Post-Graduation Work Permit
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows international students who have completed an eligible program at a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada to gain valuable Canadian work experience. If you’ve recently graduated—or are planning to study in Canada—the PGWP is your opportunity to stay, work, and build a future in Canada.
What Is a Post-Graduation Work Permit?
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). It allows international graduates to work for any employer, in any location across Canada, without needing a job offer or Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Depending on the length of your study program, the PGWP can be valid for up to three years. This valuable opportunity lets you gain Canadian work experience. Gaining this experience can help you qualify for permanent residency through programs like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
Let’s explore who can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Who Is Eligible for a PGWP?
Only students who graduated from DLIs may be eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). You must have completed an academic, vocational or professional training program at a designated learning institute (DLI) that offers PGWP eligible programs. Check your college on the list of eligible DLIs. During your study in Canada, you must have maintained full-time status as a student in each semester. There are some exceptions to this requirement. First, if you were part-time student in your final semester and second if you took an approved leave from your studies.
There are some scenarios when an international student is not eligible for PGWP. In order to get desired result, make sure none of these applies to you:
- received your first PGWP and applying second time
- Apply for Super Visa for Parents & Grandparents
- Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Apply for Transit Visa
- Apply Temporary Resident Visa – TRV for international students
- Apply Temporary Resident Visa – TRV for foreign workers
- Apply to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor
- Assistance with boarding gate requirements
When can you apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit?
You have 180 days to apply for PGWP from the day you got your final marks or formal written confirmation. This could be an official letter or transcript that shows you have met the requirements for completing your study program. Whichever comes first is the deadline. However, your study permit must have been valid at some point during these 180 days. The expiry of your study permit does not affect the 180-day period to apply for PGWP. There are three main reasons for this:
- Your study permit may expire before you get your final marks.
- You may have a study permit that is valid for longer than your study program.
- You may have finished your study program earlier.
What documents do I need from institute to apply for PGWP?
You can submit a PGWP application as soon as you have received an official letter from your school that confirms you’ve completed your study program, and an official transcript, or a copy of your transcript from your school’s website. Certificate, diploma or degree can be submitted with the application but these documents are not must. You do not either have to attend your graduation ceremony to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). You must demonstrate that you either hold a valid study permit, held a study permit, or were authorized to study in Canada without the requirement to obtain a study permit. To apply for PGWP from within Canada, you must have valid status.
How long is a Post-Graduation Work Permit valid?
The validity of your Post-Graduation Work Permit depends on several factors. It depends on the length of your study program. Students who completed programs that were less than 8 months in length are not eligible for PGWP. However, you can combine the length of two or more programs to meet the 8-month requirement. These study programs must be PGWP eligible programs from designated learning institutions (DLIs). If your study duration is more than 8 months but less than 2 years, you may be eligible for PGWP for the same duration as your study. If your study program was 2 years or more, you may be eligible for a 3-year PGWP.
Keep in mind that the expiry of your passport may affect the validity of your PGWP. You cannot receive a Post-Graduation Work Permit longer than the validity of your passport. If you are eligible for a PGWP that exceeds the validity of your current passport, you should renew your passport before applying. If you cannot wait to apply for PGWP, you may extend it to the full length once your passport is renewed. To do this, you will have to apply on paper.
Should I apply for PGWP from within Canada or outside Canada?
Eligible international students have two options to apply for PGWP. You can either apply from inside Canada or outside Canada as long as you submit a complete application. In order to apply from within Canada, you must have valid status.
What should I do if my study permit will expire before I apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit?
You must apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit before your study permit expires. In some cases, your study permit may expire before you get your final marks. If this is your scenario, you can either leave Canada and apply PGWP from outside Canada or apply for a visitor record to stay longer in Canada and apply PGWP from within Canada.
What is must in order to apply for PGWP from within Canada if my study permit has already expired?
You must apply for Post-Graduation Work Permit before your study permit expires. In some cases, your study permit may expire before you get your final marks. If this is your scenario, you can either leave Canada and apply PGWP from outside Canada or apply for a visitor record to stay longer in Canada and apply PGWP from within Canada.
Can I work while waiting for PGWP?
You can work while waiting for decision on your PGWP application if you applied for work permit before the expiry of your study permit, were allowed to work off-campus and continuing to meet the conditions of your study permit. If you have applied to restore your status and waiting for the decision, you cannot work . You can also not work if you are in Canada on visitor record even though you have applied for PGWP.
Can I travel during my PGWP application?
You can leave Canada at anytime while waiting for the decision on your PGWP application. Immigration officer may let you re-enter if you show proof application submission along with confirmation of receipt and payment receipt. You must have a valid temporary residence visa (TRV) or an eTA depending on your nationality.
Do I need TRV to enter Canada if I have valid PGWP?
You must have a valid temporary residence visa to enter Canada if you are from a visa required country. Foreign national from a visa exempt county must have a valid eTA.
How an Immigration Consultant Can Help
Navigating Canada’s entry requirements can be complex, especially if you’re unsure which visa or authorization applies to you. At Strive Immigration, our Immigration Consultants offer end-to-end assistance, from identifying the correct application type to preparing documents, writing invitations, and following up with IRCC. If your case is time-sensitive, urgent, or was previously refused, we’ll help you strengthen your application for a better outcome.
Related Services
Proper documentation and thorough preparation are essential for a successful temporary entry into Canada. Our licensed immigration consultants can help you choose the right application, avoid common mistakes, and increase your chances of approval.
We offer assistance with:
- Apply for a Visitor Visa
- Apply for Super Visa for Parents & Grandparents
- Apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Apply for Transit Visa
- Apply Temporary Resident Visa – TRV for international students
- Apply Temporary Resident Visa – TRV for foreign workers
- Apply to extend your stay in Canada as a visitor
- Assistance with boarding gate requirements