Post-graduation work permits (PGWP) by the numbers: 2026 is already a record year
What a PGWP is
A post-graduation work permit (PGWP) lets an international student keep working in Canada after they finish their studies. IRCC's Help Centre says that to qualify, you must have graduated from a public institution or a recognized degree program at a private institution, such as a university, college or a Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel (cégep) in Quebec. Other requirements also apply; see IRCC's "Who can apply" page.
The PGWP matters for permanent residence too. Work experience gained in Canada is the base of the Canadian Experience Class and many provincial streams.
The numbers
IRCC publishes how many work permits took effect each month. These are the post-graduation work permits:
| Year | PGWPs that took effect |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 96,345 |
| 2020 | 103,445 |
| 2021 | 126,980 |
| 2022 | 124,405 |
| 2023 | 241,570 |
| 2024 | 202,860 |
| 2025 | 172,350 |
| 2026 (January to August) | 277,245 |
In just eight months, 2026 is already higher than any full year in the data, which starts in 2015. From January to August 2025 there were 107,140, so 2026 is about 2.6 times higher for the same months.
IRCC rounds these numbers and hides very small counts, so totals may not add up exactly. The data counts permits that took effect, not applications or approvals.
Month by month
| Month | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| January | 19,685 | 46,740 |
| February | 14,075 | 47,520 |
| March | 13,180 | 35,615 |
| April | 9,720 | 33,660 |
| May | 8,200 | 40,030 |
| June | 9,810 | 42,260 |
| July | 11,565 | 18,985 |
| August | 20,905 | 12,435 |
From January to June 2026, every month had more than 33,000. July and August 2026 were much lower, and August 2026 was below August 2025. IRCC's file does not explain the change. One possible reason is timing: IRCC's study permit data shows that study permits taking effect peaked in 2023, at about 700,400 (see our article on why so many immigrants come from India), and many of those students would finish their programs in 2025 or 2026. That is our reading, not an IRCC statement.
A large share of International Mobility Program permits
PGWPs are part of the International Mobility Program (IMP). In 2025 they were the largest group in that program (IRCC lists another 112,275 as "Unknown"):
| IMP group, 2025 | Permits that took effect |
|---|---|
| Post-graduation work permits | 172,350 |
| Spouses of skilled workers | 88,595 |
| International Experience Canada (Working Holiday and others) | 62,160 |
| Bridging open work permits and similar | 26,225 |
| Spouses of students | 22,345 |
PGWPs were 29.5% of all IMP permits in 2025. From January to August 2026 they were 45.7%.
Where graduates plan to work
| City, January to August 2026 | PGWPs |
|---|---|
| Toronto | 89,375 |
| Vancouver | 33,965 |
| Montréal | 16,390 |
| Calgary | 10,175 |
| Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo | 9,610 |
| Ottawa (Ontario part) | 8,220 |
| Edmonton | 7,615 |
By province in the same months, Ontario had 157,960, British Columbia 44,940, Quebec 25,330 and Alberta 21,570.
The city is the intended destination on the permit, not necessarily where the person ends up working.
What this means for you
- If you are studying in Canada, check that your school and program qualify before you finish. IRCC's "Who can apply" page has the current rules.
- A large number of new PGWP holders also means more people with Canadian work experience. Canadian Experience Class draws in September and October 2026 had cut-off scores of 518 to 519 (see our Express Entry draws article). Past cut-offs do not predict future ones.
- Rules can change. Read the official pages on the day you apply.
About this article
This article was written by SK for Newcomer Board with the help of AI tools. Every number was calculated from IRCC's open data on International Mobility Program work permit holders (January 2015 to August 2026), checked on 1 November 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.