Missed out on a PGWP? Here are your other work permit options
International students who missed out on a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) may have other work permit options open to them.
This article will cover PGWP alternatives for international students based on different circumstances that impact eligibility.
Schedule a Free Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm
Choose the option that best fits you:
Do you have an LMIA-based job offer? You may be eligible for an employer-specific work permit
Are you a citizen of any of the following countries, and between the ages of 18 – 35? You may be eligible for an IEC work permit
Do you have a job offer with one of these eight companies? You may be eligible for an expedited employer-specific work permit
Are you a citizen of any of the following countries? You may be eligible for an FTA-based work permit
Are you the spouse / common-law partner of a foreign worker or international student? You may be eligible for a spousal open work permit
Do you have a job offer in any of the following provinces? You may be eligible for an AIP work permit
Are you the spouse / common-law partner of a Canadian permanent resident or citizen? You may be eligible for a spousal open work permit
Quick comparison of PGWP alternatives
Alternative work permit pathways
Work permit type Who it’s for Open or employer-specific? Key hurdles / notes
Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Anyone with a qualifying LMIA*-based job offer Employer-specific Employer must secure a positive/neutral LMIA*
International Experience Canada (IEC) Citizens of countries with a bilateral youth-mobility deal with Canada, typically aged 18–30/35 Depends on the IEC program Country caps, age limits, and stream availability differ by nationality
Global Hypergrowth Project Individuals with skilled job offers from participating companies Employer specific (LMIA-exempt) Gaining employment with selected companies
Intra-Company Transferees (ICTs)Workers with recent foreign work experience with a multinational corporation Employer-specific Both the company the employee must meet eligibility criteria
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) work permits Citizens of countries that have an FTA with Canada that includes work provisions Usually employer-specific (varies by category) Eligibility and job categories depend on the specific agreement
Spousal OWP (student/worker spouse) Spouses/common-law partners of certain international students or foreign workers Open The student/worker must meet program-specific conditions
*Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) are evaluations conducted by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to determine the potential impact of hiring a foreign worker on the Canadian labour market. To support a work permit, the LMIA must return a positive or neutral result.
Permanent residence pathways with work permit options
Work permit type Who it’s for Open or employer-specific? Key hurdles / notes
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) work permits Candidates with a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer, plus provincial endorsement Employer-specific Language, education, work experience/funds, and provincial endorsement required
Spousal OWP (family sponsorship) Sponsored spouses/common-law partners of Canadian permanent residents or citizens Open PR sponsorship must be submitted; applicant must be in Canada with valid temporary status
How to start working before your work permit application is approved
If you apply for a work permit before your study permit expires (and within the set window after receiving final grades), you can start working full-time while you wait for a decision if:
You were authorized to work off campus during your studies;
You submit the work permit application in time, and
You maintain valid temporary resident status in Canada.
If your student status has expired before you apply for your work permit, you must apply to renew your status alongside your work permit application.
Correspondence between Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and immigration lawyers has revealed that students can apply for any kind of work permit alongside a restoration of student status—this process is not exclusive to PGWPs.
Work permit options, explained:
If you have, or are open to, an LMIA-based job: Temporary Foreign Worker Program
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is an employer-driven program where, after an employer secures a positive or neutral LMIA from ESDC, IRCC can then issue an employer-specific (closed) work permit to a worker based on that LMIA.
If you secure a job that is already approved for an LMIA, you can apply directly to IRCC for a work permit with your job offer and LMIA in hand, through either the low-wage or high-wage stream of the TFWP (depending on how your salary compares to the median salary in the province where your job will be).
You can find LMIA-based jobs using specific filters on Canada’s Job Bank.
Low-wage LMIA freeze
Applicants should note that LMIA applications for positions in the TFWP’s Low-wage stream, destined for certain regions in Canada with an unemployment rate of 6% or higher, will not be processed by ESDC.
To see a full list of areas impacted, visit our dedicated article.
Whether a candidate’s application qualifies under the low-wage or high-wage stream of the TFWP depends on whether they are being paid below the median wage (which qualifies for the low-wage stream) or at least 20% higher than the median wage (which qualifies for the high-wage stream).
Both the high-wage and low-wage streams of the TFWP come with their own specific employer obligations. To learn more about these streams, visit our dedicated webpage.
Certain tech jobs can also receive expedited LMIA-based work permits within two weeks of applying.
For eligible tech and specialized roles, the Global Talent Stream can significantly speed up processing. The following roles are eligible under this specialized stream:
To find out more about the Global Talent Stream, visit our dedicated webpage.
If you are from a country with a bYMA: International Experience Canada
International Experience Canada (IEC) is a program which issues work permits for citizens of countries that have bilateral youth-mobility agreements (bYMAs) with Canada.
Eligibility for these work permits is generally restricted to citizens between the ages of 18 and 30 or 35 (depending on nationality and specific agreement signed).
A list of countries that have signed bYMAs with Canada can be found here.
The IEC has three programs that issue work permits, each with its own eligibility criteria and work permit outcomes. For newcomers seeking PGWP alternatives, two of these streams are relevant:
IEC Program Type of work permit available Eligibility conditions
Working Holiday Open work permit, typically valid for 1 to 2 yearsNo job offer is required.
Suitable if you want to:
– Work for multiple employers;
– Work in multiple locations; and/or
– Earn to travel across Canada.
Young Professionals Employer-specific work permit Must:
– Have a signed job offer/contract of employment for a paid position that contributes to your professional development;
– Plan to work for the same employer during your stay; and
– Work in a NOC TEER 1, 2, or 3 occupation, or in a TEER 4 occupation if in field of study.
If you have a job offer from a company participating in the Global Hypergrowth Project
Foreign nationals can apply for an LMIA-exempt employer-specific work permit under the Innovation Stream if they have a job offer for a skilled occupation (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3) from one of the companies selected by the Government of Canada for the Global Hypergrowth Project.
Participating Companies
Ada Support Inc.;
AlayaCare;
CellCarta;
Clarius Mobile Health;
Clio;
Duchesnay Pharmaceutical Group;
Lightspeed Commerce; and
Vive Crop Protection.
If your job is a TEER 0 or 1 occupation, you may be eligible for expedited processing.
If you are a citizen of a country with which Canada has signed an FTA: Free Trade Agreement work permits
Free Trade Agreement (FTA) work permits are designed for citizens of countries that have a qualifying agreement with Canada, such as CUSMA for the United States and Mexico.
A list of countries that have signed FTAs with Canada can be found here.
These permits typically fall under the International Mobility Program (IMP), which means many applicants can avoid the LMIA process.
Eligibility depends on the specific agreement and category—such as professionals, intra-company transferees, or traders/investors—and usually requires proof of citizenship, a qualifying occupation, and documentation that matches the agreement criteria.
The following article breaks down general criteria around different worker categories included in some FTAs. Specifics can vary by agreement.
Category Summary of typical eligibility requirements Occupational scope
Intra-Company Transferee (ICT) – Must have worked for the foreign entity full-time for at least 1 year within the past 3 years.
– Transfer must be to a Canadian branch, affiliate, or subsidiary.
– Role must be as a manager, executive, or involve specialized knowledge.
Limited to senior roles or specialist functions
Professional – Must be a citizen of a treaty country under a relevant international agreement.
– Must work in a designated profession under the agreement (typically, select professions in research, finance, engineering, medicine, science, and technology); and
– Must meet educational or licensing qualifications.
Restricted to a pre-approved list of professions, including:
– Engineer;
-Researcher;
– Architect;
– Management Consultant; and
– Computer Systems Analyst.
Trader – Must be engaged in substantial trade (over 50%) of goods or services between Canada and the applicant’s country of citizenship.
– Must be employed in a supervisory, executive, or essential skills role.
-Trade relationship must already exist.
Specific to executive or essential staff roles within trading firms
Investor – Must have made or be making a substantial investment in a new or existing Canadian business.
– Must seek entry to develop and direct the business.
Business owners or essential personnel supporting the investment and enterprise operations
In addition, the following FTAs also have provisions for spouses and common-law partners of applicants to receive spousal open work permits (OWPs):
Canada-UK Trade Continuity Agreement (CUKTCA).
Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement (CCOFTA).
Canada-European Union (EU) Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA).
Canada-Korea Free Trade Agreement (CKFTA).
Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA).
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
To learn more about work permit options through Canada’s FTAs, visit our dedicated webpage.
If you are the spouse of a foreign worker or an international student: Spousal open work permit (student/worker spouse)
Spouses and common-law partners of certain international students and foreign workers can qualify for an OWP.
Spouses of international students
For student-based eligibility, the principal student must enrolled in doctoral or master’s degree program of 16 months or longer, or one of the following professional degree programs:
Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS, DMD).
Bachelor of Law or Juris Doctor (LLB, JD, BCL).
Doctor of Medicine (MD).
Doctor of Optometry (OD).
Pharmacy (PharmD, BS, BSc, BPharm).
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM).
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BScN, BSN).
Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNSc).
Bachelor of Nursing (BN).
Bachelor of Education (BEd).
Bachelor of Engineering (BEng, BE, BASc).
In addition, the following programs can also grant work permit eligibility for the spouse of an international student:
Program name Province or territory Eligibility period
Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP) Outside Quebec From August 26, 2024
Le projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’infirmières et d’infirmiers recrutés à l’international Quebec From April 30, 2024
Projet de reconnaissance des compétences d’inhalothérapeutes formés à l’étranger Quebec From January 21, 2025
Projet de recrutement et reconnaissance des compétences de technologistes médicaux formés à l’étranger Quebec From January 21, 2025
Supervised Practice Experience Partnership Ontario From January 21, 2025
Nurse Re-Entry (Red River College Polytechnic) Manitoba From January 21, 2025
Internationally Educated Midwives Bridging Program (The University of British Columbia) British Columbia From January 21, 2025
Canadian Pharmacy Practice Program (CP3) (The University of British Columbia) British Columbia From January 21, 2025
Post-Degree Diploma: Nursing Practice in Canada (Langara College) British Columbia From January 21, 2025
For more information on eligibility criteria for spouses of international students, visit our dedicated article.
Spouses of foreign workers
Spouses of foreign workers may be eligible for an OWP, depending on the worker’s occupation skill level and their current immigration status.
The following table summarizes these criteria:
Worker status Worker conditions
Applied for PR through an *eligible economic class program or pilot- Must hold a valid work permit, issued or approved through a PR application.
– Work permit must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of applying.
High-skilled worker (TEER 0 or 1) on a work permit- Work authorization valid for at least 16 months at the time of applying.
– Currently living and working in Canada, or plan to.
High-skilled worker (TEER 2 or 3) on a work permit- Must be employed in an occupation on the list of eligible TEER 2 and 3 occupations.
– Work authorization valid for at least 16 months at the time of applying
– Currently living or working in Canada, or plan to.
Low-skilled worker (TEER 4 or 5) who received a work permit through an eligible PR pathway, but has not yet applied for PR- Work authorization must be valid for at least 6 months at the time of applying.
– Currently living and working in Canada, or plan to.
Foreign workers in Canada under Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) Depends on the terms of each individual free trade agreement.
Visit our dedicated webpage to learn more.
*Eligible economic class programs or pilots include:
Agri-Food Pilot;
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP);
Canadian Experience Class (CEC);
Caring for children class or caring for people with high medical needs class;
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP);
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP);
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP);
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot – Direct to PR stream;
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP);
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program;
Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP);
Start-up business class;
Holders of a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) who applied for permanent residence (PR) under:
Quebec Skilled Worker Class;
Quebec Investor program.
For more information on eligibility criteria for spouses of foreign workers, visit our dedicated article.
Permanent residence pathways with work permit options
Atlantic Immigration Program work permits
The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a PR pathway that also provides a two-year employer-specific work permit once the PR application is submitted.
To qualify, candidates must obtain a job offer from a designated employer in:
New Brunswick;
Newfoundland and Labrador;
Nova Scotia; or
Prince Edward Island.
The job offer must be endorsed by the relevant province.
Candidates will also need a referral letter from the Atlantic province in which they will be working.
Where required, applicants will need to meet program criteria related to language, education, work experience, and in some cases, settlement funds.
To find out more about the AIP and which employers are eligible to apply under it, visit our dedicated webpage.
If you are the spouse or common-law partner of a Canadian permanent resident or citizen: Spousal open work permit (family sponsorship)
Sponsored spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners of Canadian citizens or PRs can apply for an OWP while their spousal sponsorship PR application is in process.
These work permits are typically issued with one to two years of validity.
To be eligible, the spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner must:
Be in Canada with a valid temporary resident status (including visitor status);
Be in a genuine relationship with the sponsor;
Have the same residential address as their sponsor in Canada when applying; and
Have been included in a PR application and received an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) from IRCC.
To learn more about SOWPs for spousal sponsorship applicants, visit our dedicated webpage on the topic.
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