Applicant Track

⚠️ One important thing before you start You can normally receive only one Post-Graduation Work Permit in your lifetime. If IRCC shortens it only because your passport expires before the full eligible period, you may be able to apply on paper to extend it after getting a new passport. This exception does not apply to every short PGWP. Verify current PGWP rules directly with IRCC ↗

Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

A step-by-step walkthrough of the PGWP application process. Every step links directly to the official IRCC source. This page organizes the process — it does not interpret your eligibility.

Last verified against IRCC: August 22, 2026

Fee: CAD $255

Processing times: see official IRCC source ↗

What this guide does not determine

Whether you are eligible for a PGWP under the current language, field-of-study, DLI, and program rules
Whether you are authorized to work while your application is pending (maintained status details vary)
Whether travel outside Canada affects your application or your entry right
What to do if your specific academic or study permit situation differs from the standard process

For individual eligibility and legal questions, verify requirements directly with IRCC ↗ or consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) ↗ or licensed immigration lawyer.

🔔 What changed recently As of November 1, 2024, most new PGWP applicants must meet language requirements, and some must meet field-of-study requirements. If any portion of your studies was remote, verify the separate distance-learning rules directly on the official IRCC eligibility page before applying. Check current eligibility rules ↗

Before you read further — check these first

Many students wait for convocation before applying. This is a common and costly mistake. IRCC describes the deadline as 180 days from confirmation that you completed your program of study. Use your official school documents to confirm your own date.
If your study permit expires before you submit your PGWP application, your work authorization while waiting is affected. Verify your specific situation directly with IRCC before making any decisions.
Your study permit expires on the date printed on the permit OR 90 days after you complete your studies — whichever comes first. You must apply for your PGWP before your study permit expires to be eligible to work while waiting. Do not wait until day 100.
Verify current rules: IRCC PGWP Eligibility ↗

The PGWP timeline at a glance

Day 0

School confirms you completed your program. Your 180-day application window is based on that confirmation.
Before study permit expiry

Submit your PGWP application online before your study permit expires.
After submission

You are on maintained status while IRCC processes your application. Verify work authorization directly with IRCC.
Decision issued

Inside-Canada applications receive a decision letter in the IRCC account and the work permit is mailed. Outside-Canada applications may receive a port of entry letter of introduction.

Work authorization at each stage depends on your specific situation. Verify with official IRCC guidance before making any decisions. IRCC PGWP main page ↗

01 Who this page is for

✓ Likely applies to you if

You graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
Your program was at least 8 months long
You were a full-time student for most of your program
You had a valid study permit when you graduated
You are within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program

✗ May not apply if

Your DLI is not on the PGWP-eligible institutions list
Your program was entirely online (check COVID exceptions)
You have held a PGWP before
You studied on a visitor visa, not a study permit
More than 180 days have passed since confirmation that you completed your program

Always verify your eligibility directly with IRCC before starting an application. This page cannot determine whether you qualify.

02 Before you start — what to have ready

Proof that you completed your studies — this may be an official letter, transcript, or degree, diploma, or certificate from your school. Use the document your IRCC checklist asks for.
Valid passport — must be valid for the length of permit you are requesting. IRCC will not issue a permit longer than your passport's validity period.
Copy of your current study permit — including all pages and any extensions you received.
Digital photo — meeting IRCC photo specifications: 35mm × 45mm, white background, taken within the last 6 months.
IRCC secure account credentials — GCKey or Sign-In Partner login. If you applied for your study permit online, you already have an account.
Payment method — credit or debit card for the $255 CAD fee. The fee is non-refundable.
Your school's DLI number — found on your study permit or your school's website. Confirm your institution is on the PGWP-eligible DLI list before applying.

Current language requirement

For PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, most applicants must include valid English or French language test results. Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and other university program graduates need at least CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 abilities. College, polytechnic, and other non-university program graduates need at least CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all 4 abilities. Applications submitted before November 1, 2024 and PGWP-eligible flight-school graduates do not need to meet this newer language requirement.

PGWP language levels — IRCC Proof of language results — IRCC

Field-of-study requirement

There is no field-of-study requirement if you graduated with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024, or graduated from a PGWP-eligible flight school. Other university, college, polytechnic, and non-university programs may need an eligible field of study if the study permit application was submitted on or after November 1, 2024. IRCC uses the program’s 6-digit CIP code; confirm the code with your DLI and IRCC. IRCC says the eligible PGWP field-of-study list is frozen for 2026.

Field-of-study checker — IRCC

Costs to plan for

Item	Amount	Source
PGWP application fee	$255 CAD	IRCC fee schedule ↗
Biometrics (if required)	$85 CAD	IRCC fee schedule ↗
Processing time	Varies — check official source	IRCC processing times ↗

Fees change. Always verify current amounts on the IRCC fee schedule before applying.

03 Application steps — in order

01

Confirm your school and program are eligible

Not every DLI qualifies graduates for a PGWP. Use the official IRCC eligibility page to confirm your institution and program are eligible before doing anything else.
PGWP Eligibility — IRCC DLI List — IRCC
02

Gather proof that you completed your program

IRCC accepts several kinds of proof that you completed your studies, such as an official letter from your school, an official transcript or transcript copy, or a degree, diploma, or certificate from a credit-earning program. Ask your school which document is available and make sure it confirms completion of your program.

⏱ Gather this early. Waiting until after convocation may reduce your time within the 180-day application window.
03

Log into your IRCC secure account

Sign in using your GCKey or a Sign-In Partner account. If you applied for your study permit online through IRCC, you already have an account linked to your immigration history.
IRCC Secure Account
04

Start a new application and select Work Permit

Inside your IRCC account, select "Apply for a visitor visa, study and/or work permit." Answer the eligibility questions — the system will route you to the appropriate application form based on your answers.
05

Complete your application form (IMM 5710 or IMM 1295)

The form you must fill out depends on where you are located when you submit your application:

Default Route — Inside Canada

IMM 5710

Application to Change Conditions, Extend my Stay or Remain in Canada as a Worker. Complete and validate this form as generated in your IRCC secure account checklist.
In-Canada Application Guide 5580 — IRCC

Alternative Route — Outside Canada

IMM 1295

Application for Work Permit Made Outside of Canada. If you are applying from outside Canada, IRCC’s outside-Canada work permit package lists IMM 1295. Always follow the document checklist generated in your IRCC account.
Outside-Canada Application Guide 5487 — IRCC

⚠️ Form validation note: Download the correct form directly from your IRCC secure online checklist. Open and validate the form using the latest version of Adobe Acrobat Reader. Do not attempt to open it directly in your web browser.
06

Upload your documents

Upload your proof of completion, proof of full-time enrolment, all pages of your current study permit including any extensions, your passport bio page, language results if required, eligible field-of-study proof if required, and your digital photo. Files must typically be PDF or JPEG format under 4MB. Review file quality before uploading — unclear scans can cause delays.
07

Pay the CAD $255 application fee

Pay using a credit or debit card. Save your payment receipt — the fee is non-refundable regardless of the outcome of your application.
IRCC Fee Schedule
08

Submit and save your application number

After submitting you will receive an acknowledgment of receipt with an application number. Save this immediately — you will need it to check your status and communicate with IRCC.
09

Biometrics — if requested

IRCC may send a Biometric Instruction Letter (BIL) by email. If so, book an appointment at a Service Canada location or authorized VAC. Biometrics are valid for 10 years — if you provided them for a previous application, you may not need to repeat. Follow the instructions in your BIL.
Biometrics Guide — IRCC
10

Track your application status

Check your application status through your IRCC account. Review the official IRCC processing times page for current estimates — processing times change frequently.
Check Application Status Current Processing Times
ℹ️ Work authorization while your PGWP is being processed depends on your specific situation. IRCC lists conditions for working full-time while waiting, including having a valid study permit when you applied, completing your program, and being eligible to work off campus during your studies without exceeding allowed hours. Verify your work authorization status directly with IRCC before working.
After you apply — IRCC
11

Receive your PGWP

If your inside-Canada work permit application is approved, IRCC sends a decision letter in your account and mails the physical work permit to the Canadian address you gave. If your application was handled under the outside-Canada process, IRCC may issue a port of entry (POE) letter of introduction instead. A POE letter is not the work permit itself.
Inside-Canada decision steps — IRCC

Once your PGWP arrives — immediate next steps

Update your SIN if it was issued with an expiry date — visit a Service Canada office
Check your provincial health insurance eligibility — coverage rules change when your status changes
Keep your original PGWP document safe — you will need it for employment, banking, and future applications
Your employer may ask for proof of work authorization — your PGWP serves as this document

Service Canada — SIN updates

04 Things people commonly miss

Waiting for convocation before gathering proof

IRCC accepts more than one type of proof that you completed your studies. Depending on your situation, this may be an official school letter, transcript, or degree, diploma, or certificate. Waiting for convocation can reduce your time within the 180-day window.
Misunderstanding when the 180-day clock starts

IRCC describes the deadline as 180 days from confirmation that you completed your program of study. Do not assume one document date is always day 1. Confirm the completion date shown by your school and the documents you will submit.
Passport expiry limiting permit length

IRCC issues a PGWP no longer than your passport's remaining validity. Renew your passport before applying if it is expiring soon. If IRCC shortens your PGWP only because of passport expiry, your initial PGWP should normally include a note about this and you may be able to apply on paper to extend it after getting a new passport.
Uploading incomplete permit documents

Upload every page of your study permit including the back page and any extension documents. Incomplete uploads are a common reason for processing delays or requests for additional information.
Leaving Canada while your application is pending

If you otherwise meet IRCC's conditions to work full-time while your PGWP is processing, leaving and re-entering Canada does not by itself stop that work authorization. You still need the right travel document, such as a valid TRV or eTA, and re-entry is never guaranteed. A border services officer decides whether you may enter Canada.
PGWP travel while waiting — IRCC
Not saving the acknowledgment of receipt

The acknowledgment email contains your application number. Without it you cannot track your status or respond to IRCC requests. Save it immediately after submitting.
Health coverage after graduation

Your university or college health plan may end when you graduate. Provincial health coverage eligibility varies by province and immigration status. Review your province's official health insurance eligibility rules for work permit holders before your coverage ends.
OHIP eligibility — Ontario Ministry of Health
Combining two programs for a longer PGWP

If you completed more than one PGWP-eligible program in Canada, you may be able to combine their lengths to qualify for a longer permit — up to 3 years. Each program must be at least 8 months long and completed within a two-year window of each other. If the programs have different language requirements, you must meet the higher requirement. Verify current program stacking rules directly with IRCC.
PGWP length and multiple programs — IRCC

05 Official government links

06 After your PGWP — what comes next

Once you begin working on your PGWP, some people also start researching permanent residence pathways. The PR Pathways guide has an overview of common starting points, including Express Entry and Canadian Experience Class. Verify current requirements directly with IRCC.

This page is for educational and navigational purposes only.
It does not constitute legal or immigration advice. All steps link directly to official Government of Canada sources. Immigration rules change — always verify current requirements with IRCC directly before submitting any application. For advice specific to your situation, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer.