Immigration updates

→As of June 21, 2024, PGWP applicants can no longer "flagpole" to apply at the Canada-U.S. border. 

→As of Novemeber 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must prove their English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas. Please see more details here. 

→On March 11, 2025, IRCC published updates about the Field of Study Requirement:

You don’t need to meet the field of study requirement if one of the following applies to you: 

  • You graduated with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree.
  • You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024.

Please note all USask's bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and doctoral degree programs do not need to meet the Field of Study Requirement. All fields of study are eligible for university’s bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degree programs. While USask certificate and diploma programs are affected by the Field of Study Requirement depending on the PGWP application submission date and/or the program start date. 

About

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit, allowing the holder to remain and work full-time for any employer and in any occupation in Canada. You don’t need a job offer to apply. However, certain jobs require a medical exam, such as those involving working with children or in healthcare settings. You are not allowed to work in jobs at risk of exploitation. 

A PGWP is a one-time opportunity - you can apply only once. 

The length of the PGWP depends on the length of the study program the student has completed, up to a maximum of three years. 

In order to be eligible for a PGWP you must meet the following general requirements:

  • you completed a study program at a designated learning institution
  • you maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program
    • There are some exceptions to this requirement, including
      • studying part-time during your final semester
      • taking an approved leave from your studies
      • having to stop studying or changing to part-time studies between March 2020 and the fall semester in 2020 for reasons related to COVID-19
  • you apply for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program of study
    • We strongly recommend that if applying within Canada you apply while your study permit is still valid - the expiry date on it, or 90 days after the Letter of Completion first becomes available, whichever comes first. 
  • your study permit was valid at some point during the 180 days after you graduated and before you submitted your PGWP application
  • none of the exceptions to the PGWP eligibility requirements apply to you
→ Please consult the IRCC website for the most up to date information on exceptions to the general eligibility requirements and special cases.

Before you apply

Plan in advance

As soon as you are in your final year of studies or nearing the final term of your program, you should start planning and timing your PGWP application. Students who plan in advance, ask questions, and seek advice ahead of time are confident and prepared when applying. They avoid making mistakes and facing unintended application and eligibility complications. 

Poor planning can lead to unintended consequences, such as, but not limited to:

  • letting your study permit expire
  • not being eligible to work while waiting on PGWP
  • incomplete application
  • missed application deadlines
  • outright refusal
  • expensive legal fees and unnecessary legal complexities 

Please read further below on what to pay attention to early on and ahead of time.

As of Novemeber 1, 2024, all PGWP applicants must prove their English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas. You must take one of the IRCC approved language tests and submit the language test results with your PGWP application, not after. If you do not meet this requitement, your PGWP application will be refused. Please see more details here.

⇒ You can complete your language tests months in advance. If you have difficulty achieving the needed level, you will have enough time to retake the test, if you plan in advance. Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application. Do not leave taking the test at the last moment! ⇐

Your study permit must be valid long enough to complete all your program requirements. You have to apply to extend your study permit if the permit is not long enough to complete all your program requirements. While you are completing your program requirements, you must stay registered in your courses, this includes when defending thesis and writing final exams. 

If you plan to stay in Canada as a foreign temporary worker after your program completion, your study permit must also be valid for a period after completing your program requirements to allow time to receive your Letter of Completion and apply for the PGWP before your study permit expires.

⇒ If your study permit expires before your Letter of Completion will become available, or within the 90 days after your Letter of Completion first becomes available, but you will not have enough time to apply for your PGWP before your study permit expires, you must apply to extend your study permit for an additional 90-day bridging period. Apply well in advance, ideally 4-6 months before your study permit expires, depending on estimated processing times. Your study permit extension application should include a Letter of Explanation stating you are applying to extend your study permit to apply for the PGWP. ⇐

⇒ Since your PGWP cannot be issued past the expiry date of your passport, you should apply for a new passport well in advance so that you can receive it before you apply for the PGWP. ⇐

If your current passport expires earlier and you are unable to get a new passport before you must apply for your PGWP, you might get a shorter PGWP than you are eligible for.  

Please note: 

  • IRCC will only issue you a PGWP that’s valid until your passport expires
  • IRCC will tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity

Normally, you can only apply to extend a PGWP if IRCC tells you to do so. If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP so it will be valid for the full length it should be. Applying on paper is not ideal and, if possible, it is in your best interest to obtain a new passport before you must apply for your PGWP. 

If you owe tuition and fees, you may have difficulty obtaining your Letter of Completion and Official Transcripts. Both are required to apply for your PGWP. It's important that you pay the outstanding balance as soon as possible. 

⇒ If you are unable to receive your Letter of Completion and/or Official Transcripts for your PGWP application purposes, do not delay seeking assistance from ISSAC as soon as possible ⇐

Applying

When?

You can only apply after your Letter of Completion is available, which confirms that you have completed all your program requirements. Your study permit validity and time frame to apply for the PGWP are based on when your Letter of Completion first becomes available, not your degree conferral or graduation ceremony.

⇒ We strongly advise that if applying within Canada you apply while your study permit is still valid - the expiry date on it, or 90 days after the Letter of Completion first becomes available, whichever comes first ⇐

  • USask documents needed for your application include both a Letter of Completion and an Official Transcript.
    • The transripts need to have all your final grades assigned. You must request them via MyCreds in PAWS. 
  • At USask, your program is considered complete when you receive Letter of Completion. The Letter of Completion is not issued automatically. You must request it directly from your college/academic unit.

DO NOT DELAY REQUESTING YOUR LETTER OF COMPLETION

⇒ As soon as you defend and submit you thesis, write your last final exam, you can request your Letter of Completion ⇐

⇒ Language tests

You must submit your language test resuts with your PGWP application, not after.

  • Submitting your proof of language requirement
    • Due to system limitations, you must upload your proof of language ability under “Client Information" section. 

⇒ Letter of Explanation

If you have gaps in your full-time registration due to authorized leave, skipped terms, academic suspensions or other, or you were part-time but that was not your final term, you must address the situations in you Letter of Explanation and provide doocumentary evidence, if available. Please speak with ISSAC's Regulated International Immigration Adviser (RISIA) on what information to include and how before you submit your PGWP application. 

⇒ Field of Study Requirement, if applicable

You don’t need to meet the field of study requirement if one of the following applies to you:

  • You graduated with a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctoral degree.
  • You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024.

⇒ Medical exam

If planning to work with children or in healthcare settings. Please see more information here. 

  • How can you show a potential employer you are allowed to work while you wait for your post-graduation work permit?
  • Can you travel outside Canada while waiting for the PGWP? 
  • How can your spouse apply for an open work permit while you are applying for a PGWP?
  • Do you need a medical exam for your PGWP? If you want to work in an occupational setting that requires a medical exam, you also need to complete an upfront medical exam. If your application includes valid medical exam results, your PGWP won’t have a condition that limits the jobs you can work. Learn more about medical exams for temporary residents.
  • How to get a new visa (TRV) or eTA after receiving your PGWP? 

Regulated International Student Immigration Advisers (RISIA) from ISSAC can help you prepare and review your application before your submission to IRCC. We recommend booking an appointment for application guidance and using drop-in for quick questions and assessment. To make the best out of your meeting, prepare in the following way: 

  • Try logging into the old IRCC Secure Account or Register for a new one, if needed (IRCC online account)
    • Click on "Apply to Come to Canada" at the bottom of the page and start setting up your online application
  • Review in detail 
    • PGWP page on IRCC Website
  • Gather as many USask and other supporting documents (see above)
  • Use IRCC Help Centre

Working after completing academic requirements for program of study, but prior to receiving Letter of Completion

After completing your final academic requirements, but before receiving Letter of Completion, you are eligible to work an unlimited number of hours on campus and up to 24 hours per week off campus, so long as:

  • You hold a valid study permit;
  • You were a full-time student in your last academic semester (or, you maintained full-time status for the duration of your degree except your final semester and you were part-time your final semester because you only required a part-time course load to complete your degree);
  • You did not work more than 24 hours off campus during regular academic session.

Once you receive Letter of Completion you must stop working both on- and off-campus. You should apply to change your status (for instance, to PGWP, to visitor status) or leave Canada before the study permit becomes invalid as per section R222. Please find more information.

Working after submitting PGWP application and prior to decision being reached on the PGWP application

If you applied for a PGWP while the study permit was valid, you are eligible to work full time, without a work permit, while waiting for a decision on the application if all of the following apply to you:

  • You had a valid study permit at the time of applying for your PGWP
    • If you applied for a PGWP on visitor status, expired study permit, or maintaned status during processesing you are not eligible to work until you receive the PGWP.
  • You have completed your program of study
  • You were in compliance of your study permit during your studies
  • You did not exceed the allowable off-campus work hours during your studies

If your PGWP is refused, you must stop working immediately. 

After you receive your PGWP

  • Make sure all information on it is correct (name, date of birth, etc). If you notice mistakes or missing information, please speak with ISSAC.
  • Make a copy of it and store the original safely.
  • If you are going to work in Canada, you will need to apply for a Social Insurance Number (SIN).
  • Apply for a new Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to re-enter Canada (if applicable).
  • Renew your Saskatchewan Health Card.

The information on this page may change

The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and prepared by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.