Work in Canada after you graduate: About the post-graduation work permit
Fees
PGWP: $255 CAN
Restoration of student status and PGWP: $605 CAN
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You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.
Graduation from a DLI doesn’t automatically make you eligible for a PGWP. Check the DLI list to find out which schools have eligible programs.
How much of your online studies count toward a PGWP?
Studies outside Canada
All of the time you spent studying online at a PGWP-eligible DLI from outside Canada between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, counts toward the length of a PGWP.
This policy will change as of September 1, 2022.
Find out if these changes affect you and how.
Until August 31, 2023, if you’re completing 2 study programs, you can finish 100% of your studies online from outside Canada if
- the programs were ongoing in March 2020 or started between March 2020 and August 31, 2022
- both study programs are with a PGWP-eligible DLI and are completed within 2 years
- each program meets all PGWP eligibility requirements and is at least 8 months long
The following time won’t count toward the length of a PGWP:
- time spent studying outside of Canada after August 31, 2023
- time spent studying before you applied for a study permit
Studies inside Canada
Until August 31, 2023, the time you spend studying online from within Canada still counts toward the length of your PGWP.
Starting September 1, 2023, you must complete 50% of your program in-class in Canada.
How long is a post-graduation work permit valid?
How long your PGWP is valid for depends on the length of your study program.
If your program was less than 8 months
You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.
If your program was at least 8 months, but less than 2 years
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program.
For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.
If your program was 2 years or more
We may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.
If you completed more than 1 program
You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.
Each of the programs you completed must be
- PGWP-eligible and
- at least 8 months in length
You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.
If your passport expires before your PGWP
Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time you should be eligible. If your passport expires earlier
- we’ll only issue you a PGWP that’s valid until your passport expires
- we’ll tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity
Normally, you can only apply to extend a PGWP if we tell you to do so. If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP so it will be valid for the full length it should be.
If your PGWP has expired or will expire soon
If your PGWP has expired or will expire between September 20, 2021, and December 31, 2023, you may be eligible for an open work permit of up to 18 months under a new public policy. Find out if you’re eligible for this open work permit.
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