What is a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) is for international students who have graduated from a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). 

PGWPs are open work permits, meaning that they grant foreign nationals the freedom to work for any employer, anywhere in Canada. Unlike most Canadian work permits, the PGWP does not require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). PGWPs enable eligible graduates to gain valuable Canadian work experience. With enough work experience in Canada, many foreign nationals become eligible for Canada’s permanent residency programs, including one of the following pathways:

  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
  • Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
  • Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP)
  • Quebec Immigration Programs