Work permits | International graduates
The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) lets international students who graduate from an eligible Canadian school work in Canada for up to 3 years. It is an open work permit, so you do not need a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This guide covers who qualifies, what your course completion letter must show, how the 180-day eligibility period works, and how the rules change when you apply from inside or outside Canada.
Dates decide your rules: Your requirements depend on when you applied for your study permit and when you apply for your PGWP. Since November 1, 2024, most applicants must prove their English or French, and many college graduates must also have studied an eligible field. For 2026, IRCC has frozen the field-of-study list, so no fields will be added or removed this year.
The PGWP is an open work permit under Canada’s International Mobility Program. It is issued under subparagraph R205(c)(ii) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, with exemption code C43. IRCC’s officer instructions say its purpose is to help graduates of eligible designated learning institutions (DLIs) gain valuable Canadian work experience.
Because the permit is open, you can work for most employers anywhere in Canada. You can also change jobs without a new permit.
The PGWP is a one-time opportunity. You cannot get a second PGWP after another program, and you cannot renew it. The only extension IRCC allows is when your passport expired before the full PGWP length could be issued (IRCC Help Centre).
Note: Graduating from a DLI does not by itself make you eligible. Not every school or program qualifies, so check the DLI list before you rely on a PGWP.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Program | International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt) |
| Code | C43, under R205(c)(ii) |
| Length | 8 months to 3 years, based on your program |
| Where to apply | Online, from inside or outside Canada. Applications at the border stopped on June 21, 2024. |
| IRCC fees | $155 work permit fee + $100 open work permit holder fee = $255. Biometrics are $85 if required. |
You must meet every condition on the day IRCC receives your application (IRCC eligibility page, officer instructions). Tick each one that applies to you.
Curriculum licensing (public–private partnership) programs: A program delivered by a private college on behalf of a public college is generally not eligible. There are only two exceptions. One covers programs within the same province started before May 15, 2024. The other covers programs between provinces started on or before January 31, 2023 (officer instructions).
Legal advisory: Since November 8, 2024, you must apply for a new study permit before you change schools. If an officer finds you broke your study permit conditions, you can be barred from getting a work permit for 6 months, under R200(3)(e)(i) (officer instructions).
The requirements depend on the type of program you completed (IRCC eligibility page).
| Program you completed | Minimum language level | Field-of-study rule |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree | CLB 7 (English) or NCLC 7 (French) in all 4 skills | None |
| Other university program (no degree) | CLB 7 / NCLC 7 | Applies if you applied for your study permit on or after Nov 1, 2024 |
| College, polytechnic or other non-university program (no degree) | CLB 5 / NCLC 5 | Applies if you applied for your study permit on or after Nov 1, 2024 |
| Flight school | None | None, but you need a Canadian commercial pilot licence, or an instructor rating and a DLI instructor job offer |
Since March 11, 2025, graduates of degree programs at non-university schools, such as a college bachelor’s degree, must also meet CLB 7 / NCLC 7 (officer instructions).
IRCC accepts CELPIP-General, IELTS General Training and PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Your results must be less than 2 years old when you apply, must cover reading, writing, listening and speaking, and the test should be taken in person (IRCC document page).
| Test | CLB 7 (degree and university programs) | CLB 5 (college and other programs) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS General Training | 6.0 in each skill | Reading 4.0, Writing 5.0, Listening 5.0, Speaking 5.0 |
| CELPIP-General | 7 in each skill | 5 in each skill |
| PTE Core | Reading 60, Writing 69, Listening 60, Speaking 68 | Reading 42, Writing 51, Listening 39, Speaking 51 |
Scores come from IRCC’s language conversion tables. French test equivalents are also listed there.
Language exemptions: you do not need test results if you applied for your PGWP before November 1, 2024, graduated from flight school, or are extending your PGWP because of your passport or changing its conditions.
If the rule applies to you, your program must match an eligible 6-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. These fields are linked to jobs in long-term shortage. IRCC groups them into 6 areas: agriculture and agri-food, education, healthcare and social services, STEM, trades and transport (IRCC field-of-study page).
Your completion letter usually starts your 180-day clock. It is also the main proof that you finished an eligible program. You do not need to wait for your diploma or graduation ceremony to apply (IRCC Help Centre).
You must also prove you studied full-time in a program of 8 months or longer. This is usually your official transcript or a copy from your school’s website (IRCC document page).
One document can be enough: IRCC’s officer instructions say the letter can be used on its own if it gives everything the officer needs. For example, it might confirm you attended full-time (except in your final term) and completed the program. Then a transcript would not be required. If the evidence is weak, the officer can ask for more documents.
IRCC does not publish a template. This checklist is our recommendation, based on what officers must verify. Ask your registrar to include:
You have 180 days to apply. IRCC’s officer instructions say the clock starts on the earliest of these dates:
Your study permit must also have been valid at some point during those 180 days (IRCC eligibility page).
Watch your study permit: It does not last for the full 180 days. It expires on the date printed on it, or 90 days after you complete your studies, whichever comes first (IRCC Help Centre).
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2026 | Final marks are posted. The 180-day clock starts, even if your letter arrives later. |
| March 20, 2026 | You receive your completion letter. |
| About June 13, 2026 | Your study permit expires, about 90 days after completion, if its printed date is later. |
| September 11, 2026 | Day 180. Your PGWP application must be received by this date. |
| Your situation | What it means |
|---|---|
| Study permit still valid when you apply | Apply from inside Canada. You may be able to work full-time while you wait. |
| Study permit will expire before you apply | Apply for a visitor record to stay longer, or leave Canada and apply from outside (eligibility page). |
| Study permit expired less than 90 days ago | Apply online for the PGWP and restore your status as a student in the same application. Pay the restoration fee and attach the receipt. You cannot work until your PGWP is approved (how to apply). |
| More than 90 days since expiry | You must leave Canada (how to apply). You can still apply from outside Canada if you are within your 180 days. |
You can apply from inside Canada under section R199 if your study permit is still valid when you submit your application (officer instructions). Most people must apply online. Inside-Canada applicants use guide 5580.
IRCC’s after-you-apply page says you can work full-time until a decision is made if you:
To show an employer you can work, give them copies of your completion letter or transcript and your study permit. Include the acknowledgement of receipt for your PGWP application, which must be dated before your study permit expired. If you received a WP-EXT for PGWP (IMM 0127 E) letter, include that too (IRCC Help Centre). If IRCC refuses your application, you must stop working the day you are notified.
Note: If you applied to extend your study permit and are waiting under maintained status, you cannot use R199 yet. You must wait for your new study permit (officer instructions).
If you can no longer apply from inside Canada, you can apply online for processing outside Canada under section R197. You must still be eligible and apply within 180 days of completing your studies (officer instructions).
Border rules: Since June 21, 2024, you cannot apply for a PGWP at the border. Since December 24, 2024, letter-of-introduction holders generally cannot get their permit when re-entering from the US or St. Pierre and Miquelon, unless they meet an exemption (officer instructions).
| Inside Canada (R199) | Outside Canada (R197) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who uses it | Graduates whose study permit is still valid | Graduates abroad, or in Canada without a valid study permit |
| Work while waiting | Yes, full-time, if the conditions are met | No |
| Visa or eTA | eTA issued if needed. A new visitor visa is not issued. | New visitor visa or eTA issued |
| Getting the permit | Issued without leaving Canada | Letter of introduction, then the permit is issued at a port of entry |
Graduates who studied online abroad: pandemic-era rules for distance learning depend on your “lock-in date”. This is the earlier of your program start date and your study permit application receipt date. With a lock-in date between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2024, online study from outside Canada before August 31, 2024, can count if it was less than 50% of your program. With a lock-in date on or after September 1, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program in class in Canada (eligibility page).
A PGWP runs from 8 months to 3 years. Its length depends on your program, and it can never go past your passport’s expiry date (About the PGWP).
| Your program | PGWP length |
|---|---|
| 8 months to under 2 years | Up to the length of the program (a 9-month program gives up to 9 months) |
| 2 years or more | 3 years |
| Master’s degree of at least 8 months (since February 15, 2024) | 3 years, even if the program was under 2 years |
| Quebec DVS/AVS | 900 to 1,799 hours: matches the program. 1,800 hours or more: 3 years |
| Two eligible programs, each at least 8 months, the second finished within 2 years of the first | The lengths can be combined, up to 3 years |
Legal advisory: These are maximums. The officer sets the final length using the program length confirmed in your completion letter or transcript.
Use this checklist to prepare your application (IRCC document page).
Upload tip: The online document checklist shows language results as “optional”. You must still include them if your program requires them. Proof of field of study is not on the checklist, so upload it under “Client information” (how to apply).
| Fee (CAD) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Work permit processing fee | $155 |
| Open work permit holder fee | $100 |
| Total PGWP fee | $255 |
| Biometrics (if required) | $85 |
| Restore your status (if your study permit expired) | $246.25 |
Fees come from the IRCC fee list. Check it again before you pay. Pay both the work permit fee and the open work permit holder fee, or your application may be delayed. Processing times change weekly, so check IRCC processing times.
Family members: once your PGWP is approved, your spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit (after-you-apply page).
| Refusal reason | What it looks like | How to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| No language proof | Results missing, older than 2 years, from an unapproved test, or below the minimum in one skill | Take an approved test early and upload the results |
| Field of study not eligible | A college program whose CIP code is not on the list for your dates | Confirm the CIP code with your school before you apply |
| Applied too late | Received more than 180 days after final marks or completion notice | Count from the earliest date, not the date you received your diploma |
| Ineligible school or program | Non-eligible DLI, curriculum licensing program or non-credit course | Check the DLI list and program status |
| Too much online study | More than 50% of the program completed by distance learning | Keep proof of in-person attendance in Canada |
| Full-time status not shown | Part-time sessions before the final session, or an unauthorized leave | Submit transcripts and proof of authorized leave |
| Study permit non-compliance | Changed schools without a new permit, or worked more hours than allowed | Fix gaps before you apply and get advice |
IRCC’s officer instructions give two sample refusals: a college diploma outside the eligible fields, and an application without approved language results. Both are refused under R200(1)(c)(ii).
Your PGWP is a one-time chance. A late application, a missing language result or a completion letter without the right details can cost you up to 3 years of Canadian work experience.
Neximm Immigration is an RCIC-led consultancy based in Dehradun, India. A licensed Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant advises on and represents your file. We check every date and document before you apply.
This guide offers general information and is not legal advice. It is based on IRCC web pages and program delivery instructions reviewed in October 2026. IRCC rules can change at any time. Contact Neximm Immigration for advice on your own situation.