Study Permits and Post-Graduation Work Permits

Study First, Then What Comes After

A study permit is temporary status granted so you can complete a program at a designated learning institution. It is assessed on three things: that you have been accepted, that you can pay for it, and that the officer accepts you are genuinely coming to study and will respect the temporary nature of the permit.

For many students the permit is the first step in a longer plan that runs through a post-graduation work permit and into permanent residence. That plan is decided at enrolment, not at graduation, because post-graduation work permit eligibility depends on the institution and the program you choose at the start. Requirements in this area have changed repeatedly in recent years, so current rules matter more here than in most streams.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit

The PGWP is what turns a Canadian credential into Canadian work experience. Its eligibility rules are the most important thing to understand before you enrol.

• The post-graduation work permit is an open work permit available once, to graduates of eligible programs at eligible institutions.
• Permit length is tied to the length of the completed program, subject to the maximum IRCC sets.
• Field-of-study requirements now apply to certain applicants, and the list of eligible fields is revised by IRCC. Confirm the current list against your specific program before enrolling, not after graduating.
• You must apply within the window after receiving confirmation of program completion, and you must have held valid status as a full-time student.
• Canadian work experience gained on a PGWP is what makes many graduates eligible for the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nominee stream later.

Requirements vary by visa office and by stream, and the Student Direct Stream where available adds its own.

• Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution
• Provincial or territorial attestation letter, where your category requires one
• Valid passport for you and any accompanying family members
• Proof of funds: bank statements with a six-month history, education loan approval, tuition and housing payment receipts, or a GIC where the stream requires it
• A study plan or statement of purpose explaining the program choice and your plans after graduation
• Academic transcripts, diplomas and, where the institution required them, language test results
• Immigration medical examination results, where required by field of study or country of residence
• Custodianship declaration for minor applicants
• Proof of relationship for an accompanying spouse or children
• For the PGWP later: final transcript and the official letter confirming program completion

These are the grounds IRCC commonly cites in study permit refusal letters.

• The officer is not satisfied the applicant will leave Canada at the end of the authorized stay.
• Proof of funds is insufficient, or the funds appear recently deposited without an explained source.
• The program choice is not accepted as reasonable given the applicant's academic and work history, particularly where it duplicates or steps back from prior education.
• The purpose of the visit is not accepted as study, often where the study plan is generic or inconsistent with other statements.
• Missing documentation such as the provincial attestation letter, where the applicant's category requires it.
• Concerns about the authenticity of a letter of acceptance or supporting documents, which can also raise misrepresentation findings.
• Immigration or travel history issues, including previous overstays or refusals not addressed in the application.

Frequently Asked Questions