Loading…
Loading…
Up to 3yr
Max validity
180d
Apply within
Any
Employer
CEC→PR
PR pathway
VMC confirms PGWP eligibility before you apply - saving time and money.
Book your Expert Consultation →The PGWP is an open work permit issued to graduates of eligible Canadian institutions. It is the most common pathway from international student to permanent resident in Canada.
Your institution must be a PGWP-eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Not all DLIs are PGWP-eligible - and the list changes with policy updates.
Always verify on IRCC's website: The PGWP-eligible DLI list is updated regularly. Before enrolling in any program you intend to use for PGWP, search the current DLI list at Canada.ca. VMC advises on DLI and program eligibility before you commit to enrollment.
Starting November 2024, IRCC introduced field of study requirements for PGWP eligibility. Graduating from an eligible DLI is no longer sufficient - your program must also be in an approved field.
If you are graduating from a master's or doctoral (PhD) program, you are generally exempt from the field of study requirement. Your PGWP eligibility is based on institution eligibility and program length alone. This exemption covers most graduate programs including MBA, MEng, MSc, MA, and PhD degrees.
Programs in these areas qualify regardless of degree level (bachelor's, college diploma, etc.):
These fields may not qualify for PGWP if your program is at bachelor's or college level (not master's/PhD):
Note: The eligibility of specific programs is nuanced and IRCC policy continues to evolve. VMC strongly advises confirming your specific program's PGWP eligibility before committing to a course of study.
VMC confirms DLI eligibility, field of study requirements, and program length rules before you apply - saving you from a refusal.
PGWP length is determined by your program length. Understanding these rules is essential for planning your PR timeline.
A 3-year PGWP gives you the maximum window to accumulate 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience and apply for PR through Express Entry (CEC) or a PNP. A 1-year PGWP is tight - you must find a qualifying job quickly and apply for PR before the permit expires. If you miss the PR window, you may need a Bridging OWP (if your PR application is pending) or face leaving Canada.
Apply from inside Canada within 180 days of receiving your graduation confirmation. Late applications are not accepted - there are no extensions to this deadline.
Get your official letter of completion, transcript showing final marks, or graduation confirmation from your institution. The 180-day application window starts from this date - not convocation.
You must have held a valid study permit when you graduated (or for online programs, when you received final marks). If your study permit expired recently, you may still apply within a grace period - VMC can confirm.
Verify your institution is on the current IRCC PGWP-eligible DLI list AND that your program meets the 2024 field of study requirements. Do this before applying - refusals due to ineligible programs cannot be reversed.
Create or log into your IRCC secure account. Select 'Work Permit - Post-Graduation'. Upload all required documents, pay the $155 work permit fee, and submit. Apply from inside Canada.
If you have not provided biometrics recently, you will receive a biometrics instruction letter. Visit a Visa Application Centre (VAC) promptly. Delays in biometrics delay your PGWP.
If your study permit expires while your PGWP application is pending, you maintain implied status as long as you applied before it expired. You can work full-time if you had off-campus work authorization during studies.
PGWP Government Fee: CAD $155 (work permit) + CAD $85 (biometrics, if required). Apply from inside Canada via your IRCC secure account. Processing: typically 3-5 months. You maintain implied status (and can work) while waiting if you applied before study permit expiry.
PGWP cannot be extended (except in temporary public policy measures). Plan your PR pathway from day one of your PGWP.
The ideal outcome is to apply for and receive permanent residence before your PGWP expires. With a 3-year PGWP, you have 12 months to accumulate CEC experience, then apply through Express Entry and receive PR within the remaining 2 years.
Express Entry detailsIf your PGWP is expiring but your PR application is still in process, apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). Apply well before PGWP expiry - BOWP processing takes several months. Do not let your PGWP expire without a BOWP in place.
Bridging OWP guideIf PGWP expires with no PR application and no BOWP, you need another work permit (employer-specific with LMIA or LMIA-exempt offer) or must leave Canada. Start the PR process early - do not use all 3 years of PGWP before applying.
Canadian work experience gained on a PGWP is the most common route to PR for international graduates. Here is how the study-to-PR pipeline works.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) requires 12 months of full-time (or equivalent) skilled work in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations within the last 3 years. Your job's NOC code determines TEER level. Common PGWP roles in TEER 2/3 include many college-trained occupations in healthcare, IT, trades, and administration.
Many provinces have dedicated international graduate streams that target PGWP holders and recent graduates: Ontario International Graduate stream (OINP), Alberta Opportunity stream (AAIP, with an Alberta publicly funded institution credential and 6 months of Alberta work in the last 18), and others (the BC International Graduate stream closed on 26 November 2024). These often have lower CRS score thresholds than federal Express Entry draws.
PNP streams for graduatesPGWP vs. Getting a Regular Work Permit After Graduation: PGWP is far superior to pursuing an LMIA-based work permit immediately after graduation. PGWP requires no employer participation, no advertising, and no LMIA cost - you can start working immediately for any employer. LMIA work permits take 3-6+ months and require employer sponsorship. PGWP is the fastest, most flexible route to Canadian work experience.
These are the errors VMC sees most often in PGWP applications - each one can cost you your PGWP permanently or set back your PR by years.
Still have questions? Our licensed RCICs answer within 24 hours.
Book your Expert ConsultationGTA or anywhere in Canada: temporary status, PR strategy, employer files, or refusal review. We outline the plan before forms multiply.