Service Canada
People serving people
Common menu bar links
Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program issues work permits to foreign post-secondary students who wish to remain in Canada after graduation to work in their field of study.
Work permits issued by the Program can be valid either for a period of one year or less or for a period of up to two years, depending on certain criteria.
Delivered by: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Eligibility Information
Students who wish to obtain a work permit valid for one year or less must meet the following criteria:
- have studied full time for at least eight months prior to the completion of their program of study
- have graduated from a public post-secondary institution, or from a private post-secondary institution approved by CIC
- have received a valid job offer from an employer for a position in their field of study
- have a valid study permit when applying for the work permit
- other criteria may apply
Students who wish to obtain a work permit valid for up to two years must also meet the following criteria:
- have graduated from an institution outside the greater Montréal, Toronto or Vancouver areas
- have received a job offer for a position outside these areas
- have successfully completed a program of at least two years of full-time studies
- other criteria may apply
Application Information
Financial Information
- There is a processing fee of $150 for work permit applications.
Dates and Deadlines
- Foreign students must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving notification from their academic institution that they have met all the requirements to graduate.
Contact information
- Contact Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
- Telephone: 1-888-242-2100 (in Canada only)
- TTY: 1-888-576-8502 (in Canada only)
