As of November 1, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has updated the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program.

To be eligible for a PGWP, you must:

• Graduate from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI):

  • Complete a program at a DLI that is eligible for the PGWP.
  • Ensure your program meets specific requirements; not all programs at DLIs are PGWP-eligible.
    
    

• Demonstrate Language Proficiency:

  • Provide valid language test results in English or French. Accepted tests include:
    
    
    • English:
      • Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) – General Test
      • International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – General Training
      • Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core
        
        
    • French:
      • Test d’évaluation de français (TEF) Canada
      • Test de connaissance du français (TCF) Canada
        
        
  • Test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.
    
    

• Meet Field of Study Requirements (if applicable):

  • For certain non-degree programs, your field of study must align with occupations facing long-term shortages in Canada.
    
    
  • Eligible fields include:
    • Agriculture and Agri-Food
    • Healthcare
    • Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
    • Trades
    • Transport
      
      
  • University graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD are exempt from the field of study requirement.
    
    

• Apply Within 180 Days of Graduation:

  • Submit your PGWP application within 180 days of receiving written confirmation (e.g., transcript, official letter) from your DLI indicating that you have met the requirements of your program.
    
    

• Hold a Valid Study Permit:

  • Ensure your study permit was valid at some point during the 180 days before you apply for the PGWP.
    
    

• Maintain Full-Time Student Status:

  • Maintain full-time status in Canada during each academic session of your program, with exceptions for:
    • Part-time status in your final academic session
    • Approved leaves from your studies
      
      
      

You may not qualify for a PGWP if you:

• Have previously been issued a PGWP.
  
  
• Studied English or French as a second language (ESL/FSL) program.
  
  
• Completed general interest or self-improvement courses.
  
  
• Participated in the Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or received funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) for programs like the Equal Opportunity Scholarship or Canada–Chile Leadership Exchange Program.
  
  
• Completed more than 50% of your program through distance learning, either inside or outside Canada.
  
  
• Completed a program that was less than eight months long.
  
  
• Studied at an institution that was not a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) or a DLI with programs not eligible for the PGWP.