The PGWPP allows students who have graduated from a participating Canadian post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Skilled Canadian work experience gained through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through Express Entry.

A work permit under the PGWPP may be issued for the length of the study program, up to a maximum of three years. A post-graduation work permit cannot be valid for longer than the student’s study program, and the study program must be a minimum of eight months in length. For example, if you graduate from a four-year degree program, you could be eligible for a three-year work permit if you meet the criteria. If you graduate from an eight-month certificate program, you would be eligible for a work permit that is valid for no more than eight months.

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, international students must:

• have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the completion of their program (please see note below) and must have graduated from:
  • a public post-secondary educational institution (university, college, or CEGEP); or
  • a private post-secondary educational institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for operations from government grants; or
  • a Canadian private educational institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees;
• apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation from their academic institution that they have met the requirements of their program;
• have completed and passed the program of study and received written notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma, or certificate; and
• have a valid study permit when applying for the work permit.