Changes to PGWP Eligibility Criteria
What remains unchanged
To qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), you must still meet the general eligibility requirements and physical location criteria, even after November 1, 2024, and complete your studies at a designated learning institution that qualifies for PGWP.
If you apply for a PGWP before November 1, 2024, you only need to follow the current eligibility rules.
Graduates from a PGWP-eligible flight school will also only need to meet the current criteria, regardless of applying after November 1, 2024.
New eligibility requirements
If you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024
When applying for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024, you must also meet the new requirements relevant to your situation.
For graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university, you must demonstrate your language proficiency with a minimum level of CLB 7 or NCLC 7.
For graduates from other university programs, you must meet the same language requirement—CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four language areas.
For graduates from college or other programs not listed above, you need to show proficiency at CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all four language areas.
If you submit your study permit application on or after November 1, 2024
To be eligible for a PGWP, you must meet the new requirements based on your situation.
For graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university, you must demonstrate your language proficiency with a minimum level of CLB 7 or NCLC 7. All fields of study are eligible.
For graduates from other university programs, you must meet the same language requirement—CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all four language areas. You must graduate from an eligible field of study.
For graduates from college or other programs not listed above, you need to show proficiency at CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all four language areas. You must graduate from an eligible field of study.
Field of study requirement
If your study program has a field of study requirement, you must graduate from a program connected to occupations experiencing long-term shortages. These fields are categorized into five broad areas:
Agriculture and agri-food
Healthcare
Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
Trade
Transport