The post-graduation work permit (PGWP) lets a Kenyan who graduates from an eligible Canadian program work for almost any employer in Canada for up to 3 years. But IRCC says graduating from a designated learning institution doesn’t make you eligible on its own. IRCC looks at your program, its length, your language score, how much of it you studied online and when you apply, and you need to plan for most of these before you leave Kenya.
This guide sets out the 2026 rules on the PGWP for Kenyan students in the order you’ll meet them. It’s part of our guide to studying in Canada from Kenya.
How long the PGWP lasts
IRCC sets the length by your level of study and the length of your program, and it won’t issue the permit beyond the expiry date of your passport.
| What you complete | PGWP length |
|---|---|
| A program shorter than 8 months | No PGWP |
| A certificate or diploma of 8 months to under 2 years | Up to the length of the program |
| Any program of 2 years or more | Up to 3 years |
| A master’s degree of at least 8 months, even if under 2 years | Up to 3 years |
| A doctoral degree | Up to 3 years, under the 2-year rule |
The master’s rule has applied since 15 February 2024, and IRCC mentions it doesn’t cover certificate or diploma programs. A Quebec program counts in hours instead: at least 900 hours.
Combining two programs
If you finish two programs, IRCC may give you a PGWP that combines their lengths. Each program has to be PGWP-eligible and at least 8 months long, and you need to meet the higher language requirement of the two. IRCC won’t give a PGWP to anyone who already had one, so you can’t collect one after each program.
Renew your Kenyan passport first
IRCC only issues the permit for as long as your passport is valid. If your passport expires early, you can apply on paper to extend the PGWP once you have a new passport, but it’s simpler to renew before you apply. If your passport expires within three years of your graduation date, plan the renewal early.
PGWP for Kenyan students: who qualifies
According to IRCC you must meet every one of these rules:
- you completed a program of at least 8 months at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution
- you studied full time in every semester, though your final semester may be part time
- you apply within 180 days of getting confirmation that you finished your program
- your study permit was valid at some point during those 180 days
- you meet the language requirement for your level of study
- you meet the field of study requirement, if it applies to your program
The language test
Every applicant is required to prove English or French with an approved test, in all four skills. A waiver your university gave you at admission doesn’t count.
| Your program | Level you need | IELTS General Training | CELPIP General | PTE Core |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree, or any other university program | CLB 7 | 6.0 in each skill | 7 in each skill | Reading 60, writing 69, listening 60, speaking 68 |
| College diploma, certificate or other non-university program | CLB 5 | Reading 4.0, writing 5.0, listening 5.0, speaking 5.0 | 5 in each skill | Reading 42, writing 51, listening 39, speaking 51 |
The scores come from IRCC’s conversion table. IRCC’s table lists IELTS General Training, not IELTS Academic, so a Kenyan who used IELTS Academic for admission should plan to take the General Training test or CELPIP before applying.
The field of study rule
IRCC exempts bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates from this rule. Everyone else who applied for a study permit on or after 1 November 2024 must graduate from a program whose six-digit CIP code is on IRCC’s list when they apply for either the study permit or the PGWP. IRCC links the list to jobs in long-term shortage, and it says it won’t add or remove any fields during 2026. The list includes agriculture and agri-food, education, and healthcare and social services programs.
Ask your college for the CIP code in writing before you pay a deposit, then check it in IRCC’s search tool.
Who IRCC refuses outright
You can’t get a PGWP if you:
- already had a PGWP
- studied English or French as a second language
- took general interest or self-improvement courses, or a non-credit program
- received Global Affairs Canada funding or a scholarship that requires you to go home after graduation
- did more than half of your program by distance learning
- studied at a non-Canadian institution located in Canada
- studied a program that isn’t PGWP-eligible, including most programs that a private college delivers for a public college under a licensing deal
Mistakes that can cost you the PGWP
Starting online from Kenya. If you started your program or applied for your study permit on or after 1 September 2024, you are required to complete at least half of the program in class in Canada, and it deducts any time you studied from outside Canada from the length of your PGWP. Time you studied before IRCC received your study permit application doesn’t count at all.
Dropping to part time. You are required to study full-time in every semester except the last. If you need a break, ask your school for an authorized leave. You may keep your eligibility after an authorized leave of up to 150 days, with proof from the school, but an unauthorized leave can cost you the PGWP. Our guide to what happens to your student visa if you fail a module covers related rules.
Letting your study permit expire while you wait for marks. You can apply for a visitor record or leave Canada and apply from outside. If you stay and let the permit expire, you’ll have to restore your status first, which costs CAD 396.25 on IRCC’s fee list.
Missing the 180 days. Count from the date on the school’s confirmation that you finished, not from graduation day.
Transferring from an unlisted school. If you move from a school that isn’t a designated learning institution to one that is, IRCC only counts your time at the DLI, and that time must be at least 8 months.
Applying and what it costs
The PGWP costs CAD 255: the CAD 155 work permit fee and the CAD 100 open work permit holder fee, both on IRCC’s fee list. Add the cost of your language test. Our cost of studying in Canada guides prices, the language test and the other fees you pay along the way.
If you were allowed to work off campus during your studies and you apply for the PGWP before your study permit expires, you can work unlimited hours while you wait for the decision. If IRCC refuses the application, you must stop working. Our guide to student visa work hours explains the 24-hour weekly limit that applies during your studies.
After the PGWP: permanent residence
IRCC names the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program and the Provincial Nominee Program as routes graduates may fit into. From 3 November 2026, Express Entry gives extra points for a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, up to 100 points at twice the median wage, and extra points for at least a year of Canadian work experience in such an occupation. IRCC defines a high-wage occupation as one paying at least 1.3 times the median Canadian wage.
Your PGWP years are your chance to build that Canadian experience, so the length of your permit matters. With a 1-year permit from a short certificate, you have little time. Our guide to the cheapest level of study in Canada for Kenyans shows which programs reach a 3-year permit for the least money.
If your spouse or children are in Canada with you, our guide to bringing your family to Canada as a Kenyan student explains your spouse’s work permit and your children’s schooling.
Quick answers
Do Kenyans need IELTS for the PGWP?
Yes, or another approved test. University graduates need CLB 7 and college graduates CLB 5 in all four skills, whatever their English background.
Does a one-year master’s give a 3-year PGWP?
It can, if the program ran at least 8 months and you meet every other rule.
Can I study online from Kenya and still get a PGWP?
Only partly. At least half of the program must be in class in Canada, and IRCC deducts your time studying from Kenya from the length of the permit.
How much does the PGWP cost?
CAD 255 in IRCC fees, plus your language test.
Can I get a second PGWP after another program?
No. IRCC refuses a PGWP to anyone who already had one.
More guides in this series
- Study in Canada from Kenya: the complete guide
- Graduate certificate, diploma, degree, master’s or PhD: which is cheapest?
- Proof of funds for a Canada study permit from Kenya
- Scholarships for Kenyan students in Canada
- Bringing your family to Canada as a Kenyan student
This article is general information and is not immigration advice. Canadian study rules, fees and funds requirements change often, and some change every year. Confirm every detail on the official IRCC website at canada.ca, and on the Quebec government website if you plan to study in Quebec. Before you pay for help, speak to a licensed adviser. Immigration consultants in Canada are regulated by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, which has a public register where you can check a license. Lawyers who belong to a provincial or territorial law society, and notaries in Quebec, may also give immigration advice for a fee.