The Government of Canada amended the postgraduate work permit programme (PGWP) on February 15, 2024. Students who have completed a master’s degree within two years can now apply for a three-year PGWP, assuming they match all other eligibility conditions.
Beginning September 1, 2024, students participating in curriculum licencing agreement programmes will no longer qualify for a PGWP. However, the special measures for distant learning and the validity of the PGWP have been extended until August 31, 2024.
A post-graduation employment visa is issued to foreign students after completing their education in Canada. PGWP holders can work anywhere in Canada for any employer for as many hours as they like.
The length of your PGWP is determined by the degree and duration of your study programme and the expiration date of your passport, whichever occurs first.
Are all international students eligible for a PGWP?
You may be eligible for a PGWP if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and wish to work temporarily in Canada. A DLI is a school licenced by a province or territory government in Canada to accept international students.
Graduation from a DLI does not immediately qualify you for a PGWP. Check the DLI list to see which schools offer qualified programmes.
Who is eligible for a longer post-graduation work permit?
Graduates of at least two-year programmes in PGWP-qualified approved learning institutions, as well as graduates of master’s degree programmes lasting fewer than two years, are eligible for a three-year PGWP.
For master’s degree programme
If your programme lasted fewer than eight months (or 900 hours for Quebec credentials), you are ineligible for a PGWP.
If your programme lasted at least 8 months and 900 hours for Quebec credentials, you can apply for a 3-year PGWP, even if your master’s degree was shorter than 2 years, provided you complete all other eligibility requirements.
How long does it take to get a PGWP?
Applicants may work in Canada while their PGWP is being processed, as long as they submit their application before their student permit expires. There is a 180-day timeframe within which you must apply for your PGWP from when you finish your academic programme.
If you leave Canada after finishing your studies, you can now apply for a PGWP from outside of the country.
