WORK AFTER GRADUATION
Post-graduation work permit
Full-time international students who graduate from eligible post-secondary institutions in Canada may be able to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP is an open work permit that allows you to work in Canada and gain valuable work experience.
If you are interested in applying for Canadian permanent residence, the PGWP can help you gain the skilled work experience required for certain programs. You do not need a job offer to apply.
You can only apply for a PGWP once in your lifetime. If you plan to pursue further studies, consider carefully when to apply.
A PGWP can be issued for a maximum of three years, depending on the length of your program. In some cases, the duration may be shorter due to the validity of your passport or biometrics. If you didn鈥檛 receive the full length of your PGWP due to expiry of your passport, you can apply to once you have received the new passport
Language Proficiency Requirement
- You must submit results from an approved language test.
- Results must be less than 2 years old at the time you apply.
- You must meet the minimum required benchmark set by IRCC.
馃憠 Review accepted tests here:
The language requirement applies in all cases. If you graduated from a degree granting program on or after November 1, 2024, you must include language scores with your PGWP application.
Field of Study Requirement (if applicable)
- Applies to certain non-degree programs only
- Not required for 911吃瓜 degree programs (Bachelor鈥檚, Master鈥檚, PhD)
How to submit proof of language results and eligible field of study?
Depending on your鈥�, you may need to provide proof that you meet the
- language requirement for your study program
- field of study requirement (if applicable)
鉃★笍鈥疷ploading your Language Test Results - IRCC has updated its portal to add the dedicated field 鈥淧roof of Language Proficient鈥� under the optional documents. Even though the field appears under optional documents. Language score is mandatory for degree programs completed on or after November 1, 2024.
鉃★笍鈥�Uploading your Field of Study Requirement: Due to current IRCC system limitations, the online document checklist will not automatically request proof an eligible field of study. If required, you must upload this document under the 鈥淐lient Information鈥� section of your IRCC secure account. The field of study doesn鈥檛 apply to degree programs.
鉃★笍鈥�Important upload rules - You can upload only one file under 鈥淐lient Information.鈥� If multiple files are uploaded, only the most recent file will be saved. If you need to submit more than one document, you must combine them into a single file before uploading them.
鉃★笍鈥疪别惫颈别飞鈥�痮n submitting鈥痚ligible field of study.
Gaps in full-time studies?
Continuous full-time enrollment in each academic session (term) throughout your studies at 911吃瓜, is one of the requirements you must meet under the PGWP Program, with only a few exceptions listed below:
- ;
- Not enrolled or enrolled part-time in Spring and/or Summer 2020 as a part of temporary COVID-19 measures; or
- up to 150 days
Academic Sessions:
Undergraduate Students:
For 911吃瓜 undergraduate students, the Spring and Fall terms are considered formal academic sessions (terms) for immigration purposes. As an undergraduate student, your enrollment status in the Summer term will not impact your eligibility for a PGWP.
Graduate Students:
Leave Policy:
Undergraduate Students:
Prior to Fall 2025, there was no formal administrative process for 911吃瓜 international undergraduate students to apply for an authorized leave. If you took an academic session (i.e. Spring and/or Fall term) off during your studies at 911吃瓜, you must include a letter from 911吃瓜 confirming 911吃瓜's leave policy for undergraduate students in your PGWP application.鈥�痀ou can download this letter on the鈥�911吃瓜 website鈥�(Refer to the last FAQ on "How do I get a letter confirming 911吃瓜鈥檚 Enrolment and Leave Policy?").
Effective Fall 2025, 911吃瓜 has implemented an administrative authorized leave process for international undergraduate students for immigration purposes.
If you are an international undergraduate student required to take a Spring and or Fall term off, you may submit a鈥�leave request form鈥痵o that an authorized leave letter can be issued to you鈥�solely for immigration purposes, provided you meet the eligibility criteria.鈥��
Having an authorized leave letter will help you to be compliant with your study permit conditions and maintain eligibility for the post-graduation work permit with a leave鈥痷p to 150 consecutive days.鈥�
鉃★笍 Learn more on our Authorized Leave page.
鈿狅笍The leave of absence form for undergraduate international students is only available during the application period. If you're unable to access it, please check back once the application period begins. The leave of absence form will be released at the beginning of each academic term. Kindly note that you can鈥檛 apply for an authorized leave retroactively.
Graduate Students:
As a graduate student, there is a formal leave of absence process should you need to take a term off during your studies at 911吃瓜. Review the Graduate Studies鈥� website and our Authorized Leave page for detailed information on the process for applying for a leave of absence from 911吃瓜 and immigration considerations. If your leave is approved by 911吃瓜, it is considered an authorized leave.
If you had part-time term(s) or took term(s) off (unless you meet one of the), it will impact your eligiblity for the post-graduation work permit. In preparation for your PGWP application, you should write a letter of explanation and gather the supporting documents. Note that the final decision on your PGWP application will be made at the discretion of the immigration officer processing your application.
For more information on what supporting documents you can include to strengthen your PGWP application, review our FAQ on "How will my PGWP application be impacted if I had part-time terms or took terms off?"
If you have any additional questions or if one of the following situations applies to you, contact our International Student Advisors, Immigration Specialists to discuss the impacts and how you can strengthen your PGWP application:
- You did not maintain the continuous full-time enrollment requirement throughout your program of studies.
- You plan to take a break from studies during an academic session/term, or you will be away from your studies for multiple terms, or
- You plan to enroll (study) enrolling part time during a regular academic session.
As instructed in the , you must apply for a PGWP within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of your program completion from 911吃瓜. Calculation of the 180-day period begins the day the final marks are issued, or the day formal written notification of program completion (the Credential Completion Letter or the Senate letter) is received, whichever comes first.
To align with we recommend that you begin counting the 180-day period from the day your final grades are released in your final term of study, as the final grades will be issued prior to your Credential Completion Letter and/or your Senate Letter. Also, the date of your convocation ceremony has no relation to the 180-day application period for your PGWP.
To be eligible to apply for a PGWP within Canada, your study permit must be valid at the time of your application or if you meet one of the other requirements of of Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.鈥疦ote that your study permit will鈥��90 days after the day you complete your studies, or on the expiry date printed on your study permit,鈥痺hichever comes first.
If your study permit will expire during your final term and you plan to apply for your PGWP within Canada, please ensure to extend your study permit earlier (e.g. 3-4 months in advance) so that you will have a valid study permit at the time of your PGWP application.
To apply for a PGWP in Canada, in most cases, you will apply online. Review and follow the following online resources to prepare for your PGWP application:
- ;
- Post-Graduation Work Permit handout
and Instruction Guide:Post-Graduation Work Permit Applications on the required documentation and tips on completing the application form; and - 911吃瓜 Next Steps After Graduation webpage with important information on how to prepare for your PGWP application and next steps after graduation.
If you did not maintain continuous full-time enrollment (e.g. you studied part time or took an academic term off) at 911吃瓜, you must include a letter of explanation detailing your unique circumstance(s). Depending on the circumstances, supporting documents may also be submitted as evidence of reason(s) for any gaps in your full-time enrollment. For more information on what supporting documents you can include to strengthen your PGWP application, review our FAQ on "How will my PGWP application be impacted if I had part-time terms or took terms off?"
Work Before Applying For a PGWP
If you are eligible to鈥�work off- campus鈥痠n your final term of studies, you may continue to work unlimited on-campus and up to鈥�24 hours per week off-campus鈥痷ntil you receive your鈥�Credential Completion letter鈥�via go911吃瓜. However,鈥痽ou must stop working when your Credential Completion Letter鈥痠s issued.鈥�
Work After Applying For a PGWP
After submitting your PGWP application, you may start working full-time if you meet specific鈥�痵et by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as mentioned below:
- You had a valid study permit while submitting your application.鈥疨lease note that your study permit remains valid for 90 days after the Credential Completion Letter is issued, or until the actual expiry date whichever comes early.
- You were eligible to work off-campus without a work permit during your studies.
- You did not work off- campus for more than 24 hours per week during academic sessions (or more than 20 hours per week before Nov 8, 2024, unless you were eligible to work more under the temporary policies).
Review the chart below to check your eligibility to work before and after submitting your PGWP application.
Speak with an International Student Advisor, Immigration Specialist at least one term before you graduate to discuss your options if you'd like to apply. You may also review the "Post-Graduation Work Permit" handout on our Instruction Guides page for details on eligibility and how to apply.
Other Work Permit Options:
As a foreign national, you must have a valid work permit or proper work authorization to work in Canada. Other than the PGWP, there might be another (open) work permit that will allow you to work after graduation in Canada based on your individual circumstances.
- Visit for a list of IRCC鈥檚 temporary public policies on open work permits.
- Click to find out if you are eligible to apply for a work permit in Canada.