PGWP calculator
Estimate post-graduation work permit timing scenarios and point readers to IRCC rules.
Estimate post-graduation work permit timing scenarios and point readers to IRCC rules.
Estimate post-graduation work permit timing scenarios and point readers to IRCC rules.
Estimate your Post-Graduation Work Permit length based on IRCC rules current as of April 2026. Eligibility also depends on your institution and field of study — check IRCC for the full PGWP-eligible field list for college programs.
Your PGWP length
3 years
Programs of 2 years or more get the maximum 3-year PGWP.
Not legal advice.
IRCC rules change frequently. Confirm eligibility on the official Post-Graduation Work Permit page before applying. PGWP can only be obtained once in a lifetime.
The PGWP is usually the bridge between graduation and permanent residence, and its length decides how much room you have for the two things that bridge requires: finding skilled work, and accumulating at least one year of it. Compare three common paths under the same rules the calculator uses:
Two costly mistakes to avoid: missing the 180-day application window after your final marks (there are no extensions), and forgetting that the PGWP is once in a lifetime — a second program later cannot earn a second permit, which is why program choice before you study matters as much as anything after.
On the money side, your PGWP years are also when your Canadian financial record starts: file a tax return even for a partial year (benefits like the GST/HST credit and its CGEB successor are assessed from it), and start planning your PR points early with the CRS calculator. The newcomer money guide covers banking, credit, and the first tax year step by step.