Post-graduation work permit (PGWP): are you really eligible?

A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) can let a graduate of an eligible institution work in Canada after their studies. Eligibility takes more than a Canadian credential: the institution, the program, the length and manner of study, language and, in some cases, the field of study all count. The rules also depend on the program you completed and the date of your study permit application.

Visa Canada Rouge, an immigration consulting firm in Montréal, helps graduates assess their eligibility and prepare the application. A review done before your final semester still leaves time to fix what can be fixed. Only Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) decides an application.

The basic requirements

• The deadline: apply within 180 days of the confirmation that you completed your program of study (a completion letter or final transcript).
• The institution and program: a designated learning institution whose program is PGWP-eligible. A school being designated doesn't mean all of its programs lead to the permit.
• The length: at least 8 months, or 900 hours for a program in Québec.
• Full-time status: you must have studied full-time in every semester. Only the final semester can be part-time.

The 180 days run from the confirmation that you completed your program, not from the graduation ceremony: note the date of the first official document confirming you finished. If you changed your course load, took a leave or transferred schools, review how that affects your eligibility rather than assuming the credential is enough.

Language requirements

You must prove your English or French proficiency in all 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing), with a test accepted by IRCC:

• Bachelor's, master's, doctorate or other university program: CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French
• College, polytechnic or other non-university program: CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French

These requirements don't apply to PGWP applications submitted before November 1, 2024. The result must reach the required level in each of the four skills: check the list of accepted tests and how long results stay valid before booking.

The field of study requirement

If your study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024, and you graduated from a college program or a university program that doesn't lead to a degree, your field of study must be eligible. Eligible fields are linked to occupations in long-term shortage in Canada; IRCC states it won't add or remove any in 2026.

Graduates of a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree aren't subject to this requirement.

Situations that make you ineligible

• Having already received a post-graduation work permit: you only ever get one
• Having taken a second-language program (English or French)
• Having taken a non-credit program (except flight training)
• Having completed more than 50% of the program by distance learning
• Having received certain scholarships that require returning to your home country

This list doesn't replace a review of every criterion: enough hours won't fix an ineligibility tied to the institution or the type of program. Our PGWP eligibility checklist goes through them one by one.

How long a PGWP lasts

IRCC sets the length of the permit from the level and length of your program:

• Program of 8 months to under 2 years (900 hours in Québec): a permit valid for up to the length of the program.
• Program of 2 years or more: a permit that may be valid for 3 years.
• Master's degree: since February 15, 2024, you can apply for a 3-year PGWP even if your master's program lasted less than 2 years, as long as it lasted at least 8 months. This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.
• More than one program: the permit may combine the length of each program, if every program is eligible and lasted at least 8 months (900 hours in Québec).

The permit is never issued past the expiry date of your passport. If it was shortened for that reason, IRCC allows a paper extension once you have a new passport; that isn't a second PGWP.

An open work permit

IRCC lists post-graduation work permit applicants among the people who can get an open work permit. You can work for any employer in Canada, except employers on the non-compliant list and certain excluded businesses. See IRCC's open work permit page.

How to apply and what it costs

In most cases you apply online, from inside Canada or from abroad, within 180 days of completing your program. The fee is $255: the $155 work permit fee plus the $100 open work permit holder fee. Add $85 if you need to give biometrics. Check IRCC's official fee list when you pay. The steps are on IRCC's page "Post-graduation work permit: How to apply".

Documents to prepare

The personalized checklist generated in your IRCC account takes precedence. In general, gather:

• your passport, checking its expiry date;
• the official letter confirming you completed your program;
• your final transcript;
• results from an accepted language test, if the requirement applies to you;
• information on the institution, the program, its length and, where needed, its field of study;
• your study permit and documents about your status in Canada;
• records explaining a part-time session, a transfer or a leave, if your studies include one.

Keep a copy of everything you submit.

Can you work while IRCC processes your application?

According to IRCC, you can work full-time until a decision is made if all of the following apply:

• your study permit was valid when you submitted your application;
• you completed your program of study;
• you were eligible to work off campus without a work permit while studying;
• you did not work more hours than you were allowed to.

If the application is refused, you must stop working on the day IRCC notifies you. See IRCC's page "After you apply".

If your study permit has already expired

IRCC gives you up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for a PGWP and restore your status as a student, paying the restoration of status fee ($246.25) as well. You can't work while restoration is pending. After 90 days, IRCC says you must leave Canada. Our guide to restoring your status walks through it.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Checking only the institution: the program itself must also be eligible.
• Confusing the minimum length with full eligibility: reaching 8 months or 900 hours isn't enough.
• Waiting for the ceremony: the 180 days run from the confirmation that you completed your program.
• Forgetting language or field of study: the requirements depend on the date of your study permit application and the type of program.
• Assuming you can work: all four IRCC conditions must be met, and they differ if your study permit has expired.
• Forgetting your passport's expiry date: it can limit the length of the PGWP.

And after the permit?

The PGWP is often the step that leads to permanent residence, but it doesn't lead there automatically. In Québec, graduates can aim for the Skilled Worker Selection Program (PSTQ). The Québec Experience Program (PEQ) has also temporarily reopened: applications are accepted from July 2 to October 31, 2026, for Québec graduates who met the requirements as of November 19, 2025.

If you plan to settle elsewhere in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class of Express Entry may fit: experience gained on a PGWP can count, while work done during full-time studies doesn't. Our guide graduated in Québec: next steps compares the routes.

What we do for you

• Check every requirement before the end of your studies, while there's still time to fix things
• Choose the right language test and the level to aim for
• Check your field of study and the length of your program
• Prepare the application within the 180-day deadline and plan the next step toward permanent residence

To take stock, book a consultation or describe your situation.

Frequently asked questions

I studied in a 900-hour program in Québec. Am I eligible?

Length is only one of the requirements. The institution and program must also be eligible, you must have studied full-time, you must reach the required language level and, depending on the date of your study permit application, your field of study must be eligible.

What happens if I miss the 180-day deadline?

The deadline is an eligibility requirement. After it passes, the PGWP application no longer meets the conditions. Other options then need to be examined based on your situation: exactly the kind of situation to review in a consultation.

Is the PGWP an open work permit?

Yes. IRCC lists PGWP applicants among the people who can get an open work permit: you aren't tied to one employer, apart from exceptions (non-compliant employers, certain excluded businesses).

Can I extend my PGWP?

IRCC allows a paper application to extend the permit when it was shortened by your passport's expiry date, once you have a new passport. Otherwise, you can only ever get one PGWP. To keep working afterwards you need another permit, such as an employer-specific permit or, while a permanent residence application is in process, a bridging open work permit.

Does the field of study rule apply to my bachelor's degree?

No. Graduates of a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree are exempt. The requirement covers college programs and university programs that don't lead to a degree, for study permits applied for since November 1, 2024.

Can I apply for a PGWP from outside Canada?

Yes. IRCC accepts PGWP applications from inside Canada or from another country, in most cases online, within the 180-day deadline.

Official sources: IRCC, "Post-graduation work permit: Who can apply" (canada.ca, modified June 24, 2026); Government of Québec, "Réouverture temporaire du Programme de l'expérience québécoise" (quebec.ca, June 17, 2026). Accessed September 14, 2026. IRCC, "About the post-graduation work permit" (March 9, 2026), "How to apply" (August 28, 2026), "After you apply" (April 24, 2026), "Open work permit" (March 31, 2026), "Express Entry: Canadian Experience Class" and "Citizenship and immigration application fees" (September 21, 2026): accessed October 11, 2026.