PGWP Guide: Apply from Outside Canada – Eligibility Criteria

Special cases

If you’re in any of these groups, you may be eligible for a PGWP.

Accelerated programs

If you complete your study program in less time than the normal length of the program, you may be eligible for a PGWP that is valid for the full length of your program.

For example, if you complete a 1 year study program in 8 months, you may be able to get a PGWP valid for 1 year.

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

Taking leave from your studies

You may not be eligible for a PGWP if

• you take an unauthorized leave from your study program and
• we find that you didn’t meet the conditions of your study permit by taking this leave

There are a few cases where you may be able to take an authorized leave of up to 150 days from your study program and still meet the conditions of your study permit. You need to provide proof that your DLI authorized the leave when you apply for a PGWP.

Find out what counts as an authorized leave from your studies.

Transfers between schools

• If you transferred between designated learning institutions (DLIs)
  The combined length of your studies must be at least 8 months for you to be eligible.
• If you transferred from a non-DLI to a DLI
  Only the time you spent studying at the DLI will be counted. You must spend at least 8 months at the DLI to be eligible for a PGWP.

Canadian study programs with an overseas component

If your study program has an overseas component, you may be eligible for a PGWP as long as you earn a credit from a Canadian school for it. The PGWP will only be valid for the length of the time you studied in Canada.

Flight school graduates

To be eligible for a PGWP, a flight school graduate must meet all the eligibility requirements listed above, and one of the following:

• have completed a flight training course at a DLI training centre and now have a Canadian commercial pilot’s licence or
• have or be in the process of getting an instructor’s rating and a job offer as a flight instructor from a DLI flight training centre

Graduates of certain Quebec schools

Quebec graduates of vocational and occupational training programs must meet the conditions listed below.

• Institution

You must have graduated from a recognized

• • public secondary school
  • private secondary school or
  • private post-secondary school
  • Learn about recognized schools in Quebec.
• Degrees, diplomas and certificates

To be eligible, degrees, diplomas and certificates must be issued by the Gouvernement du Québec.

These include:

• • from public or private secondary schools
    • Diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP—diploma in vocational studies)
    • Attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP—attestation of vocational specialization)
  • from private post-secondary schools
    • Diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC—diploma in college studies)
    • Attestation d’études collégiales (AEC—attestation of college studies)
• Program length
  The program you attended and completed must have been full-time and for at least 8 months if you completed a DEC or an AEC.

If you completed a DEP or an ASP, the program must be at least 900 hours.

• Supporting documents
  When you apply for a PGWP, you must include
  • an official letter from the school that confirms the length of the study program (in hours or months) and the program code, and either
    • the certificate or official document that confirms that you completed your program or
    • an official transcript from a Quebec school board or recognized private school