PGWP Guide: Application Process

The PGWP Process

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 below.

Distance learning from outside of Canada

You can complete up to 100% of your studies online from outside Canada between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, because of a temporary COVID-19 policy. This temporary policy is in place until August 31, 2022.

You’re eligible for this temporary policy if you meet all of the following criteria:

• You’re enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program.
• You were outside Canada and did not travel to Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic but were still able to take online courses.
• You began a program of study between from March 2020 and August 31, 2022, or your program was already in progress in March 2020.
• You have a study permit or approval for a study permit, or you have applied for a study permit for which you are eventually approved prior to starting your program.
  • You can count the time you spent studying after you submitted your initial study permit application, even if it’s refused, as long as you submit another application that is eventually approved before you finish your study program.
• You meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.

This temporary policy will change as of September 1, 2022.

To find out if these changes apply to you and how, check the date

• that you started your program of study
• on the study permit application receipt that we sent you

Whichever date comes first is the lock-in date that applies to you. Next, check the rules for distance learning for your lock-in date.

Lock-in date between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023

• • You must complete at least 50% of your program inside Canada (online or in-class).
  • The time spent studying outside of Canada before August 31, 2023, won’t be deducted from the length of your PGWP as long as it constitutes less than 50% of your program of study.

Lock-in date on or after September 1, 2023

• • You must complete at least 50% of your program in-class inside Canada.
  • The time spent studying outside of Canada will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.

If you’re completing 2 study programs

You’re still eligible for this temporary policy if you’re completing 2 study programs that were ongoing in March 2020 or started between March 2020 and August 31, 2022. All other program stacking policies also apply.

What doesn’t count toward the length of your PGWP
You can’t count the following time toward the length of a PGWP:

• • time spent studying outside Canada after August 31, 2023
  • time spent studying before you applied for a study permit

Distance learning from inside Canada

If your courses were moved online due to the pandemic, the time you spend studying online from within Canada until August 31, 2023, still counts toward the length of your PGWP. However, it’s highly recommended that you attend in-class options when offered.

The temporary policy change for in-Canada students studying online ends on August 31, 2023.

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?

• 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.