PGWP eligibility: what to check before your last semester

A Canadian diploma opens the door to a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) only if several other things line up: the school, the program, the way you studied, your language results and your timing. Most refusals we see come from one overlooked detail, often one that could have been fixed a year earlier. Here is how to check each piece.

Your school and your program are two separate checks

A designated learning institution (DLI) is allowed to host international students. That does not mean every program it offers leads to a PGWP. Check the school on IRCC's DLI list, then check the program itself against the PGWP criteria.

Length matters too. The program must last at least eight months, or 900 hours for programs in Quebec. Short certificates and some continuing education programs do not qualify, even at a well-known college.

The field of study requirement: does it apply to you?

This rule catches many students by surprise, but it does not apply to everyone. Ask yourself two questions:

• When did you apply for your study permit? If it was before November 1, 2024, the field of study requirement does not apply to you.
• What did you graduate from? Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates are exempt.

If you applied on or after November 1, 2024 and graduated from a college program or another non-degree program, your program's Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code must be on IRCC's list of eligible fields. That list is tied to occupations in long-term shortage, and it can change. In Quebec, DEC, AEC and DEP programs are non-university programs, so this check matters before you enrol, not after you graduate.

Language: a hard requirement, not a formality

You need a valid result from an IRCC-approved test, at a minimum level in all four skills:

You graduated from	Minimum level
A bachelor's, master's or doctoral program (or another university program)	CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French
A college or other non-university program	CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French

The result has to be valid when you apply, and it must come from a test version IRCC accepts; the list is in IRCC's instructions on the documents to submit. Book the test early: waiting for results can eat a large part of your deadline.

How you studied: in class, full time, in Canada

Your study history can change the outcome even with an eligible program. IRCC looks at whether you kept full-time status, whether you took authorized leave, and how much of the program you completed online.

The online rule depends on a reference date IRCC sets for your file. For most current students, at least half of the program must have been completed in class in Canada. Time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024 does not count toward the length of your permit. IRCC's page explains which version of the rule applies to you.

The 180-day window

You must apply within 180 days of the official confirmation that you completed your program, and your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days. The clock usually starts with your final transcript or a letter from the school, not with your last exam.

A few practical habits help:

• ask the registrar for your completion letter as soon as your final grades are posted;
• check that the names and dates on the letter, the transcript and the diploma match;
• apply while your study permit is still valid if you can, because it affects whether you may work while you wait.

Working while your PGWP is processed

Some graduates can work full time while their application is in process, but the conditions are specific: among others, you must have applied before your study permit expired and have been eligible to work off campus during your studies. If your study permit expired before you applied, do not start working until your situation is sorted out. Read IRCC's conditions for your case before accepting a job.

How long the permit will be

The length depends on your program and on the studies IRCC recognizes, not only on the level of your diploma. Your passport also matters: a passport that expires soon can cut the permit short. Renew it before applying if needed.

Keep in mind that you can only get one PGWP: anyone who has already received one is no longer eligible. Timing your application well matters.

A checklist to run before your last semester

• School on the DLI list, program eligible, at least eight months (900 hours in Quebec).
• Field of study requirement checked, with your exact CIP code if it applies.
• Language test booked or passed, at the right level, with an accepted test version.
• Full-time status kept, any leave documented, in-class share of the program verified.
• Passport valid long enough.
• Completion letter and final transcript requested as soon as grades are out.

If one of these points fails, look at other status options before your current permit expires. Our post-graduation work permit page explains what we review, and Quebec graduates should also look at the Quebec Experience Program, a separate route with its own rules.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a PGWP cost?

The fee is $255: $155 for the work permit plus the $100 open work permit holder fee. Check IRCC's fee page on the day you pay.

What happens if I miss the 180-day deadline?

The deadline is an eligibility requirement. Once it has passed, the PGWP is no longer an option, and you need to look at other ways to stay or work in Canada.

Can I combine two programs to get a longer permit?

In some cases, eligible programs can be combined, but you cannot simply add up study periods. IRCC sets the rules program by program.

Does my spouse get a work permit too?

Not automatically. A spouse's eligibility depends on the rules for family members of foreign workers and on the graduate's own situation.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:

• IRCC — Post-graduation work permit: who can apply
• IRCC — Post-graduation work permit