Post-Graduation Work Permit eligible programs and institutions

Students are ineligible for a post-graduation work permit if they have completed the following:

• an English as a second language or French as a second language course or program of study
• general interest or self-improvement courses
• a course or program of study at a private career college

On this page

• Eligible institutions
• Graduates of vocational and professional training programs in Quebec
• Graduates of flight schools

Eligible institutions

The applicant must provide evidence that the program or programs of study were taken in Canada at one of the following eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs):

• a public post-secondary institution, such as
  • a college
  • a trade or technical school
  • a university
  • CEGEP (in Quebec)
• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions in Quebec
• a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution in Quebec offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer leading to
  • a diploma of vocational studies (DVS)
  • an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS)
• a Canadian, private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees, such as an associate, bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, but only if the student is enrolled in a program of study leading to a degree, as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution

See the DLI list to verify schools’ eligibility.

DLIs that lose their designation

Applicants whose DLI loses its designation status before the completion of their program may transfer to another program or remain at the institution that has lost its designation status to complete their program of study. These applicants may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit, provided they meet all other program requirements and have continued to meet the conditions of their study permit (for example, be enrolled and actively pursuing studies).

Graduates of vocational and professional training programs in Quebec

Note: The following procedures apply only to graduates of Quebec institutions with either

• a DVS
• an AVS

See the Guidelines for determining the length of the post-graduation work permit for validity periods of post-graduation work permits issued to graduates of Quebec vocational programs.

In Quebec, vocational and professional training programs can be delivered at the secondary or post-secondary level. The provisions of the Canada–Quebec Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate the entry of certain temporary foreign workers outline when international students are eligible for a post-graduation work permit. To be eligible for a post-graduation work permit, the student must graduate from a recognized secondary institution in Quebec with one of the following diplomas:

• DVS
• AVS

The diploma must be issued by the Ministère de l’Éducation et de l’Enseignement supérieur (MEES) (Department of Education and Higher Education).

Procedures

Eligible applicants

Applicants who have graduated from Quebec vocational institutions with a DVS or AVS must fulfill all of the following criteria:

• They are 18 years of age or older at the time of application.
• They have completed a full-time vocational or professional training program at an eligible institution in Quebec.
• They have been in a program of study that was a minimum of 900 hours (equivalent to 8 months).
• They have submitted an official letter from the institution outlining the duration of the program of study (in hours or months) to facilitate the processing and issuance of the post-graduation work permit and to ensure accurate duration of work authorization.
• They include one of the following in the work permit application:
  • the credential
  • an official attestation of program completion
  • an official transcript from a Quebec school board or private institution recognized by the MEES in support of the work permit application

Eligible institutions

Officers should verify Quebec public and private secondary schools through Inforoute: Vocational and technical training in Quebec.

Eligible applicants who have changed institutions during their training program must have a combined total of at least 900 hours (equivalent to 8 months) of courses at eligible institutions located in Quebec.

Flight school graduates

To obtain a post-graduation work permit, flight school graduates must submit clear evidence that they meet the basic requirements for a permit and have done either of the following:

• They have completed a flight training course at a DLI training centre and obtained a Canadian commercial pilot’s license.
• They have obtained or are in the process of obtaining an instructor’s rating and have received an offer of employment as a flight instructor from a DLI flight training centre in Canada.

See Post-graduation work permit validity and application for guidelines on the length of the post-graduation work permit that can be issued.