PGWP Guide: Apply from Outside Canada – Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria

Outside 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 PGWP from outside Canada as long as you’re eligible and you’ve been approved for a study permit. You don’t have to have held a valid study permit at any point during your online studies from outside Canada.

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

You can apply for a PGWP if you

• were enrolled in a program that was in progress in March 2020 or
• started or will start a program between spring 2020 and summer 2022 and
  • you have a study permit or
  • you’ve been approved for a study permit or
  • you applied for a study permit before starting your study program
    • Your study permit must eventually be approved.

and you

• completed a study program
  • at a designated learning institution
  • that was at least 8 months long and
  • which led to a degree, diploma or certificate
• maintained full-time status as a student 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.

Only the time you spent studying outside Canada after we received your study permit application counts towards the length of your PGWP.

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.

If your passport expires before your PGWP

Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time your PGWP would be.

If your passport expires before your PGWP, we’ll

• issue you a PGWP that’s only valid until your passport expires
• tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity of your PGWP

You can only extend a PGWP if we tell you that you can. If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP for it to be extended to its full length.