Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP)

As an international student, to work in Canada after you graduate, you need a work permit.
Graduates of Saskatchewan Polytechnic may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to stay in Canada temporarily to work.

On November 1, 2024, significant changes were made that affect new applicants to the PGWP Program. Not all programs of study make you eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. The eligibility information below has not been confirmed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Eligible programs

The programs listed below may meet the current eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program. Enrolment in a program at Sask Polytech that is PGWP-eligible does not guarantee PGWP approval by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

It is the student’s responsibility to ensure they meet all eligibility requirements as outlined by IRCC.

Frequently asked questions

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Program is administered by the Government of Canada. Details about the PGWP Program and eligibility criteria are available on the Government of Canada website.

The program I’m interested in is not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program? Could that change?

Yes. Several factors could make additional Sask Polytech programs eligible for the PGWP Program throughout 2025. Please return to this web page regularly to see if new programs have become eligible.

How long can a post-graduation work permit be issued for?

The length of the PGWP is based on the length of the program or programs you have completed. Complete details are available on the Government of Canada’s PGWP website.   

What’s a CIP code?

Each academic program in Canada has a unique Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code. The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program now uses CIP codes to help determine what academic programs are eligible. CIP codes have been provided above for your convenience, to assist with your application to the PGWP Program.

I currently hold a study permit that I applied for before November 1, 2024, but the program I’m taking is no longer eligible for PGWP. Do I need to be concerned?

No, students who applied for a study permit or extension prior to November 1, 2024, are not required to be studying in a program on the CIP list.

If you applied for a study permit extension after November 1, 2024, please fill out our future students contact form to connect with an international student advisor to review your eligibility.

I have been accepted to a program at Sask Polytech that is not on the list above. Will I be eligible for a PGWP?

While it is possible that your program will be added to the eligibility list at a later date, if your program is not listed above, it is not currently PGWP eligible. You may be able to apply for a different work permit after completing your studies. Please see the Government of Canada's website for more information.

Contact us

If you’d like support to apply for a Sask Polytech program and a post-graduation work permit, please contact International Education.