About the PGWP

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.

How much of your online studies counts toward a PGWP?

Studies outside Canada

All of the time you spent studying online at a PGWP-eligible DLI from outside Canada between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, counts toward the length of a PGWP.

This policy changed as of September 1, 2022.

Find out if these changes affect you and how.

The following time won’t count toward the length of a PGWP:

• time spent studying outside of Canada after December 31, 2023 New
• time spent studying before you applied for a study permit

Studies in Canada

Until August 31, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program online or in class in Canada.

Starting September 1, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program in class in Canada.

How long is a post-graduation work permit valid?

Starting February 15, 2024, students who graduate from master’s degree programs of less than 2 years (8 months minimum) may be eligible for a 3 year PGWP.

The length of your PGWP depends on the level and duration of your study program, as well as the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first.

For master’s degree programs Updated 15 February, 2024

If your program was less than 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials)

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.

If your program was at least 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials)

You can apply for a 3-year PGWP, even if the length of your master’s degree was less than 2 years, as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria.

This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.

For all other programs

If your program was less than 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials)

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.

If your program was at least 8 months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials), but less than 2 years

We may give you 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 (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials) in length

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

If your passport expires before your PGWP

Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time you should be eligible. If your passport expires earlier

• we’ll only issue you a PGWP that’s valid until your passport expires
• we’ll tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity

Normally, you can only apply to extend a PGWP if we tell you to do so. If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP so it will be valid for the full length it should be.