PGWP Guide: Apply from Inside Canada – Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria

Inside Canada graduates

Changes to the post graduation work permit

Starting September 1, 2023, eligibility criteria will change for certain programs at some designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Quebec.

Before you enrol, make sure you check the Details page for your DLI in the list of DLIs by province or territory.

You can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada as long as you’re eligible.

You have up to 180 days after you graduate to apply for a PGWP. When you apply, you must confirm the following:

• that you attended and completed your program
• the name of your program and
• the length of your program

You can confirm these by submitting any of the following:

• your degree or diploma
• your transcript or
• an official letter from your school

To be eligible, your study permit must have been valid at some point during these 180 days.

Don’t let your status expire while you wait for your marks

If your study permit will expire before you get your marks, you have 2 options. You can

• apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer or
• leave Canada and apply for your PGWP

If you stay in Canada and let your permit expire, you must apply to restore your status as a student to apply for your PGWP. To restore your status, you must pay additional fees.

You can apply for a PGWP if

• your study permit has been valid within the last 180 days
• you have a valid visitor record
• you submitted an application to extend your study permit before it expired and no decision has been made on your application
• you submitted an application to change your status to visitor before your study permit expired and no decision has been made on your application

You must also have

• completed a study program
  • at a designated learning institution
  • that was at least 8 months long and
  • that led to a degree, diploma or certificate
• maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program
  • This doesn’t include your final semester, which can be part-time, or if you took an approved leave from your studies.
  • If you had to stop studying or change to part-time studies between March 2020 and the fall semester in 2020 because of reasons related to COVID-19, you may still be eligible for a PGWP.
• graduated from one of the following:
  • a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
  • a private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
  • a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
    • An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
  • a Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.

Exceptions to the eligibility requirements

You aren’t eligible for a PGWP if you

• have a study permit that expired more than 180 days before you applied
• already received a PGWP
• studied English or French as a second language
• took general interest or self-improvement courses
• participated in the Government of Canada Awards Program funded by Global Affairs Canada
• had received funding from Global Affairs Canada
  • Note: If you got a Study in Canada scholarship, you’re still eligible for a PGWP.
• got the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada-Chile
• participated in the Canada-China Scholars’ Exchanges Program
• participated in the Organization of American States Fellowships Program
• completed the major part of a study program through distance learning (online courses, e-learning or correspondence)
• completed a study program at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada
• completed a program from a private institution in 1 province or territory that was delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement with a PGWP-eligible public institution located in a different province or territory.
  • Notes:
    • This policy was confirmed in January 2023.
    • As a transitional measure, if you began or completed this type of program on or before January 31, 2023, you may be eligible for a PGWP if you meet all other eligibility criteria and either of the following applies to you:
      • You’re currently in Canada and enrolled in this type of program at a designated learning institution.
      • You already applied for a PGWP after graduating from this type of program.