online portal.
- Automatic Open Work Permit for Spouses: Spouses/common-law partners of PGWP holders are automatically eligible for an open work permit once the main application is submitted.
Program Requirements & Latest Changes
IRCC uses 6-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2021 codes to determine if your program meets the field-of-study requirement for PGWP eligibility.
Exceptions apply if you:
- Applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024
- Hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree
- Graduated from an eligible flight school
- Submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024
To confirm eligibility, review the official list of approved CIP codes on Canada.ca and ensure your program aligns with current requirements.
