Legal eligibility
The minimum requirements in the law and the program’s rules.
- 9 look good
Made-up story · Step 02 of 05
Maria’s sample assessment
What the rules engine found for Maria’s made-up answers: the paths it examined, what each one needs, and what it couldn’t decide.
Released at once, or held for a lawyer?
Our lawyers approve the rules an assessment is released on. Routine ones are released at once; anything unusual waits for a lawyer first, and so does anything resting on a rule a lawyer has not approved yet. Here is what would happen to this one.
Released at once
Nothing in it needs a lawyer’s individual judgment, so a real applicant with these answers would see it straight away, built on rules the lawyers approve.
Pathways examined
Maria’s sample report says: “We checked your answers against 9 requirements that apply to your objective: 9 appear to be met.”
- Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)Worth exploring
9 of 9 requirements checked appear to be met.
Four different questions
Eligible, competitive, up to an officer, and what to file
Being eligible isn’t the same as being chosen. The sample keeps apart what the law requires, how a program ranks people, what an officer decides, and what the application itself needs. Every requirement the report checked is in one of the four.
Selection competitiveness
How the person would rank against other candidates, where the program ranks them at all.
This program doesn’t rank applicants against each other, so there is no score to beat.
Discretionary outcomes
What an officer weighs and decides beyond the checklist.
None of the requirements checked here is mainly an officer’s discretion, though an officer still decides every application.
Applying and filing
How to apply, what to file and what it costs: not whether the person qualifies, but what the application needs.
What’s missing or uncertain
Nothing is missing from these answers, and nothing needs a lawyer’s judgment.
The sample report
As Maria would read it
The report the rules engine wrote for these made-up answers, with the official page behind each requirement. Real reports look just like this; yours is written from your own answers.
OpenClose Maria’s full sample report9 requirements, each with the reasons and its official page, the action plan and the next steps.
Preliminary assessmentMade-up sample
Your answers suggest one or more directions worth investigating.
We checked your answers against 9 requirements that apply to your objective: 9 appear to be met.
The short versionSome paths look worth exploring
- 9 look good
- Prepared for
- Maria Gonzalez (made up)
- Rules checked
- October 18, 2026
- Reference
- Sample
This is a starting point, not a decision. It’s based on what you told us, before anyone has looked at your documents, and only the Government of Canada can approve an application.
Key dates
Worked out from the dates you gave us. Check each one against your own documents.
- November 27, 2026Your study permit stops being valid: 90 days after your completion date, or on the expiry date printed on it if that comes first. Apply for your PGWP before this date to keep your status in Canada (and, if you could work off campus during your studies, to work while you wait). If you can't, apply for a visitor record before this date, or leave Canada by then; you can still apply from outside Canada within 180 days of your completion date
- February 25, 2027PGWP application deadline (180 days after your completion date). If your study permit stops being valid before you apply, IRCC says to apply for a visitor record before it does, or to leave Canada and apply from there; if you stay and let it expire, you must restore your status (extra fees) to apply
What you’re aiming for
You are seeking: Post-graduation work permit (study in Canada).
Paths worth a look
The ways to Canada that came up for you, most promising first.
Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
Worth exploring9 of 9 requirements checked appear to be met.
How we got there
Each requirement we checked, what we found, and the official page it comes from.
Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)
- PGWP general eligibilityLooks good
Based on your answers, you appear to meet the general PGWP conditions, provided your program is listed as PGWP-eligible for your school and you apply within 180 days of your completion date.
Your answers: Which program did you complete in Canada, and when did you receive confirmation that you finished it: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia. My completion letter is dated August 29, 2026. · Which school and program have you chosen: University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Commerce (completed). · What is your immigration status in Canada right now, if you have one: Student · and 8 more answers
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: Who can applyRead our guide
- PGWP exclusions (who is not eligible)Looks good
Based on your answers, none of the listed PGWP exclusions appear to apply to your studies, though your school and program must still be PGWP-eligible.
Your answers: Which program did you complete in Canada, and when did you receive confirmation that you finished it: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia. My completion letter is dated August 29, 2026. · Which school and program have you chosen: University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Commerce (completed). · Do any of these apply to your studies in Canada? Choose all that fit.: None of these · and 1 more answers
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: Who can applyRead our guide
- PGWP language requirementLooks good
Based on your answers, your results from a test IRCC lists for a PGWP (CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada) appear to meet the minimum for your program, or you are exempt as a flight school graduate. Your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.
Your answers: Have you taken an English or French language test in the past 2 years: Yes · Which language test did you take: IELTS (English) · Based on your test results, what's your CLB or NCLC level for listening in your first official language: 8 · and 5 more answers
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: Who can applyRead our guide
- PGWP field-of-study requirementLooks good
Based on your answers, the PGWP field-of-study requirement does not appear to apply to your program.
Your answers: Which program did you complete in Canada, and when did you receive confirmation that you finished it: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia. My completion letter is dated August 29, 2026. · Which school and program have you chosen: University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Commerce (completed). · What type of program will you take in Canada, or did you already complete in Canada: Bachelor's degree
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: Field of study requirementRead our guide
- PGWP validity period: up to 3 yearsLooks good
Based on your answers, your program (2 years or more, or a master's degree of at least 8 months) may lead to a PGWP valid for up to 3 years, and your passport appears to stay valid long enough not to shorten it. The officer decides the length, which can be shorter, for example if you studied part of your program outside Canada.
Your answers: Which program did you complete in Canada, and when did you receive confirmation that you finished it: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia. My completion letter is dated August 29, 2026. · When does your passport expire: 2031-04-11 · How long is the study program you plan to take (or have already completed): 2 years or more · and 1 more answers
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: About the post-graduation work permit (PGWP)Read our guide
- PGWP application timing and expired study permitsLooks good
Based on your answers, your completion date was no more than 180 days ago, which is within the time allowed to apply for a PGWP.
Your answers: Which program did you complete in Canada, and when did you receive confirmation that you finished it: Bachelor of Commerce, University of British Columbia. My completion letter is dated August 29, 2026. · What is your immigration status in Canada right now, if you have one: Student · Have you lost your temporary resident status in Canada, or could you be in the time window to get it restored: No · and 6 more answers
Official source: Post-graduation work permit: How to applyRead our guide
Study permit
- Admissibility: criminality and police certificatesLooks good
Based on your answers, you reported no criminal charges, convictions, or immigration enforcement or refusal history that would raise an admissibility concern.
Your answers: Do you have any criminal charges or convictions, a serious health condition that may need an immigration medical exam, or past enforcement history with Canadian immigration: No · Have you ever been refused a visa or permit, refused entry, stayed longer than allowed, or been ordered to leave any country: No
- Study permit conditions, changing schools, and effect of non-complianceLooks good
Based on your answers, you have not reported any breach of study permit or other status conditions in Canada.
Your answers: What is your immigration status in Canada right now, if you have one: Student · Which school and program have you chosen: University of British Columbia, Bachelor of Commerce (completed). · In Canada, have you ever worked or studied without permission, worked more hours than allowed, stopped going to school, taken unapproved leave, or broken other rules of your permit or visitor status: No · and 1 more answers
Official source: Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)Read our guide
Immigration medical examination (temporary residents)
- When an immigration medical exam is required for visitors and studentsLooks good
Based on your answers, you do not appear to need an immigration medical exam: you will not study or work in health care, a clinical lab, a primary or secondary school, child care or in-home care, you reported no serious health condition, and either your program is 6 months or less or Canada is the only country or territory where you lived or stayed for 6 months or more in a row in the past 12 months. You would need an exam if you will work in a job where public health must be protected, or, for a stay of more than 6 months, if you spend 6 months or more in a row in a country or territory where IRCC's country list says an exam is needed, in the year before you apply or come to Canada. If you are in Canada and your open work permit, or the work authorization on your study permit, says you are not authorized to work in child care, primary or secondary school teaching or health service occupations, IRCC says that to lift that restriction you must get an upfront medical exam and apply to change your permit's conditions, with a short letter explaining why you need it removed. If you need an exam, the visa office will tell you what to do next.
Your answers: What's the reason for your visit, and how long do you plan to stay: I am not planning a visit. I live in Vancouver and want to stay and work after graduating. · When do you plan to arrive in Canada, and when do you plan to leave: I am already in Canada. · Do you have any criminal charges or convictions, a serious health condition that may need an immigration medical exam, or past enforcement history with Canadian immigration: No · and 5 more answers
Official source: Medical exams for visitors, students and workersRead our guide
What’s working for you, and what’s in the way
Working for you
- Based on your answers, you appear to meet the general PGWP conditions, provided your program is listed as PGWP-eligible for your school and you apply within 180 days of your completion date.
- Based on your answers, none of the listed PGWP exclusions appear to apply to your studies, though your school and program must still be PGWP-eligible.
- Based on your answers, your results from a test IRCC lists for a PGWP (CELPIP General, IELTS General Training, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada) appear to meet the minimum for your program, or you are exempt as a flight school graduate. Your results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application.
- Based on your answers, the PGWP field-of-study requirement does not appear to apply to your program.
- Based on your answers, your program (2 years or more, or a master's degree of at least 8 months) may lead to a PGWP valid for up to 3 years, and your passport appears to stay valid long enough not to shorten it. The officer decides the length, which can be shorter, for example if you studied part of your program outside Canada.
- Based on your answers, your completion date was no more than 180 days ago, which is within the time allowed to apply for a PGWP.
- Based on your answers, you reported no criminal charges, convictions, or immigration enforcement or refusal history that would raise an admissibility concern.
- Based on your answers, you have not reported any breach of study permit or other status conditions in Canada.
- Based on your answers, you do not appear to need an immigration medical exam: you will not study or work in health care, a clinical lab, a primary or secondary school, child care or in-home care, you reported no serious health condition, and either your program is 6 months or less or Canada is the only country or territory where you lived or stayed for 6 months or more in a row in the past 12 months. You would need an exam if you will work in a job where public health must be protected, or, for a stay of more than 6 months, if you spend 6 months or more in a row in a country or territory where IRCC's country list says an exam is needed, in the year before you apply or come to Canada. If you are in Canada and your open work permit, or the work authorization on your study permit, says you are not authorized to work in child care, primary or secondary school teaching or health service occupations, IRCC says that to lift that restriction you must get an upfront medical exam and apply to change your permit's conditions, with a short letter explaining why you need it removed. If you need an exam, the visa office will tell you what to do next.
In the way
- Nothing so far from what you told us.
Still need to know
- Nothing so far from what you told us.
Your next steps
- Right now
Note the key dates above. Check your answers and correct any errors.
- With a professional
Go over the best strategy and timing with a lawyer before you apply.
Good to know
- You haven't applied for your PGWP yet. From the day you first receive your completion letter, your transcript or an email from your school saying you completed your program, you can't work until you submit your application. If you submit it before your study permit stops being valid (see Key dates), were eligible to work off campus during your studies and didn't work more hours than allowed, you can then work full-time while IRCC decides. The other way to keep working is to start a new full-time program at a DLI within 150 calendar days of your completion confirmation, if you could work off campus during your studies, have a letter of acceptance and have a valid study permit (or applied to extend it before it expired). If IRCC refuses your application, you must stop working and leave Canada.
- Unless you are exempt (for example, under 14, over 79, or a visa-exempt national coming only to visit), you need to give biometrics when you apply, for a fee of $85 per person (at most $170 for a family of 2 or more people applying at the same time). If you are applying as a visitor, student or worker and have given biometrics before, you may not need to give them again, but a visa or permit can't be issued for longer than 10 years from the last date you gave them; you can choose to give them again, even if they're still valid, to get a longer one.
- IRCC fees (confirmed before filing) include $100 for a visitor visa or extension, $7 for an eTA, $150 for a study permit, $255 for a PGWP, $246.25 to restore status and $85 for biometrics.
- Rules, programs and how people are selected can change, sometimes quickly.
- Meeting the minimum requirements doesn’t guarantee an invitation or an approval.
How this was checked
- Rules used
- Official Government of Canada and provincial sources, checked October 18, 2026
- Review
- A made-up sample, not yet reviewed by a lawyer.
- If things change
- Change any answer and we’ll prepare a fresh assessment.