Canada Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) Process Nov 2025: Stay & Work in Canada

International students who finish their programs at eligible Canadian schools often want to stick around and build a career here. The Post-Graduation Work Permit, or PGWP, makes that possible by letting graduates work for almost any employer across the country.

As of November 2025, the rules still focus on matching skills with real job needs, but they’ve added language tests and specific study fields for some applicants. These changes help keep immigration steady while giving qualified grads a fair shot at staying longer.

Overall, the program remains a solid path to gaining experience and possibly settling permanently.

What the PGWP Actually Does

At its core, the PGWP is an open work permit—no job offer required. You can take roles in any sector, from tech startups in Toronto to healthcare facilities in Vancouver. This hands-on time in Canada counts big toward permanent residency applications, especially through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class.

To get started, your study permit needs to have been valid sometime in the 180 days before you apply, and you must have followed all its rules while studying.

Who Can Apply: The Key Requirements

Eligibility boils down to your school, program, and how you studied. Here’s what you need to meet in November 2025:

School and Program Basics

• Finish a program at a designated learning institution (DLI) that’s approved for PGWP.
• The program has to run at least eight months (or 900 hours if it’s a Quebec credential).
• Stay full-time as a student for most semesters—part-time is okay only in your final one.
• If you switched schools, combine the time, but only count periods at a DLI.
• Distance learning? For programs starting after September 1, 2024, at least half must be in-person in Canada.

Programs like pure language classes or short hobby courses don’t qualify. If your studies included time abroad, only the Canadian part affects your permit length.

Language Skills You Need to Prove

Starting November 1, 2024, most applicants must show language ability through an approved test:

• University degrees (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD): At least CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French for speaking, listening, reading, and writing.
• College or other non-degree programs: CLB 5 or NCLC 5 across the board.

Flight school grads and anyone who applied before the cutoff are exempt. Upload your test results right in the application—tests from places like IELTS or TEF work.

Also Read: Canada Study Visa Process November 2025: SDS, GIC & Biometric Requirements Explained

Field of Study Rules for Non-Degree Programs

If your study permit application came in on or after November 1, 2024, and you’re not doing a degree, your program must match areas with ongoing job shortages. This uses CIP codes—a six-digit system for classifying studies.

Degree holders skip this step. For others, check if your CIP code is on the eligible list. Updates happened twice in 2025: June added 119 fields and cut 178, then July brought the cut ones back until early 2026. Key shortage areas include:

Area	Sample Fields	Typical Jobs
Agriculture	Farm equipment tech, agribusiness	Farm supervisor, supply chain specialist
Health	Nursing, dental hygiene	Registered nurse, dental assistant
Trades	Plumbing, electrical work	Licensed plumber, electrician
STEM	Software development, engineering tech	Programmer, civil technologist
Transport	Truck driving, logistics	Commercial driver, warehouse manager

For the complete list, head to the IRCC field of study page.

How Long Your PGWP Lasts

The permit length ties directly to your studies:

• Under two years: Matches your program (minimum eight months).
• Two years or more: Up to three years.
• Master’s programs: Three years flat, even if yours was shorter than two years (as long as at least eight months)—this kicked in February 2024.

Combining programs? Add up the eligible time. Your passport’s expiry can cap the initial length, but you can extend later with a new one.

Applying Step by Step

You have 180 days from getting your final grades or completion letter to submit. Online is the way to go for speed:

1. Double-check eligibility with IRCC’s tools.
2. Gather docs: Official completion letter, transcripts, language results if needed.
3. Fill out the online form to get your custom checklist.
4. Log into or create an IRCC account.
5. Upload everything, pay fees, and submit.
6. Give biometrics at a center if asked.

Fees include $255 for processing plus the open permit holder charge. Biometrics add about $85. Apply from inside Canada to keep working while waiting, or from outside if you’ve left. No more quick border turns since June 2024.

Need paper? Only for disabilities or tech problems—use Guide 5580 for inside applications or 5487 for outside.

What Happens After You Apply

Check current processing times online—they fluctuate. If approved inside Canada with a valid study permit at submission, you can start working right away. The permit comes by mail or secure upload. Extensions are just for passport issues.

What’s New in 2025

Study permits dropped sharply this year—down to around 36,000 in early months from over 125,000 the year before—thanks to caps at 437,000 for 2025-26. PGWP tweaks like language and field rules add layers, and some students report extra costs for tests or program switches. In places like Newfoundland, local groups help cover gaps, but the shifts have sparked worries about access.

The latest immigration report highlights fewer temporary residents overall, with 25,580 study-to-permanent transitions in 2024. No big PGWP overhauls announced, but the focus stays on jobs in demand.

Why the PGWP Matters for Your Future

This permit gives you real flexibility—up to three years to test careers, earn money, and rack up points for permanent status. Grads in shortage fields often move faster toward residency. It’s not just work; it’s a chance to contribute to Canada’s economy in meaningful ways, from filling trade roles to innovating in tech.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) continues to serve as a key bridge for international students wanting to work in Canada after graduation. Managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it provides an open permit that lets you take jobs anywhere without a pre-arranged offer.

As November 2025 rolls on, the core setup holds steady, though updates from late 2024 emphasize language proof and targeted fields to better fit labor gaps.

To qualify, complete an eligible program at a DLI lasting at least eight months. Maintain full-time status mostly, apply within 180 days of finishing, and ensure your study permit was active recently. Language requirements now apply broadly: CLB 7/NCLC 7 for degrees, lower for colleges. Non-degree applicants post-November 2024 need CIP codes in shortage categories, with the list stabilized after mid-year tweaks.

Permit duration scales with your studies—up to three years max, including full three for master’s. Apply online via IRCC portal with proofs, pay around $255 plus extras, and track processing. Benefits include immediate work rights if applying inside, plus strong boosts for permanent residency pathways.

Recent caps have cut study permits significantly, influencing PGWP volumes. Students face added steps like tests, but the program supports those aligned with Canada’s needs in health, trades, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions