Canada Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Program
Canada Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) program gives international students permits to work after graduation for up to three years.
To work in Canada after you graduate as international student, you need a work permit. The work experience you gain while working may help you qualify for permanent residence.
Only graduates of certain Canada Designated Learning Institutions (DLI) are eligible for this work permit. Find out if you’re eligible for a PGWP.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the government department that issues all visas.
Even if you’re not eligible for a PGWP, you may still be able to work in Canada after you graduate. Find out if you’re eligible for another type of permit
PGWP work is exempt from the rigorous Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements. It is also an open work permits and you dont need a job offer. You can
- work full time
- work part time
- be self-employed
Gaining Canadian work experience through PGWP boosts graduates qualifications for permanent residence in Canada. A PGWP allows you to work for any employer of your choice in Canada. For example through the Canadian experience class, within Canada Express Entry System.
IRCC to review International Student Permit Program
On October 27th, IRCC announced changes to its International Student Program to strengthen the program and protect students from fraud. Please read CanIMM’s article Canada Changes Study Permit Program To Combat Fraud.
Canada international students admission study permit is fraught with fraud and scams according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Consequently, IRCC is introducing measures to combat fraud in the admission of international students and maintain integrity of study permit process.
Eligibility for PGWP: Who Can Apply?
Candidates must:
- Be 18 or older.
- Have continuously studied full-time in Canada in a program at least eight months long.
- Must have completed and passed all your program requirements
- Have graduated from one of the following:
- Public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school or university, or CEGEP in Quebec.
- Private post-secondary school that operates under the same rules as public schools (currently applies only to certain private post-secondary institutions in Quebec).
- Private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles(DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP).
- Canadian private school that can legally award degrees under provincial law (for example, Bachelor’s, Masters or Doctorate degree).
- Apply within 180 days of completing the program.
Post Graduate Work Permit: How long is it valid for?
IRCC may issue a post graduate work permit based on the length of the study program for a minimum of 8 months up to a maximum of 3 years. Please check IRCC website for latest regulations.
The validity of a PGWP is linked to the length of study. If a candidate studied for less than eight months, they are not eligible.
| Length of Study | 8 months to 2 years | 2 years or more | More than one program |
| Duration of PGWP | Same as length of study | 3 years | Cumulative total length of study is applicable |
When determining the length of a post graduate work permit, IRCC officers may consider the duration of the program of study in Canada and confirm it with supporting documents. Regularly scheduled breaks (for example, scheduled winter and summer breaks) should be included in the time accumulated toward the length of the post-graduation work permit.
A PGWP is valid for anywhere between 8 months to 3 years. The actual length depends on the length of your program at a Canadian DLI.