PGWP Eligibility Checklist
Tick every box before you enrol and again before you apply — this is what a strong PGWP case looks like.
Use this checklist twice
The smartest time to run a PGWP eligibility check is before you enrol, and the second smartest time is before you apply. Most avoidable problems — an ineligible field, a too-short program, a lapsed study permit — are caught when you work through a checklist deliberately rather than assuming things will work out.
The checklist below brings together every core requirement for a 2026 PGWP application. Treat each row as a box you must be able to tick with evidence. If any row is uncertain, resolve it before committing money or submitting your application.
The PGWP eligibility checklist
| Checklist item | What good looks like | Confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Designated Learning Institution | Your school is on IRCC's DLI list | Verify DLI status |
| Program length | Program is at least 8 months long | Check total duration |
| Study permit status | You held a valid study permit during study | Keep status valid |
| Language ability | You meet the minimum (commonly CLB 7 or CLB 5) | Confirm current CLB requirement |
| Field of study | Non-degree program is in an eligible field (degrees generally exempt) | Confirm current eligible field list |
| Application timing | You apply within the post-marks window (commonly 180 days) | Track your deadline |
Before you tick the last box
Confirm program length is 8 months or more — the most common quick disqualifier.
Re-check the eligible field list for your intake if you did a diploma or certificate.
Make sure your study permit stayed valid throughout your studies.
Have a valid, sufficient language test result ready in English or French.
Note the exact date your final marks were issued so you apply within the window.
We do not guarantee any outcome. As an RCIC-authorized firm (R506940), we work through this checklist with you and confirm the time-sensitive items — the current CLB requirement and the current eligible field list — so nothing is left to assumption. Always confirm the current rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Run your PGWP eligibility checklist with an expert
Future Link Consultants (RCIC-authorized, R506940) walks you through every PGWP checklist item and verifies the rules that change most often. We never guarantee outcomes — we make sure every box is genuinely ticked.