Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
A PGWP is an open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian programmes — no employer, no job offer, no LMIA. It is usually the bridge between studying here and qualifying for permanent residence. The eligibility rules were tightened twice since 2024, and the details now decide outcomes.
The field-of-study rule, and who escapes it
If you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024, the field-of-study requirement applies to you — which means every study permit issued in 2026 is caught by it. But there is a large exemption.
- ● Bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree graduates are exempt — the field does not matter at all.
- ● College, polytechnic and non-degree university programmes must have a CIP code on IRCC's eligible list, currently about 920 fields across STEM, healthcare and social services, education, agriculture and agri-food, trade and transport.
- ● Your CIP code needs to be on the list either when you applied for the study permit or when you apply for the PGWP.
- ● Flight school programmes have no field-of-study requirement, but need a Canadian commercial pilot licence or instructor rating plus a job offer.
- ● Non-credit programmes are excluded outright — a clarification IRCC added in June 2026.
IRCC has stated that it will not add or remove eligible fields of study during 2026. That is a rare piece of stability in this area, and worth using.
Language — this one surprises people
For PGWP applications filed on or after 1 November 2024 there is a language requirement, and it applies in all four abilities.
- ● CLB / NCLC 7 for university programmes, including bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees, and non-degree university programmes.
- ● CLB / NCLC 5 for college, polytechnic and other non-university programmes.
- ● Accepted tests: CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada — results less than two years old.
- ● Where a credential combines programmes, the higher threshold applies.
Timing and length
- ● Apply within 180 days of the confirmation of completion, and you must have held a valid study permit at some point in that window.
- ● Programme of 8 months to under 2 years: permit up to the length of the programme.
- ● Programme of 2 years or more: up to 3 years.
- ● A master's degree of at least 8 months: up to 3 years regardless of programme length.
- ● The permit is cut short to your passport's expiry — renew the passport first if it expires soon, or you will lose months.
- ● One PGWP per lifetime. A second Canadian credential does not produce a second permit.
What to do with it
The PGWP window is the most valuable time an international graduate has, and it is finite. One year of skilled Canadian work experience opens the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry. Provincial streams increasingly reserve their nominations for people already working in the province. Category-based draws in 2026 favour healthcare, trades, education and French.
The graduates who struggle are usually the ones who spend the first eighteen months in work that does not count — self-employment, or an occupation that falls outside the TEER levels the programmes require. That is worth planning around on day one, not month thirty.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
Looking for related services? See our full Work Permits overview or all services.
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Frequently asked questions
Does the field-of-study rule apply to me?
If you graduated with a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, no — you are exempt regardless of what you studied. If you completed a college diploma, certificate or a non-degree university programme and applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024, then yes, your CIP code has to be on IRCC's eligible list.
What language score do I need?
CLB 7 in all four abilities for university programmes, including degrees, and CLB 5 for college and other non-university programmes. This applies to every PGWP application filed on or after 1 November 2024. Book the test early — waiting for a test date has cost people their 180-day window.
How long will my PGWP be?
Up to the length of your programme if it ran between eight months and two years; up to three years if it ran two years or more; and up to three years for a master's degree of at least eight months. It will be shortened to your passport expiry, which is the single most common avoidable loss we see.
Can I get a second PGWP?
No. It is a once-in-a-lifetime permit. If you have already held one, a further Canadian credential will not generate another. There may be other routes — a bridging open work permit, an employer-supported permit, a provincial nomination — but not another PGWP.
I missed the 180-day window. What are my options?
The PGWP itself is gone, but that is not the end of it. Depending on your status, an employer-supported work permit, a spousal open work permit or restoration of status may be available, and the right move depends on how long ago your status lapsed. Speak to a licensed RCIC quickly — the 90-day restoration window is unforgiving.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
More Work Permit services
Other pathways we handle in this area — or talk to a licensed RCIC about which fits your case.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.