Finishing your program is a big moment, and it often comes with a quiet worry: what happens to my status now? For most graduates of Canadian colleges and universities, the answer is a Post-Graduation Work Permit. It is an open permit, so you can work for almost any employer, anywhere in Canada, and the experience you gain can count toward permanent residence. The rules changed in 2024, so it is worth reading them fresh, even if a friend applied only a couple of years ago.
Who qualifies
- You completed a program at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution that was at least 8 months long (or 900 hours for a program in Quebec).
- You kept full-time student status in Canada in every semester. Your final semester can be part-time.
- You apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program, and your study permit was valid at some point in those 180 days.
- You meet the language level for your kind of program, with a test result less than 2 years old when you apply.
- If your program was not a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, it may also need to be in an eligible field of study (see below).
The language and field of study rules
| Your program | Language level | Field of study |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree | CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four skills | No requirement |
| Other university programs | CLB 7 or NCLC 7 in all four skills | Must be an eligible field if you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024 |
| College, polytechnic and other non-university programs | CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four skills | Must be an eligible field if you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024 |
| Flight school | No requirement | No requirement |
IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. As a guide, CLB 7 in IELTS is 6.0 in each skill. To see the exact score for every test and level, use our language test score tool.
How long your PGWP lasts
| Your program | Your PGWP |
|---|---|
| 8 months to less than 2 years | Up to the same length as your program |
| 2 years or more | 3 years |
| A master’s degree of at least 8 months | 3 years, even if the program was shorter than 2 years (not for certificate or diploma programs) |
| More than one eligible program, each at least 8 months | The lengths can be combined, and the higher language level applies |
Your PGWP cannot run past the expiry date of your passport, so renew it before you apply if it is close to expiring. And you can only ever get one PGWP: if you had one after an earlier program, you cannot get another.
How to apply, step by step
- 01
Take your language test early
Book it in your final semester, so your result is ready when you finish. It must be less than 2 years old when you submit.
- 02
Get proof you completed your program
A final transcript or an official completion letter from your school. Your 180 days start from this confirmation.
- 03
Apply online within 180 days
You can apply from inside or outside Canada. Pay the work permit fee and the open work permit holder fee together ($255), and in most cases the $85 biometrics fee.
- 04
Keep working while you wait, if you qualify
If you applied while your study permit was valid, you can usually work full-time until IRCC decides (see the conditions below).
- 05
Get your permit and plan your next step
Check every detail on the permit when it arrives, and start mapping your route to permanent residence.
What your work permit shows
- 1The document number, at the top right.
- 2Your application number and unique client identifier (UCI).
- 3Your personal details. Check them against your passport.
- 4The expiry date. Apply to extend before it passes.
- 5For an employer-specific permit: your employer, occupation and work location.
- 6Your conditions, such as who you may work for and where.
- 7The permit itself says it does not let you re-enter Canada. To travel back, you may also need a visitor visa or eTA.
Working while you wait
You can work full-time while IRCC processes your PGWP if all of these are true:
- You had a valid study permit when you submitted your application.
- You completed your program of study.
- You were allowed to work off campus without a work permit while studying, and you did not work more hours than you were allowed.
Leaving Canada and coming back does not end this. If your application is refused, you must stop working on the day IRCC tells you.
Who cannot get a PGWP
- People who already had a PGWP after an earlier program.
- Students who completed more than 50% of their program by distance learning (for programs started from September 1, 2024, at least half must be in class in Canada, and time studied outside Canada is taken off the length of the permit).
- Graduates of English or French as a second language programs, and of non-credit programs.
- Most graduates of curriculum licensing programs, where a private college delivers a public college’s program.
From PGWP to permanent residence
A PGWP is temporary, but the skilled work you do on it is what many graduates use to qualify for permanent residence, most often through the Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry or a provincial nominee program. If your permit is getting close to its end and you have applied for permanent residence, a Bridging Open Work Permit can keep you working while IRCC decides.
Frequently asked questions
Can I start working the day after my last exam?
Usually, yes, if you apply for your PGWP while your study permit is still valid, you completed your program, and you were allowed to work off campus during your studies. You can then work full-time until IRCC decides.
Do I need a job offer to get a PGWP?
No. A PGWP is an open work permit, so you do not need a job offer to apply, and once you have it you can work for almost any employer in Canada.
My master’s program was only one year. How long will my PGWP be?
Up to 3 years. Since February 15, 2024, a master’s degree of at least 8 months can lead to a 3-year PGWP even if it was shorter than 2 years. This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.
Can I get a second PGWP if I study again?
No. You can only get one PGWP in your lifetime, so if you are planning more than one program, it can be worth finishing them before you apply, since eligible programs can be combined into one longer permit.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- You need an eligible program of at least 8 months, full-time study, and to apply within 180 days of finishing.
- University graduates need CLB 7; college graduates need CLB 5, in all four skills.
- A program of 2 years or more, or a master’s degree, can give you a 3-year PGWP. You can only get one in your lifetime.
- IRCC: Work in Canada after you graduate (PGWP) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: PGWP eligibility (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: PGWP language test results (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: PGWP field of study requirements (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: How long your PGWP is valid (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Apply for a PGWP (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Fee list (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Employer-specific work permit (sample IMM 1442 work permit) (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 7, 2026