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Amer Rehman, RCIC #R515343 | Member, CICC

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

IRCC states: "The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) allows students who have graduated from eligible designated learning institutions (DLIs) to gain valuable Canadian work experience." (IRCC, About the PGWP)

IRCC lists "post-graduation work permit applicants" among those who may be eligible for an open work permit. "An open work permit lets you work for any employer in Canada, except those who" "are on the non-compliant list" or "regularly offer striptease, erotic dance or escort services, or erotic massages". (IRCC, Open work permit)

Program and Application Requirements

IRCC lists these requirements (IRCC, PGWP: Who can apply):

  • • "you completed a program of study at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution" "that was at least 8 months long (or 900 hours for Quebec programs)"
  • • "you maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program"
  • • "you apply for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program of study"
  • • "your study permit was valid at some point during the 180 days after you completed your program of study"

Check the institution on the IRCC designated learning institutions list. See our study permit page.

Field of Study

IRCC states: "If you submitted your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024, you must graduate in an eligible field of study." (IRCC, PGWP: Who can apply) See the IRCC eligible fields of study.

Language Requirement

  • • University degree programs: "You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas."
  • • "If you graduated from any other college, polytechnic or non-university program": "You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 5 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 5 in French in all 4 language areas."
  • • "If you submitted your PGWP application before November 1, 2024": "You don’t need to meet the language requirement for your program."

(IRCC, PGWP: Who can apply)

Who Isn’t Eligible

IRCC states that you aren’t eligible if you (IRCC, PGWP: Who can apply):

  • • "already received a PGWP"
  • • "studied English or French as a second language"
  • • "took general interest or self-improvement courses"
  • • "completed a non-credit program of study (except for a flight school program)"
  • • "received funding or a scholarship from GAC that requires you to return to your home country after graduation"
  • • "completed over 50% of your study program through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)"
  • • "completed a study program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada"
  • • "completed a course or program of study at a DLI that is not PGWP-eligible"

Quick Facts

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Amer Rehman, RCIC #R515343 | Member, CICC