PGWP eligibility: what to check before your last semester

PGWP eligibility: what to check before your last semester is a practical question to answer before your final term begins, while your school can still clarify your program details and enrolment record. 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. This guide is based on IRCC pages checked on October 17, 2026.

Key takeaways

What to check	Why it matters
Institution and program	A school’s DLI status does not mean every program it offers is PGWP-eligible.
Enrolment history	Every term counts, including part-time study, repeats and authorized leave.
Location and delivery	For most current students, at least 50% of the program must be completed in class in Canada.
Language and field of study	Your credential decides which requirements apply.
Completion and permit dates	You have 180 days after the school confirms completion to apply.
Supporting records	Keep documents that explain unusual terms, transfers or changes to your course load.

Start with the school and the specific program

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 IRCC’s PGWP eligibility requirements.

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. Check how your school describes the program’s length and hours, rather than its marketing name.

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

This rule catches many students by surprise, but it does not apply to everyone. You don’t need to meet it if:

• you applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024;
• you graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree;
• you submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024, whatever your level of study;
• you graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school.

Otherwise, for example if you applied on or after November 1, 2024 and graduated from a college or other non-degree program, your program’s Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code must be on IRCC’s list of eligible fields. Ask your school for the exact code. In Quebec, DEC, AEC and DEP programs are non-university programs, so this check matters before you enrol, not after you graduate; see our guide on the field of study and Quebec diplomas.

Audit every term on your transcript

Review your registration history and transcript term by term, not just your final semester. IRCC looks at whether you kept full-time status, whether you took authorized leave, and how much of the program you completed online.

If a term had fewer available courses, a required repeat or an unusual course load, ask your school for records explaining what was offered and your status for that term. If you need to add context to your application, prepare a short, factual letter of explanation and connect each point to a record.

For an authorized leave, IRCC says some students may take an authorized leave of up to 150 days and still meet study permit conditions, if they can show their DLI approved it. Keep the school’s documentation.

Check where and how you studied

The online rule depends on a reference date IRCC sets for your file. For students whose lock-in date is on or after September 1, 2024, at least 50% of the program must have been completed in class within Canada. Time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024 does not count toward the length of your permit. Make a term-by-term record of where you studied and whether your courses were in class or online, then apply the version of the rule that fits your file.

If you changed schools or programs, document the dates, institutions and credentials, and recheck how IRCC treats the full study history. Compare your timeline with the transcript while there is still time for the school to correct discrepancies.

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 must be less than two years old 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. A test taken too early may no longer be valid. Book it early enough that waiting for results doesn’t eat into your deadline.

Map the study permit and the 180-day window

Compare the expiry date on your study permit with your expected completion date. IRCC says a study permit expires on the date marked on it or 90 days after you complete your studies, whichever comes first.

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. Mark separately your last class, completion of the requirements, the school’s confirmation and your application.

• 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.

A worked timeline

Kenji finishes a two-year college program in Montreal. His last exam is on May 9; final grades are posted on June 6, and the registrar sends his completion letter on June 12. His study permit expires on August 31.

• His 180 days run from June 12, the official confirmation, not from May 9.
• His study permit ends on the earlier of August 31 and 90 days after he completed his studies; with the June notice, that is around early September, so August 31 comes first.
• He took the TEF Canada in March: NCLC 6 in all four abilities, above the NCLC 5 a college graduate needs, and less than two years old.
• He applies on July 3, while his study permit is still valid, so he can check whether he meets IRCC’s conditions to work full time while he waits.

Had he waited until October, he would still have been inside the 180 days, but without a valid study permit, with the work and status consequences that follow.

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; see our guide on restoring your status. Read IRCC’s conditions before accepting a job.

How long the permit will be

The length depends on your program and the studies IRCC recognizes. If your program was 2 years or more, IRCC may give you a PGWP valid for 3 years. For master’s programs, IRCC says that since February 15, 2024 you can apply for a 3-year PGWP even if your program was less than 2 years, provided it was at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec) and you meet all other requirements.

Program situation	What IRCC says
Program of two years or more	A PGWP valid for up to three years.
Qualifying master’s program, since February 15, 2024	A three-year PGWP even under two years, if the minimum length and all other requirements are met.
Shorter programs	Generally a permit matching the length of the program.

Your passport also matters: a passport that expires soon can cut the permit short. Renew it before applying if needed. And you can only get one PGWP: anyone who has already received one is no longer eligible.

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, our guide on what comes after graduation in Quebec covers the next steps, and Quebec graduates should also look at the Quebec Experience Program.

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; see our guide on the spousal open work permit.

What if my transcript has an error close to graduation?

Write to the registrar, identify the course, term and incorrect information, and keep the reply and the corrected record. Ask what interim confirmation the school can give while it corrects it.

Conclusion

PGWP eligibility comes down to comparing your actual program and study history with the rules that apply to you: the DLI and the program, each term on your transcript, where you studied, the language and field of study requirements, and the dates that affect your status. Resolve unclear records with your school before completion, and prepare your documents around the school’s confirmation and the 180-day deadline.

Official sources

Official pages consulted on October 17, 2026:

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