The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is the most popular bridge from international student to Canadian permanent resident. It's an open work permit issued to recent graduates of eligible Canadian programs — letting you work for any employer, in any role, anywhere in Canada. PGWP duration matches your study program length: 8 months to 3 years.
PGWP at a glance
- Application fee: CAD $255 ($155 permit + $100 OWP holder fee)
- Biometrics: CAD $85 (if not already on file)
- Open permit: Work for any employer, any occupation, any province
- Validity: 8 months to 3 years (matches program length, capped at 3 years)
- Application deadline: Within 180 days of receiving final marks
- Processing time: 80–120 days online; faster from inside Canada
- One-time only: Generally a PGWP cannot be re-issued for a second program
PGWP eligibility — the major 2024 reform
In November 2024, IRCC tightened PGWP rules significantly. Eligibility now depends on three layered tests:
Test 1 — Designated Learning Institution (DLI) on PGWP-eligible list
Your school must be a PGWP-eligible DLI at the time you applied for your study permit and at the time you completed the program. Many private colleges in public-private partnerships were removed from the list in 2024.
Test 2 — Program length and credential type
| Program length | PGWP duration |
|---|---|
| Less than 8 months | Not eligible |
| 8 months – 1 year | Equal to program length |
| 1 – 2 years | Equal to program length |
| 2+ years (bachelor's, master's, doctoral, college 2+ year) | 3 years |
| Master's programs (any length) | 3 years (special rule) |
Test 3 — Field of study alignment (NEW for 2024+)
For college (non-degree) graduates, the program must be on the PGWP-eligible field of study list. This list targets occupations in long-term labour shortage (healthcare, trades, STEM, agriculture, transportation). Graduates from "general business," "general arts," and similar non-listed fields are no longer PGWP-eligible.
Bachelor's, master's, and doctoral graduates are exempt from Test 3 — they qualify regardless of field.
Step-by-step PGWP application
- Receive final marks from your DLI showing all program requirements met. Don't wait for graduation ceremony.
- Get your transcript and an official letter of program completion from your DLI registrar.
- Apply within 180 days of the final marks date. Late applications are refused.
- Maintain valid status during application:
- If your study permit is still valid → apply from inside Canada, work full-time under interim work authorization while waiting
- If your study permit expired → restore status first, then apply (within 90 days of expiry); cannot work during restoration
- Submit online via IRCC portal with transcript, completion letter, passport, payment
- Provide biometrics if requested (most applicants don't need to re-provide if already given)
- Receive PGWP in mail — 80–120 days typical processing
Documents you'll need
- Final official transcript from your DLI
- Official program completion letter from registrar (must state program met all requirements)
- Copy of your study permit + any related work permits held during studies
- Valid passport (entire PGWP duration + 6 months)
- Marriage certificate + spouse documents if including spouse for SOWP
- Recent passport-style photo (digital)
What PGWP does NOT require
- Job offer (it's an open permit)
- LMIA
- Provincial Attestation Letter (PAL) — PALs are for study permits, not PGWP
- Language test (until you apply for PR; not required for PGWP itself)
- Proof of funds
Common PGWP refusal reasons
- Late application — past the 180-day window. No extensions, no exceptions.
- Program length doesn't qualify — under 8 months, or non-credit components
- DLI was not PGWP-eligible at time of study permit issuance
- Field of study not on eligible list (post-2024 college graduates)
- Break in studies — extended part-time enrolment, or absences not authorized by school
- Distance learning >50% — programs delivered mostly online may not qualify
- Multiple programs combined — you took two short programs hoping to combine — IRCC denies many of these
Spouse and dependents
- If your PGWP is in TEER 0 or TEER 1, your spouse qualifies for a Spousal Open Work Permit (SOWP)
- Children can attend K–12 public school without a separate study permit
- Spouses of TEER 2/3 PGWP holders lost SOWP eligibility in Jan 2025 — see SOWP page for exceptions
PGWP → PR strategy
The PGWP is the most efficient route to Canadian PR. Build your CRS score during your PGWP years:
- 12 months of TEER 0/1/2/3 work = CEC eligibility (lowest CRS cutoffs in the pool)
- Stay in skilled work past 12 months — at 24 months, +17 CRS points
- Improve language scores — going from CLB 7 → CLB 9 adds 22 points per skill
- Get a provincial nomination — 600 CRS bonus = guaranteed ITA
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) — keeps you working in Canada while PR is processed; see our BOWP page
Useful official resources
- IRCC — Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
- IRCC — PGWP-eligible DLI list
- IRCC — PGWP field of study requirements (Nov 2024 changes)
Graduated or graduating soon? The PGWP application has hard deadlines and field-of-study tests that disqualify many graduates unexpectedly. We screen eligibility before you waste filing fees. Book a free PGWP eligibility check.
