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Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility updates

Important update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

On September 18, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provided an update on new policies regarding study permits (or student visas) and Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) for international students.

This announcement outlines changes to PGWP requirements, including demonstration of English or French language proficiency and program eligibility for those applying for a PGWP after November 1, 2024. If you are a recent graduate who has not yet applied for a PGWP, you are encouraged to apply prior to November 1, 2024

If you are applying to Seneca, all full-time academic programs are eligible for a PGWP if you apply for your study permit prior to November 1, 2024. 

If you apply for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024, your eligibility for a PGWP will depend on your program of study and meeting the minimum language proficiency now required by the government (CLB5 for college graduates). IRCC has published a list of programs with a field of study requirement. You can view the list of Seneca programs that are eligible for a PGWP. This list will continue to be updated.

We are here to support you and have prepared an FAQ page based on what we know so far. More information will be added as it becomes available. 

You can also join our Ask Us Webinar to learn more or connect with The Service Hub.

Last updated: Friday, October 25, 2024

Studying from outside of Canada and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has provided important updates regarding your ability to study online from your home country, depending on when you start your PGWP-eligible program and how your courses are delivered. These temporary policy changes for PGWP eligibility and studying online ended on Aug. 31, 2024. Time spent studying outside of Canada from September 1, 2024 onwards will be deducted from the length of your PGWP. 

New international students starting in September 2024 and onwards

Program and course delivery information for each program is available on program pages.

To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for the full duration, you must:

  • be in Canada for the complete duration of your studies from September 1, 2024 onwards. Time spent studying outside of Canada from September 1, 2024 onwards will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
  • attend at least 50 per cent of your program in class and meet all other PGWP requirements. In class options include in-person, hybrid, and flexible courses. For flexible courses, you must plan to attend your class on campus. 
  • If you have a study permit, or you have applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, you will be eligible for a PGWP if you:
    • meet the minimum language proficiency now required by IRCC, which is a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 (CLB5) for college graduates meet all other PGWP requirements.
  • If you apply for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024, you will be eligible for a PGWP if you:

If you have not received your study permit approval before the start of your term, we invite you to reach out to theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca with the subject line "Travel to Canada" to discuss your options.

International Students who started their studies prior to September 2024

Time spent studying outside of Canada after September 1, 2024, will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.