PGWP Eligibility and PR Bridge Planner
Check your Post-Graduation Work Permit length, when you become CEC-eligible, and your estimated path from graduation to Canadian permanent residence.
Not all DLIs are PGWP-eligible. Verify at IRCC’s PGWP eligibility page before enrolling.
CEC requires at least 1 year of skilled work in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. TEER 4 and 5 do not count toward CEC eligibility.
Unsure? Estimate your CRS score first. PGWP experience will raise it.
What Nigerian PGWP Holders Get Wrong
- ✗ Working in a TEER 4 or 5 role during the PGWP and assuming it counts toward CEC eligibility. It does not. CEC requires TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 roles only.
- ✗ Not applying for the PGWP before the study permit expires. The PGWP must be applied for within 180 days of graduating, while still holding a valid study permit or a maintained status.
- ✗ Waiting until the PGWP is about to expire to start the PR application. IRCC processing can take 6 to 12 months; starting late risks a status gap.
- ✗ Assuming the PGWP length equals the program length for programs under 2 years. Programs of 8 months to under 2 years get a PGWP equal to the program length, not automatically 3 years.
- ✗ Not taking or updating a language test. CEC and most PNP streams require a valid language test result (IELTS or CELPIP) dated within 2 years of the PR application.
How the PGWP and CEC Bridge Works
The study-to-PR bridge for Nigerian students in Canada has four stages: graduate, apply for PGWP, work in a skilled occupation for at least 12 months, then apply for PR through CEC (Canadian Experience Class) or a PNP. This tool models all four stages based on your inputs.
CEC Eligibility Date = Graduation Date + 12 months of TEER 0-3 work
CRS Boost = Canadian Experience Points (40 to 80 pts)
PR Application Window = CEC Eligibility to PGWP Expiry
Ideal PR Start = 6 months before PGWP expires (buffer)
PGWP Length Rules: What You Actually Get
The PGWP length is determined by how long your Canadian program was, not by your preference or your plan. IRCC follows this structure:
| Program Length | PGWP Duration | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 8 months | Not eligible | No PGWP for very short programs |
| 8 months to less than 2 years | Equal to program length | 1-year diploma = 1-year PGWP |
| 2 years or more | 3 years | The maximum PGWP duration |
| Master’s degree (any length) | 3 years | Regardless of actual program duration |
| PhD (any length) | 3 years | Regardless of actual program duration |
How PGWP Work Experience Raises Your CRS Score
One of the most underappreciated effects of Canadian work experience on the CRS score is the direct points it adds under the Canadian Experience Class category. When you accumulate 12 months of skilled work in Canada, your CRS profile changes significantly:
| Canadian Experience | CRS Points Added (Single) | CRS Points Added (Married) |
|---|---|---|
| None (overseas only) | 0 | 0 |
| 1 year in Canada | 40 | 35 |
| 2 years in Canada | 53 | 46 |
| 3 years in Canada | 64 | 56 |
| 4 years in Canada | 72 | 63 |
| 5 years in Canada | 80 | 70 |
This is separate from the skill transferability bonus, which gives additional points for combining Canadian experience with strong language scores or foreign experience. A Nigerian student who arrives with CRS 430, gains 1 year of Canadian experience, and gets a skill transferability bonus can realistically reach CRS 480 to 510, which is competitive in current draw pools.
CEC Eligibility: The Exact Requirements
To apply for PR through Canadian Experience Class, you need:
- At least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work in Canada within the 3 years before applying
- Work must be in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupation
- Work must be paid (volunteer and unpaid work do not count)
- Valid language test results (CLB 7 for TEER 0 or 1 occupations; CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3)
- A completed Express Entry profile with the CEC stream selected
The PR Application Window: Why Timing Matters
The gap between becoming CEC-eligible and your PGWP expiring is your critical PR application window. If this window is narrow (less than 6 months), you face a status risk: if your PR application is not approved before your PGWP expires, you may need to apply for a bridging open work permit or face a gap in work authorization.
The safest approach is to submit your PR application at least 6 to 8 months before your PGWP expires. This gives IRCC time to process within the standard 6-month target and reduces the risk of needing a bridging permit.
Realistic Scenarios: Nigerian Graduates on PGWP
Scenario 1: 2-Year Diploma Graduate, Software Developer
Chima graduates from a 2-year software development program at a PGWP-eligible Ontario college in June 2025. He gets a 3-year PGWP (programs of 2+ years get the maximum 3-year PGWP). He starts a TEER 1 developer role immediately. By June 2026 (12 months), he is CEC-eligible. His CRS at graduation was approximately 440. After 1 year of Canadian experience: approximately 480 to 495. He submits his Express Entry profile and is likely competitive in CEC-targeted draws, which have cleared at 437 to 485 historically. He submits his PR application in late 2026. His PGWP expires in June 2028, giving him a 12-month buffer. Estimated PR: mid-2027.
Scenario 2: 1-Year Diploma Graduate, Healthcare Support
Ngozi completes a 1-year Personal Support Worker (PSW) program (TEER 3) at a PGWP-eligible Ontario college in December 2025. She receives a 1-year PGWP expiring December 2026. She starts working immediately as a PSW. By December 2026, she has exactly 12 months of Canadian experience and is CEC-eligible, but her PGWP also expires at the same time. She has no PR application window unless she has been building her Express Entry profile proactively. Her options: apply for PR immediately in December 2026 and hope for 6-month processing, or apply for a bridging open work permit while PR is in processing. She is in a tight situation because she chose a 1-year program. The 2-year program would have given her a 3-year PGWP and a much more comfortable timeline.
Scenario 3: Master’s Graduate, Accounting, with PNP Pathway
Emeka completes a 1.5-year Master of Finance at a Canadian university in December 2025. He receives a 3-year PGWP (master’s programs always get 3 years). He starts a TEER 1 accounting role in January 2026. By January 2027, he is CEC-eligible. His CRS at graduation was approximately 470. After 1 year of Canadian experience and a skill transferability bonus: approximately 510 to 525. He is competitive in general draws. He also registers for the Ontario Human Capital Priorities stream as a backup. He submits his PR application by mid-2027, well within his PGWP window (expiring December 2028). Estimated PR: early 2028.
Common Questions
Can I apply for the PGWP from within Canada after graduation?
Yes. You apply for the PGWP through IRCC’s online portal. You must apply within 180 days of receiving written confirmation of your graduation (typically the transcript or letter from your institution). You must have a valid study permit at the time of application, or maintain implied status if your study permit expired while waiting for graduation confirmation.
Does the PGWP let my spouse work in Canada?
If you are on a PGWP, your accompanying spouse or common-law partner may be eligible for an open work permit that allows them to work anywhere in Canada without restrictions. Check current IRCC policy on spousal open work permits linked to PGWP holders, as eligibility criteria have changed in recent years.
What if I cannot find a TEER 0-3 job after graduation?
Any time you spend working in TEER 4 or 5 roles does not count toward the CEC 12-month requirement. It is not lost time financially, but it is lost time for CEC purposes. Your PGWP clock is still running. If you cannot secure TEER 0-3 work within your PGWP window, your CEC path closes. At that point, PNP streams with lower experience requirements (some accept less than 12 months of Canadian experience) or a provincial nomination based on existing qualifications become the primary alternatives.
Can I renew the PGWP if my PR is not approved in time?
No. The PGWP is a one-time permit and cannot be renewed. If your PR application is in processing when your PGWP expires, you can apply for a bridging open work permit to maintain your work authorization while waiting. If your PR is rejected or you have not applied, you would need a different work permit (like an LMIA-based permit) or to depart Canada.
Does the study permit work authorization count toward CEC?
Yes, if the work was in a TEER 0-3 role, paid, and done on a valid study permit or during an authorized period. Work done on the study permit’s off-campus work provision (up to 24 hours per week) can count as part of the CEC 12-month requirement on a full-time equivalent basis. 24 hours per week for 52 weeks equals approximately 0.6 years of full-time equivalent experience.
How long does the CEC PR application actually take?
After receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from an Express Entry draw, you have 60 days to submit the complete PR application. IRCC then targets 6 months of processing. In practice, processing times vary between 4 and 12 months. Check the current IRCC processing time tracker before planning your submission window.
