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

The basic requirements

• The deadline: apply within 180 days of the confirmation that you completed your program of study.
• The program: at least 8 months long, or 900 hours for a program in Québec, at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution.
• The status: study full-time during each semester. The final semester can be part-time.

Language requirements

You must prove your English or French proficiency in all 4 skills (listening, speaking, reading and writing):

• 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 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 and can change.

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
• 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

And after the permit?

The PGWP is often the step that leads to permanent residence. 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.

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
• Prepare the application within the 180-day deadline and plan the next step toward permanent residence

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 case to analyze in a consultation.

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). Consulted September 14, 2026.