Does a PGWP lead to permanent residence?
Not by itself. The PGWP is an open work permit. It lets you build the Canadian skilled work experience that the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and many Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams require. You still need to qualify, get an invitation or nomination, and apply.
The two most common routes for graduates are Express Entry, mostly through the CEC, and provincial streams for international graduates. Many people use both at once: an Express Entry profile in the pool while they apply to a province.
For the full journey from study permit to PR, see our study permit to PR guide.
What do I need for the Canadian Experience Class?
At least 1 year of skilled paid work in Canada (1,560 hours) within the 3 years before you apply, in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 jobs, done while you had authorization to work. You also need approved language test results. There is no education requirement.
Details that often catch PGWP holders:
- Hours, not months. 1,560 hours is 30 hours a week for 12 months. Part-time work counts too, for example 15 hours a week for 24 months. Hours above 30 a week do not count extra.
- Student work does not count. Work done while you were a full-time student, including co-op terms, is not counted.
- No self-employment. Self-employed work generally does not count (IRCC has a narrow exception for some physicians).
- The job must match a skilled NOC. You must have done the main duties in the NOC description for a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job.
- Language by job level. CLB 7 in all four skills for TEER 0 or 1 jobs, and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3 jobs.
- Outside Quebec. CEC applicants must plan to live outside Quebec. Quebec selects its own skilled workers.
Will my Canadian study and work give me enough CRS points?
They help, but they may not be enough on their own. A Canadian post-secondary credential adds 15 points (one or two years) or 30 points (three years or longer), and 1 year of Canadian work adds 40 points if you are single or 35 with a spouse. Whether that gets you invited depends on your total score and on the draws IRCC holds.
Since March 25, 2025, IRCC no longer adds CRS points for job offers. Age, language scores and education still carry most of the weight. For many graduates, the most controllable factor is the language test: moving up a CLB level in each skill can change your score more than one extra year of work.
Run your numbers in our CRS calculator and compare them with recent cut-offs in the Express Entry draw history.
Can a province nominate me as a graduate?
Often, yes. Several provinces run streams for people who studied in their province, and some are linked to Express Entry. A nomination through an Express Entry-linked stream adds 600 CRS points.
Each province sets its own rules. Common conditions include studying in that province, a job offer in some streams, a certain level of degree (some streams target master’s or PhD graduates), and applying within a set time after graduation. Streams open, pause and change often, so check the province’s own website before you plan around one.
Compare the options in our PNP for international graduates guide.
How do I plan so my PGWP does not run out first?
Work backwards from your PGWP expiry date. You generally cannot extend a PGWP or get a second one, so you need 12 months of eligible work, an invitation or nomination, and a submitted PR application inside the time your permit gives you.
A simple way to plan:
- Know your permit length. Programs under 2 years give a PGWP up to the length of the program. Programs of 2 years or more, and master’s degrees of at least 8 months, can give up to 3 years. Your passport expiry date can also cut it short.
- Start skilled work early. Your CEC clock only runs while you work in a TEER 0 to 3 job. Months in a job outside those TEER levels do not count toward CEC.
- Improve your score while you work. Retake a language test, and consider French if you can. Strong French results add extra points.
- Keep a backup. Check provincial streams in parallel, not after your Express Entry plan fails.
A graduate of a 1-year program usually gets a PGWP of up to 1 year. That leaves almost no margin to reach 12 months of skilled work and then apply. If that is your situation, get your plan checked early.
What if my PGWP is ending before my PR is approved?
Act months before the expiry date, not weeks. Depending on your situation, options can include another type of work permit, such as one supported by an employer, or changing to visitor status. Which one fits depends on where you are in the PR process.
A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) or lawyer can tell you which permit you may qualify for. If you stop being authorized to work, you must stop working, and any time worked without authorization does not count as Canadian work experience for PR.
If your PGWP has not been issued yet, first make sure your application is right: see the PGWP guide and the PGWP eligibility checker.