On December 11, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated its official instructions regarding the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The update does not so much “invent new rules” as it does clarify who remains eligible and what evidence needs to be uploaded when applying.
1) 180 days after graduation: key clarification on “valid study permit”
IRCC emphasizes two things:
- You can apply for a PGWP within 180 days of completing your studies/receiving confirmation of program completion.
- To be eligible, your study permit must be valid at least at some point during those 180 days (wording from Guide 5580).
Separately, IRCC clarifies a practical point: to work while your PGWP is being processed, you must have a valid (not expired) study permit at the time of application.
If your study permit expires earlier, IRCC describes the options (in particular, changing your status to visitor or restoration if you have expired).
2) Language requirements and “field of study”: application and exception
IRCC explicitly states that some applicants now need to add:
- proof of language proficiency (if applicable),
- proof of “eligible field of study” (if applicable).
Exception (very important)
If you applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, the field of study requirement does not apply.
3) “Full-time” and final academic session: what is considered the norm
IRCC reiterates the basic logic of PGWP eligibility:
- You must maintain full-time status during each semester of the program,
- but you are allowed to study part-time in the final semester.
This is an important clarification for students whose last semester is “shorter” because they have few credits/courses left to complete.
4) Technical detail of submission: where to upload evidence (language/field of study)
IRCC separately explains that due to system limitations, the checklist may not ask for language results or confirmation of specialization — in this case, they must be uploaded to the “Client information” section.
What graduates should do: a short checklist
- Check the date when the school issued the final marks/completion letter — 180 days are counted from that date.
- Make sure that the study permit was valid for at least part of those 180 days (this is explicitly stated in Guide 5580).
- If you want to work while your application is being processed, submit it while your study permit is still valid.
- If your study permit application is after November 1, 2024, check whether you need a language test and/or eligible field of study, and prepare evidence.
- Remember: the final semester can be part-time — this does not “break” eligibility on its own.
Source Schindler Visa Services