Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): Eligibility, Language Test and Length in 2026

The post-graduation work permit lets international graduates work for almost any employer, anywhere in Canada, after they finish their studies. It is an open work permit, so you don't need a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Canadian work experience you gain on a PGWP can help you qualify for permanent residence, for example through the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nominee program.

You can get a PGWP only once in your life. If you study again after using one, you won't get a second.

In general you must:

• Graduate from a PGWP-eligible program at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution
• Have studied in a program at least 8 months long (900 hours for Quebec vocational programs)
• Have been a full-time student in each academic session, except your final session and any authorized leave
• Apply within 180 days of the date your school confirmed you completed the program
• Have held a valid study permit, or been authorized to study in Canada, at some point during those 180 days
• Meet the language requirement and, for non-degree programs, the field of study requirement

Some programs never qualify. For example, programs delivered by a private college under a curriculum licensing arrangement with a public college are not eligible for students who started on or after September 1, 2024. Check your program before you enroll, not after you graduate.

If you apply for your PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, you must include results from a language test approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The results must show these minimum levels in all 4 skills (reading, writing, listening, speaking):

Approved tests are IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core in English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada in French. Results must be less than 2 years old when you apply. Use our CLB converter and read the language tests guide.

If you applied for your study permit on or after November 1, 2024 and you study in a non-degree program (for example, a college diploma or certificate), your program must be in a field on IRCC's list of eligible fields of study. The list links fields to occupations with long-term shortages, such as health care, trades, transport, and agriculture.

For 2026, IRCC has frozen the list at 1,107 program codes (CIP codes). The freeze means the list will not change during the year, so students who start an eligible program in 2026 can rely on it.

Degree holders are exempt. Graduates of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs do not need to meet the field of study requirement.

Your PGWP cannot last longer than your passport. If your passport expires sooner, you may get a shorter permit. You may be able to apply for more time after you renew your passport, but it is simpler to renew your passport before you apply.

Usually yes. If you apply for your PGWP before your study permit expires, and you were allowed to work off campus during your studies without going over the hour limits, you can generally work full time while you wait for a decision. This is part of maintained status.

If your study permit has already expired, you can still apply within the 180 days, but you must also apply to restore your status and you cannot work until you get your PGWP.

You can no longer get a PGWP at a Canadian port of entry. IRCC stopped processing PGWPs at the border in June 2024, and flagpoling for work and study permits ended on December 23, 2024. Apply online.

Most refusals come from a small number of avoidable problems:

• Applying too late. The 180-day clock starts when your school confirms you finished, not on your graduation ceremony date.
• Program not eligible. Some programs and schools never qualify, and short programs under 8 months don't qualify.
• Part-time study. Studying part time in a session other than your last one, without authorized leave, can make you ineligible.
• Missing language results. Applications from November 1, 2024 must include an approved test result at the right level. A school's own English test does not count.
• Field of study mismatch. For non-degree programs, the program's CIP code must be on the eligible list that applied when you applied for your study permit.
• Working too many hours during your studies. Breaking the off-campus work limit can lead to refusal.

A refusal is hard to fix because you can't get the 180 days back. If you are near the deadline or your case is unusual, talk to a lawyer or a licensed consultant (RCIC) before you apply.

Your spouse or partner can get an open work permit only if your PGWP job is in TEER 0 or 1, or in one of the selected TEER 2 or 3 occupations, and your permit is valid for at least 16 more months when they apply. See the spousal open work permit page. TEER stands for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities, the job levels used in Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC).

To stay permanently, most PGWP holders aim for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry or a provincial program. Check your chances with the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) calculator. If your PGWP is ending before your PR application is decided, you may qualify for a bridging open work permit.