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Post Graduate Work Permit

After completing an eligible Canadian post-secondary program, a student may apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). A PGWP is an open work permit that allows you to work for any employer of your choice in Canada. This Canadian work experience is extremely helpful when the PGWP holders apply for Canadian Permanent residence. Generally speaking, a PGWP holder needs to gain at least one year of professional work experience in a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code of 0, A, or B to then be eligible to apply for a Canadian permanent residence program.

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, students must have:

  • Completed studies in an academic, vocational or professional training program that is at least eight months long at an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) List.

    • Study program must lead to a degree, diploma or certificate.

  • Held full-time student status in Canada during every academic session of the program or programs of study completed and included as part of their post-graduation work permit application;​

  • Received a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that the applicant has met the requirements to complete their program of study;

    • The transcript and official letter must be included in a post-graduation work permit application.

  • Graduated from:

    • a public post-secondary institution, such as

    • a college

    • a trade or technical school

    • a university

    • CEGEP (in Quebec)

    • a private post-secondary school (in Quebec) that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec;

    • a private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer and results in the issuance of a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP); or

    • Canadian private school that can award degrees under provincial law (for example, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree) but only if the student was enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province.

Note: Graduates of vocational and professional training programs in Quebec must meet additional PGWP criteria outlined by IRCC depending on the type of diploma issued.

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Length of PGWP

The actual length of PGWP, depends on the length of your program at a Canadian DLI. 

  • If completed a program of less than 8 months: Not eligible for a PGWP

  • If completed a program between 8 months and less than 2 years: The PGWP will be valid for the same length of your study program 

  • If completed program of 2 years or more: PGWP will be valid for 3 years

  • Completed more than one program: You may be able to combine your Canadian educational programs to get a PGWP as long as the programs are DLI eligible and each over 8 months in duration. The total length of the PGWP will correspond to the durations mentioned above.

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You must apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit within 180 days (six months) of obtaining a transcript and an official letter from the eligible DLI confirming that the requirements to complete the program of study have been met.

If the study permit is set to expire before the marks have come in, candidates have two options:

  • apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer; or

  • leave Canada and apply for the PGWP

When applying, applicants must demonstrate that they either hold a valid study permit, held a study permit, or were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit.

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