You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.

Graduation from a DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP. Check the DLI list to find out which schools have eligible programs.

You have 180 days after you get your final marks to apply for a PGWP.

How long is a post-graduation work permit valid?

How long your PGWP is valid for depends on the length of your study program.

If your program was less than 8 months

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.

If your program was more than 8 months but less than 2 years

You will get a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.

For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.

If your program was 2 years or more

We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.

If you completed more than 1 program

You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.

Each of the programs you completed must be

• PGWP-eligible and

• at least 8 months in length

You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.

Eligibility to apply

You can apply for a PGWP if:

• your study permit is still valid

• you have a valid visitor record

• you submitted an application to extend your study permit before it expired and no decision has been made on your application

• you submitted an application to change your status to visitor before your study permit expired and no decision has been made on your application

You must also have

• completed a study program

  • at a designated learning institution

  • that was at least 8 months long and

  • that led to a degree, diploma or certificate

• maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program

  • this doesn’t include your final semester, which can be part-time, or if you took an approved leave from your studies

• graduated from one of the following:

  • a public post-secondary school, such as a college, trade/technical school, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)

  • a private post-secondary school (in Quebec) that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec

  • a private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP)

    • an ASP can be less than 900 hours if it’s combined with a DEP

  • a Canadian private school that can award degrees under provincial law (for example, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province. Book a free online consulting with our expert counselor