Canada's Post-Study Work Permit in 2026.
The English Score You Now Need.
Rules confirmed for the whole of 2026
The Post-Graduation Work Permit, or PGWP, is a big part of why Canada became a top choice: study there, then work for up to three years. It is no longer automatic. Since late 2024 it requires an English or French score, and for 2026 the government has frozen the list of eligible courses. Here is the current picture, in plain terms.
The English score you now need
Anyone applying for a PGWP on or after 1 November 2024 must submit a valid English or French test result, meeting a minimum in all four skills, and less than two years old. The level you need depends on the type of program you finished.
| Your program | Language level (CLB) | Roughly, on IELTS |
|---|---|---|
| University bachelor's, master's or doctoral | CLB 7 in all four skills | About band 6 in each skill |
| College programs | CLB 5 in all four skills | About band 5 in each skill |
The CLB to IELTS conversion is set by the government. Always check the exact table on canada.ca before you rely on a score.
Your test has a shelf life
The language result must be less than two years old when you apply for the PGWP. If you sat your test early in your studies, it may have expired by the time you graduate. Plan to have a valid, in-date score ready for when you finish, not just for admission.
The 2026 field-of-study freeze
On 15 January 2026, Canada's immigration department confirmed the list of PGWP-eligible fields of study will not change for the whole of 2026. No courses added, none removed. Two things to know: the field-of-study requirement applies to college graduates, not to bachelor's, master's or doctoral graduates; and if you applied for your study permit before 1 November 2024, it does not apply to you at all. Recently added eligible areas include IT diplomas, practical nursing and select construction trades.
QI am doing a university degree.
The field-of-study list does not apply to you. Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates qualify regardless of subject. You still need the CLB 7 language score in all four skills.
QI am doing a college diploma.
The eligible-fields list does apply to you, and it is frozen for 2026, so confirm your exact program is on the current list before you enrol. You need the CLB 5 language score in all four skills.
These rules come straight from the government. Check your program and the current field list on the official IRCC PGWP page, which is updated several times a year.
The English score is now the gate to the work permit, not just the visa. Get it comfortably clear with our IELTS practice, aiming above the minimum in every skill.
Go deeper
Some Doors Are Closing. Others Are Swinging Open.
Canada is tightening as others open up. See the full 2026 map of where student routes are getting harder and easier.
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Research based on official exam board documentation
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