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PGWP · 2026 rules

From diploma to work permit. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Canada

The PGWP is once in a lifetime, and you have 180 days from your completion letter to apply. It’s the bridge from student to permanent resident — and the 2024–26 rule changes catch graduates out every week. Check where you stand in under a minute.

Start the PGWP check →Talk to an RCIC
  • RCIC-led
  • Brampton & London
To apply
180 days
From your written confirmation of completion.
Language
CLB 7/5
Any degree or university program / other college programs — all four abilities, test under 2 years old.
Permit length
up to 3 yrs
Usually matches your program; capped by your passport.
Government fees
$255
Work permit $155 + open permit holder $100.

PGWP deadline & permit length calculator

Your 180 days start on the date of your completion letter.

When did your school confirm you finished?

The written confirmation from your school that you completed your program — not your convocation date.

How long was your program?

The full length of the program, not time spent part-time.

Was it a master’s degree?

A master’s of 8+ months can get up to 3 years.

When does your passport expire?

No permit is issued past your passport’s validity.

Your result

1 of 4

The sequence

From completion letter to work permit.

  1. Day 0

    Completion letter

    Your school confirms in writing that you finished. This date starts your 180-day clock — not convocation.

  2. Early

    Language test

    Book early. Results must be under 2 years old at the time you apply, and seats fill up fast.

  3. By day 180

    Apply in time

    File within 180 days, while your status still supports it. Applying before your study permit expires protects your ability to work.

  4. After

    Work & plan PR

    Your PGWP is the runway for Express Entry or a PNP. The experience you gain now is what counts later.

How long it lasts

How your program length becomes your PGWP.

  1. 6-month certificateProgram · 6 monthsPGWP · No PGWP — under 8 months
  2. 8-month master’sProgram · 8 monthsPGWP · Up to 3 years
  3. 1-year diplomaProgram · 12 monthsPGWP · Matches the program
  4. 2-year diplomaProgram · 24 monthsPGWP · Up to 3 years
  5. 4-year bachelor’sProgram · 48 monthsPGWP · Capped at 3 years
  6. 2-year diploma, passport valid 20 more monthsProgram · 24 monthsPGWP · Capped by the passport

Programs of 8 months to two years get a PGWP about as long as the program; two years or more, or a master’s of 8+ months, up to 3 years; never past your passport. Estimate only — IRCC decides. Estimate yours →

Free PGWP check · 3 steps

Three checks. One answer.

Work through the steps in any order. Every answer lands in your result, so you finish with the whole picture: deadline, eligibility, language, permit length and field of study.

Free · no sign-up
Step 1 · Eligibility

Will your program qualify?

Since 2024 there are two gates: a language test for every applicant, and a field-of-study requirement for non-degree programs. Answer four questions to see where you stand.

What will you graduate with?
When did you apply for your study permit?
Full-time and at least 8 months?
Was your school a PGWP-eligible DLI?
Most public colleges and universities are PGWP-eligible. Many private institutions are not — check the official DLI list.
Step 1 of 3

Know before you file

The rules that decide a PGWP.

The full-time rule that catches graduates out, how long IRCC takes, and the refusals we see most.

The part-time semester that costs the permit.

You must hold full-time status in every academic session. One exception has always applied to your final session — and since 11 December 2025 it reaches further.

The rule
  1. Session 1Full-time
  2. Session 2Full-time
  3. Session 3Full-time
  4. Session 4Full-time
  5. Final sessionPart-time OK
Failed a final-semester course and retook it Both count as the final session
  1. Session 1Full-time
  2. Session 2Full-time
  3. Session 3Full-time
  4. Final semesterPart-time, course failed
  5. RetakePart-time
Allowed

Final session may be part-time

Drop below full-time in your last session only, and your PGWP is not affected.

Since 11 Dec 2025

Failed a course and retook it?

IRCC now accepts that where you were part-time in your final semester, failed a course and had to retake it to graduate, both semesters count as the final academic session.

Still fatal

Everything before that must be full-time

The exception is narrow. Part-time study earlier in the program still ends eligibility — an authorised leave and scheduled breaks are treated separately.

The Federal Court upheld a refusal on this exact point three days before the guidance changed. Read what Singh 2025 FC 1935 means →

How long the PGWP takes.

Times move with IRCC inventory, so this page shows the latest published figure and always links you to the official tool.

PGWP processing

Check current time

PGWP processing changes regularly. Use the official IRCC tool for today’s estimate.

Check the official IRCC tool ↗

While you wait

  • You may be able to work full-time

    Graduates who apply before their study permit expires and meet the conditions can generally work while a decision is pending. Confirm your situation first — working without authorization is serious.

  • Keep your status valid

    Your ability to remain in Canada depends on applying on time. Late applications can force restoration — or end the option entirely.

  • Don’t rely on flagpoling

    Flagpoling at a port of entry is no longer available for most work permit applications. Plan an inland application instead.

Why PGWPs get refused.

Almost none of these are about eligibility. They’re about timing and paperwork — which is exactly what we control.

  1. Missing the 180-day window

    Graduates count from convocation instead of the completion letter and lose weeks they didn’t have. There is no second PGWP.

  2. Language test booked too late

    Test seats and result turnaround can take weeks. A late test can push you past your deadline even when you qualify.

  3. Wrong assumption on field of study

    Non-degree graduates assume their program qualifies because it sounds close to an eligible field. Eligibility follows the program code, not the name.

  4. An ineligible institution

    Some private and partnership programs never lead to a PGWP. It has to be checked before enrolment — not after graduation.

  5. Incomplete proof of completion

    Transcripts and completion letters that don’t line up with your permit history invite questions — and delays you can’t afford.

  6. A passport expiring soon

    A permit can’t outlast your passport. Renew first, or you may lose a year or more of work eligibility.

PGWP eligibility review

Get your PGWP checked before you file.

One permit, one chance. Send us your dates and program and a licensed RCIC will confirm whether you qualify, what your deadline really is, and what to prepare.

  • Your exact 180-day deadline, confirmed against your documents.
  • Whether the field-of-study rule applies to you — and if you pass it.
  • The language score you need, and how long you have to get it.
  • What your PGWP means for Express Entry and PR down the road.

Request your PGWP review

Takes about a minute. We reply, usually the same business day.

Prefer to book directly? Book a consultation →

Licensed RCIC · we never sell your info

Thanks — we’ll be in touch

A licensed RCIC will review your details and reach out, usually the same business day.

Message us on WhatsApp →
Prefer WhatsApp? Message us

Good to know

Questions, answered.

The questions we hear most on this topic, answered by our consultants. The full list is in the Help Centre.

How long do I have to apply for a PGWP?
Generally 180 days from the written confirmation that you completed your program — the completion letter or final transcript, not your convocation ceremony. You must also have held a valid study permit at some point in that window.
What language score do I need?
Every PGWP applicant now needs proof of language ability — CLB or NCLC 7 for any university program, degree or not, and for a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree from a college; CLB or NCLC 5 for other college and non-university programs. The score is needed in all four abilities, with a test under two years old. Book it early; testing and results take weeks.
How long will my PGWP be?
Usually the length of your program, up to a maximum of three years. A master's degree is the exception: a master's program of at least 8 months, or 900 hours in Quebec, can receive a full three-year permit even though the program is shorter. That exception applies to master's degrees only, not to certificates or diplomas, and you must still meet the other requirements including CLB or NCLC 7. A permit cannot be issued beyond your passport's validity, which catches people out.
Can I get a second PGWP?
No. It is a one-time permit. If you have held one, another study program will not produce a second, which is why the first application has to be right and why the PR plan should be built alongside it.
Can I work while my PGWP is being processed?
Graduates who meet the conditions and applied before their study permit expired can generally work full-time while a decision is pending. The rules depend on your exact status and timing, so confirm before you start working.

More questions on this topic are answered in the Help Centre.

What comes next

Plan the road after your PGWP.

General information only, not legal advice. Rules, fees and processing times change — confirm current requirements on canada.ca before filing. Contacting us does not create a client–consultant relationship until a written retainer is signed. IRCC makes all final decisions.

Confidential · fee-exempt · nobody is contacted

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Unpaid or withheld wages, threats about your immigration status, your passport held, excessive hours, or physical, sexual or psychological abuse.

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Next on your path

Keep your file moving.

The checklist, free tools and guides that usually come next.

  1. ChecklistPGWP checklistGraduation proof, transcripts and the 180-day clock.
  2. Free toolPGWP field-of-study finderCheck whether your program's CIP code qualifies.
  3. Free toolCLB converterTurn IELTS, CELPIP, TEF or PTE scores into CLB levels.
  4. GuideExpress EntryThe federal PR pool: score, categories and draws.
  5. Latest articleRefused on Monday, rule changed on Thursday: the PGWP failed-course clarificationAugust 27, 2026
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