Work in Canada after your studies

Find out how international students can stay and build their careers in Canada. As an international student who graduated from a Canadian college or university, there are different options for you to live and work here.

Post-graduation work permit

Graduates from certain post-secondary schools can get work experience in Canada with the post-graduation work permit (PGWP). The work experience you get through the program may help support your application to become a permanent resident of Canada.

The length of your PGWP depends on the level and duration of your study program, as well as the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first.

Students who graduate from master’s degree programs of less than 2 years (8 months minimum) may be eligible for a 3-year PGWP.

Note: Graduates of programs delivered through public-private curriculum licensing arrangements are not eligible for PGWP.

To confirm that your program is PGWP-eligible, check IRCC’s list of designated learning institutions.

Learn more about the PGWP from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC):

Field of study requirement

There are no field of study requirements for graduates with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree or flight school graduates.

Graduates from any other post-secondary study programs, including colleges, polytechnics or non-university programs, must have graduated in an eligible field of study. If your study program has a field of study requirement, you must graduate from a program linked to certain occupations in long-term shortage. The fields of study are divided into 6 broad categories:

agriculture and agri-food
education
health care
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
trade
transport

Language test requirement

Most PGWP applicants are required to meet minimum levels of language ability in English or French. A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) level 7 in French is required for university graduates and level 5 minimum for college graduates.

There are no language requirements for graduates from a PGWP eligible flight school.

Transition period for distance learning measures for the PGWP

If your courses were moved online due to the pandemic, the time spent studying online from outside of Canada before August 31, 2024, will count toward the length of your PGWP as long as it constitutes less than 50% of your program of study. You can’t count the time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024 toward the length of a PGWP. For more information, read more about distance learning measures from IRCC.

Express Entry

Graduates with work experience may be able to settle in Canada permanently by applying for Express Entry. You may be eligible based on your education, skills, work experience and language abilities. Learn more about Express Entry from IRCC:

Provincial Nominee Program

Graduates may be able to settle in Canada permanently by applying for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Each province and territory has its own programs and requirements. If you want to live in a particular province or territory, you may be eligible for their programs based on your education, skills and work experience. Learn more about the PNP from IRCC:

Find out if you’re eligible for another type of permit

Most people need a work permit to work in Canada. For more information, find out if you need a work permit from IRCC.

Learn more

Features

Date modified:: 2025-03-19

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