A Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a type of open work permit that allows international students to work in Canada after completing their study. An open work permit is a type of work permit that would allow the holder to work for any employer in Canada, with a few exceptions such as for employers offering striptease, erotic dance, escort services, or erotic massages.
So, in this article I discuss what the eligibility criteria is for obtaining a PGWP!
To be eligible for a PGWP, you must meet the following criteria:
1. Completed your studies at a DLI
You must have completed your study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). A DLI is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students. You must have completed a program that lasted at least eight month, and led to a Degree, Diploma, or a Certificate.
2. Maintained Full Time Status
You must have maintained full time status during each academic semester of your studies. There are very few exceptions to this, such as getting an approved leave of absence, or studying part time for your last semester only.
3. Valid Status in Canada
The point here is that you need valid status in Canada to apply for PGWP from inside of Canada. Your status in Canada will expire either when your study permit expires, or 180 days after your graduation, whichever comes first. If you do not have status in Canada, you will have to leave Canada. You can still apply for a PGWP from outside of Canada if you have to leave, but that should be a last resort.
Finally, there are some specific degree requirements to keep in mind:
| Type of Institution | Program Length | Program Outcome |
| Public post-secondary DLI | 8 months or longer | Your program must lead to a Degree, Diploma, or a Certificate |
| Quebec public secondary DLI offering vocational training programs | 900 hours or longer | Your program must lead to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS) or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) |
| Quebec collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) | 900 hours or longer | Your program must lead to an attestation of college studies (ACS) or a diploma of college studies (DCS) |
| Quebec provincially subsidized private post-secondary DLI or Quebec provincially subsidized private secondary DLI offering provincially subsidized vocational training programs | 900 hours or longer | Your program must lead to an attestation of college studies (ACS) or a diploma of college studies (DCS). You must be enrolled in one of the provincially subsidized study programs. This may not include all study programs offered at the DLI |
| Quebec flight school | 8 months or longer, or 900 hours or longer | Your program must lead to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS), a diploma of college studies (DCS), or an attestation of collegial studies (ACS) |
| Canadian private designated learning institution authorized by the province to confer degrees. | N/A | Your DLI must be authorized by the province to confer degrees, including an associate degree, a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, or a doctorate. You must be enrolled in one of the study programs leading to a degree, as authorized by the province. This may not include all study programs offered by the private DLI. |
To read more about the PGWP, as well as the processes in its entirety, please do visit the official Government of Canada’s website regarding PGWP’s, found here.
Finally, keep in mind that when applying for a pgwp you will need to confirm the name and length of your program. That can be done by submitting on of the following along with your application:
- Your degree/diploma
- Your transcript
- An official letter from your school, typically referred to as a “Letter of Completion”.