PGWP Application Checklist: Documents You Need (2026)

PGWP application checklist with passport, study permit, transcript, and immigration documents on a desk — A complete PGWP application requires accurate documents, proper preparation, and careful submission.

You’ve finished your program, you know a PGWP is your next move, and now you’re staring at the IRCC portal trying to figure out exactly what it wants from you. This is the point where a lot of students get anxious, and honestly, that’s fair. Since a post-graduation work permit is a one-time benefit, a missing document or a rushed upload isn’t just an inconvenience, it can genuinely cost you your only shot at it.

This checklist walks through every document IRCC typically asks for, what each one actually looks like, how much the application costs right now, and how the submission process works from start to finish. If you haven’t yet confirmed you’re actually eligible to apply, read that first, because gathering documents for an application you can’t submit is a waste of time you don’t have.

Table of Contents

Before You Start: Confirm You’re Eligible to Apply

Before you gather a single document, make sure your eligibility is locked in. That means confirming your program was PGWP-eligible, that you meet the 8-month minimum, and that you’re still within your application window. We cover the fundamentals in our what a PGWP actually is guide and the exact timing rules in our when to apply for PGWP after graduation guide. If you’re at all unsure, run a confirm your eligibility first check before you start uploading anything. It takes a few minutes and can save you from assembling a file for an application that was never going to succeed.

The Complete PGWP Document Checklist

Here’s the full list of what IRCC generally expects, broken down by category. Not everything on this list applies to every applicant, so pay attention to the mandatory versus conditional column.

Document	Mandatory or Conditional	Where to Get It	Notes
Valid passport (biographical page)	Mandatory	Your passport issuing authority	Must cover your intended PGWP length, or the permit will be shortened
Study permit (current or recently expired)	Mandatory	Your IRCC account	Must have been valid at some point during your 180-day window
Final transcript	Mandatory	Your school’s registrar	Shows courses completed and final grades
Completion letter from your DLI	Mandatory	Your school’s international office or registrar	Confirms you met all program requirements
Digital photo	Mandatory	A photo studio or approved photo app	Must meet IRCC’s technical specifications
Proof of application fee payment	Mandatory	Generated automatically after payment	Keep the receipt for your records
Language test results	Conditional	An approved testing body (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, TCF, etc.)	Required for most applicants since November 2024, exceptions apply
Proof of eligible field of study (CIP code documentation)	Conditional	Your school or IRCC’s official list	Applies to non-degree programs where the study permit was applied for on or after November 1, 2024

Core Identity and Status Documents

Your passport is the foundation of the whole application, since your PGWP can never be issued for longer than your passport remains valid. Along with your passport, IRCC wants your current or most recently expired study permit, and if you’ve had any prior correspondence from IRCC, such as a previous permit extension or a status change letter, it’s worth having copies on hand in case anything about your immigration history needs clarifying.

Proof of Program Completion

This is where students most often get confused, because IRCC generally wants two separate documents that seem similar but serve different purposes. Your official transcript shows exactly what you studied, if you took any leave of absence, and confirms your full-time/part-time status. Your completion letter, sometimes called a confirmation of completion, is a separate document from your school stating in plain terms that you’ve met every requirement of your program. IRCC wants both because the transcript proves academic performance while the completion letter proves the administrative fact that your program is officially finished, which is also what starts your 180-day application clock.

Financial and Supporting Documents

Beyond the documents themselves, you’ll need proof that you’ve paid the required fees. This is typically generated automatically through your IRCC account once payment goes through, but it’s worth saving a copy or screenshot regardless, since receipt numbers occasionally come up if you ever need to follow up with IRCC about your file.

Photo Requirements

IRCC has specific technical requirements for the digital photo used in your application. It generally needs to be a recent, unedited photo taken against a plain white or light-coloured background, with your face clearly visible and no glasses, hats, or head coverings unless worn for religious or medical reasons. The exact pixel dimensions and file size limits are listed on IRCC’s photo specifications page and do change occasionally, so it’s worth checking the current specs directly on canada.ca rather than relying on a fixed number from any third-party source, including this one.

How Much Does a PGWP Application Cost?

Fee	Amount (CAD)
Work permit processing fee	$155
Open work permit holder fee	$100
Total standard application fee	$255
Biometrics fee (if required)	$85

These two fees, the work permit processing fee and the open work permit holder fee, are typically paid together at the same time during your online application. IRCC does periodically adjust its fee schedule, so before you pay, it’s worth confirming the current amount directly on IRCC’s fee page rather than assuming last year’s number still applies.

Step-by-Step: How to Submit Your PGWP Application

Create or log into your IRCC secure account. Most students already have one from their study permit application, and you’ll generally use the same account.
Start a new application for a work permit and select the post-graduation work permit category.
Answer the eligibility questionnaire honestly and carefully. Your answers here determine which document checklist IRCC generates for your specific file, so rushing this step can mean missing something later.
Upload every required document according to the checklist your account generates, using clear, complete scans or photos rather than cropped or blurry images.
Pay your fees through the secure payment portal.
Review your application in full before submitting. Once submitted, changes are far harder to make than corrections caught before submission.
Submit and save your confirmation. You’ll receive a submission confirmation immediately, followed by an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR) once IRCC formally logs your file.

Applying Online vs. On Paper

Online applications are the standard route for the vast majority of PGWP applicants and are generally processed more consistently than paper applications. Paper applications still exist for specific circumstances IRCC outlines on its website, but they involve mailing your complete package to the relevant IRCC processing centre, which adds time and removes the ability to track your file online in real time. Unless your situation specifically calls for a paper application, applying online through your IRCC account is almost always the better path.

Biometrics for PGWP

Whether you need to provide biometrics depends on your history with IRCC. If you’ve given fingerprints and a photo for a previous Canadian immigration application within the last several years, you may be exempt. If not, IRCC will send a biometric instruction letter directing you to a designated collection point, and you’ll need to complete this step before your application can move forward. The biometrics fee is separate from your main application fee and is currently $85 CAD when required.

Special Document Situations

Applying With an Expired Study Permit

If your study permit has already expired but you’re still within your 180-day application window, you can generally still apply, provided your study permit was valid at some point during that window. Depending on how long ago it expired and your specific circumstances, you may also need to apply for restoration of your status alongside your PGWP application. This adds an additional fee and an extra layer of documentation, so if this applies to you, it’s worth reviewing our guide on restoring your status before submitting.

Applying on Maintained (Implied) Status

Maintained status, sometimes still referred to by its older name, implied status, applies automatically when you submit your application before your current permit expires. It allows you to remain in Canada legally while your application is processed, even after your original permit’s expiry date passes. IRCC doesn’t typically issue a separate document simply confirming you’re on maintained status. Your proof is generally your submission confirmation and your Acknowledgement of Receipt, both of which you should keep accessible.

Do You Need a Job Offer?

No. This is one of the most reassuring facts about the PGWP process. Unlike an employer-specific work permit, which requires a job offer and often an LMIA, a PGWP application doesn’t ask you to have employment lined up at all. You can apply, get approved, and start job hunting afterward, which is exactly why the permit is structured as open rather than tied to a single employer.

What Happens After You Submit

The Applied Status Letter

Once you submit your application, if you meet certain conditions (namely, your study permit was still valid when you applied, you completed your program, you were authorized to work off campus during your studies, and you didn’t exceed your permitted working hours) you may be authorized to work full-time while your application is being processed. IRCC sometimes issues a specific letter for this called the WP-EXT for PGWP letter (form IMM 0127E), confirming you’re allowed to keep working even past the standard 180-day window while your decision is pending. Not every applicant automatically receives this letter right away, and delays happen. If you meet the criteria to work while waiting but haven’t received it, you can use IRCC’s web form to follow up, and in the meantime, your submission confirmation and proof of program completion can typically be shown to an employer as evidence of your status.

Fixing a Missing Document or Following Up With IRCC

If IRCC needs something more from you, such as a missing document or clarification, they’ll typically reach out through your secure online account rather than by phone or regular email, so check your account regularly once your application is submitted. If you need to proactively contact IRCC, for example to request your WP-EXT letter or ask about a delay, IRCC’s web form is the standard channel for that kind of follow-up. This is informational guidance, not a guarantee of any particular outcome, and if your situation involves a more complex document issue, it’s worth having a professional review your file rather than guessing at the right response.

Printable PGWP Document Checklist

[ ] Valid passport (biographical page)
[ ] Study permit (current or recently expired)
[ ] Official transcript
[ ] Completion letter from your school
[ ] Digital photo meeting IRCC specifications
[ ] Proof of fee payment
[ ] Language test results (if required for your program type)
[ ] Proof of eligible field of study or CIP code (if applicable)
[ ] Any special-case documents relevant to your situation

Save this list somewhere you’ll actually check it, on your phone, printed on your fridge, wherever works, and tick items off as you gather them rather than trying to remember everything at once.

For more free planning resources beyond this checklist, our free immigration resources page has additional tools worth bookmarking.

Frequently Asked Questions About the PGWP Checklist

What documents are required for a PGWP application?

At minimum, you’ll need a valid passport, your study permit, an official transcript, a completion letter from your school, a digital photo meeting IRCC’s specifications, and proof of fee payment. Depending on your program and when you applied for your study permit, you may also need language test results and documentation showing your program’s field of study is eligible.

How much does it cost to apply for PGWP?

The standard cost is $255 CAD, made up of a $155 work permit processing fee and a $100 open work permit holder fee. If biometrics are required, add an additional $85 CAD. These figures reflect current IRCC fees as of this update, but fees can change, so confirm the current amount on IRCC’s website before paying.

Do you need a job offer to apply for PGWP?

No. A PGWP application doesn’t require a job offer, an employer, or an LMIA. This is one of the defining features of the permit. You can apply, receive approval, and begin job searching afterward without needing anything lined up in advance.

Can you apply for PGWP while on maintained or implied status?

If you submit your application before your current study permit expires, you’re automatically placed on maintained status, which allows you to stay in Canada legally while your application is processed. There’s typically no separate document confirming this status, so your submission confirmation and Acknowledgement of Receipt serve as your proof.

Can you apply for PGWP with an expired study permit?

Yes, in many cases, as long as your study permit was valid at some point during your 180-day application window. Depending on how much time has passed since it expired, you may also need to apply for restoration of your status at the same time, which involves additional fees and documentation.

What is the WP-EXT for PGWP letter?

This is a specific letter, form IMM 0127E, that IRCC sometimes issues confirming you’re authorized to continue working full-time while your PGWP application is being processed, even past the standard 180-day window. Not every eligible applicant receives it automatically or immediately, and if you meet the conditions to work while waiting but haven’t received it, you can follow up through IRCC’s web form.

What is a PGWP “applied status” and how do you show proof of it?

This generally refers to having a submitted, pending PGWP application on file with IRCC. Your main proof is your submission confirmation and your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), both accessible through your IRCC secure account. Some applicants also receive the WP-EXT letter confirming ongoing work authorization while their decision is pending.

How do you follow up if IRCC needs more information or a missing document?

IRCC generally contacts applicants through their secure online account if additional information or documents are needed, so check your account regularly after submitting. If you need to proactively reach out, for example about a delayed letter or a status question, IRCC’s web form is the standard way to do that.

Where do you submit your PGWP application?

The vast majority of applicants submit online through their IRCC secure account. Paper applications are only used in specific circumstances outlined by IRCC and are mailed to the relevant processing centre rather than submitted digitally.

What is the PGWP confirmation number and where do you find it?

After you submit your application and it’s formally received, IRCC issues an application number tied to your file, visible in your IRCC secure account. This number is what you’d reference in any future correspondence with IRCC about your application, so keep it saved somewhere accessible.

Tips to Avoid Common Mistakes

Double-check that your transcript and completion letter are both current and clearly show your program as finished, not just “in progress,” before you upload them. Take your application photo well before you plan to apply, since rejected or non-compliant photos are a common, entirely avoidable cause of delay. If your program falls into the newer field-of-study category, confirm your program’s CIP code against IRCC’s current list rather than assuming your diploma or certificate automatically qualifies. And resist the urge to submit the moment you have the bare minimum uploaded, take the extra ten minutes to review everything against the checklist your IRCC account generates, since a small missing detail can add weeks to your processing time or worse.

Let a PGWP Specialist Review Your Application First

Because a PGWP is a one-time opportunity, a document error or an incomplete upload isn’t something you can casually fix with a second try later. If you want a second set of eyes before you hit submit, have your application reviewed by someone who does this professionally, or go ahead and book a consultation if you’d rather have a specialist walk through your whole file with you from the start.

Conclusion

Assembling a PGWP application isn’t complicated once you know exactly what’s being asked of you, it’s just unforgiving if something gets missed. The core documents (passport, study permit, transcript, completion letter, photo, and fee payment) apply to almost everyone, while language results and field-of-study documentation apply depending on your specific program and timing. Work through the checklist methodically, confirm current fees and specs directly with IRCC before you pay or upload anything, and don’t rush the final review before you submit.

If you haven’t already locked down your exact deadline, our guide on when you should apply walks through that in detail, and it’s worth reading alongside this checklist rather than after you’ve already started your application.