To apply for a PGWP, you must have completed a university or vocational training program of at least eight months duration, in Canada, at a designated institution, and have obtained a degree, diploma or certificate. If you have studied at the bachelor’s, certificate, master’s or doctoral level, you should be eligible to apply for a PGWP.

To obtain a PGWP, you must also have studied full-time and without interruption in Canada. However, there are a few exceptions to this rule. If you studied part-time during the last session of your study program only, or during the winter or summer sessions of 2020 because of COVID-19, you are still eligible for the PGWP. Also, if you took an authorized leave for a maximum of 150 days during your program, you are still eligible to apply for the PGWP.

Finally, to obtain a PGWP you must also have completed more than half of your program in Canada. However, some exceptions are made related to COVID-19: if you did part of your studies through distance learning, visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.

You are not eligible for a PGWP if: 

• You took general interest or self-improvement courses in a program lasting less than eight months on a part-time or intermittent basis. Students on exchange programs are therefore not eligible for a PGWP. 
• You have already obtained one in the past (unless you are applying for a renewal because your passport has expired).

The PGWP requires two documents confirming that the study program has been fully completed: an official attestation of completion of requirements (attestation officielle d’exigences satisfaites) and an academic transcript. Both documents can be ordered from the Registrar’s Office. (You can use the version of your transcript in your Centre étudiant, but it is preferable to use the transcript provided by the Registrar’s Office.)

Note: Students enrolled in a graduate program that includes one or more sessions of writing or revision must also obtain a detailed certificate of registration from the Registrar’s Office.

You must submit an application for a PGWP within 180 days from when you are able to obtain written notice from UdeM that your program has been completed. This notice can be your final transcript, an email from your student file management technician (TGDE) or an attestation of completed requirements (attestation d’exigences satisfaites).

The 180-day timeline begins as soon as the first of these documents is available. That means it’s very important for you to be vigilant: after 180 days, you will no longer be able to submit an application for a PGWP.

You can apply for a PGWP online, from within or outside Canada.

If you are applying for the PGWP from within Canada, you must have held a valid study permit for the 180 days preceding your application. You must also ensure that you have valid status in Canada at the time you submit your application: this may be through a study permit, maintained status or visitor status. If you do not have valid status in Canada, you can either apply to restore your status within 90 days of your student status expiring, or leave Canada and apply online from outside Canada.

If you decide to submit your application from outside Canada and you have no status in Canada, you will have to wait to obtain your letter of introduction so that you can collect your PGWP at the Canadian border.

Note: Before you plan a trip outside Canada, always check that you have a valid electronic travel authorization (eTA) or temporary resident visa (TRV). You will not be able to return to Canada by air without the document that corresponds to your situation. 

Processing times for PGWP applications vary depending on when and where you submit your application. Check the processing times regularly.

The duration of the PGWP usually corresponds to the duration of the study program that has been completed. For example, for a study program lasting eight months, the PGWP should be valid for eight months. However, for study programs lasting two years or more, the period of validity is usually up to three years.

If you have completed multiple study programs, the duration should correspond to the total duration of the programs, up to a maximum of three years. 

If you completed part of your degree outside Canada, there are specific rules that apply to the calculation of the validity period of your PGWP. You can read the rules here.

Medical exam required for certain jobs

To work in certain jobs, you will be required to take a medical exam administered by a designated IRCC-authorized physician, when your PGWP is issued.

These jobs are generally in health and teaching and involve contact with vulnerable people (children, seniors, etc.).

It is therefore very important to check whether your PGWP prohibits you from working in these jobs, and to ensure that you undergo a medical exam if you wish to have this restriction removed.

Spouses

If you have a spouse, they may be able to obtain an open work permit attached to your PGWP. There are some IRCC conditions that must be met.

Health insurance number and social insurance number 

When you obtain your post-graduation work permit, don’t forget to apply to the Régie de l’assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ).

Also remember to renew your social insurance number (SIN) with Service Canada.