What happens when my PGWP expires?
A Post-Graduation Work Permit cannot normally be renewed. Before it expires you generally need PR, another work permit, a study permit or a visitor record to stay in Canada legally.
A Post-Graduation Work Permit is generally issued once and cannot be renewed. When it expires you lose the right to work unless another status is in place. Before the expiry date, most graduates either apply for permanent residence, obtain an employer-specific or provincially supported work permit, return to study, or apply for a visitor record. Applying for a new work permit before expiry may give you maintained status, and in many cases lets you keep working under the same conditions while IRCC decides. Whether you can keep working depends on the type of application — a visitor record, study permit or PR application on its own does not preserve work authorization.
Key facts
| Renewable | No — the PGWP is normally issued once per graduate |
|---|---|
| Apply before expiry | Maintained status generally requires an application filed before the permit expires |
| Common next steps | Express Entry, provincial nomination, employer-specific permit, study permit |
| Working after expiry | Not permitted unless maintained status or a new permit applies |
| Risk | Losing status can affect future applications and admissibility |
Who may qualify?
- Graduates with 12 months of Canadian skilled work experience, for the Canadian Experience Class
- Graduates in occupations targeted by a provincial nominee stream
- Graduates with an employer able to support an LMIA or an LMIA-exempt permit
Eligibility requirements
- An application filed before the current permit expires, to keep maintained status
- Eligibility for the specific permit or PR programme being applied for
- Proof of the Canadian work experience relied on, including pay records and reference letters
How it works: step by step
- 1
Count backwards from the expiry date
Start planning at least six months before the permit ends.
- 2
Check Canadian Experience Class eligibility
Twelve months of skilled Canadian work experience is the usual threshold.
- 3
Review provincial graduate streams
Several provinces run streams designed for recent graduates.
- 4
File before expiry
A work permit application submitted before the expiry date may let you keep working under maintained status. Other application types generally do not carry work authorization.
Expert insight
RCIC strategy consideration: the graduates who run into trouble are rarely the ones who were ineligible — they are the ones who started three weeks before expiry. Reference letters that state NOC duties and hours take employers longer to produce than most graduates expect.
Alternative pathways
Frequently asked questions
Immigration programs, fees and processing times change frequently. This page is general information, not immigration advice. Verify current requirements with official Government of Canada sources or speak with our RCIC.