Check the Language Level Pakistani Graduates Need for a Canada PGWP: CLB 7 or CLB 5

Short answer: For a Canada post-graduation work permit (PGWP), most graduates must show language results in all four skills: Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 if you studied at a university, CLB 5 if you studied at a college or polytechnic. You must apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your programme.

A Pakistani student finishes a two-year master's in Canada, sits an English test, and misses one skill by half a band. The permit cannot be issued on a three-out-of-four pass. Knowing the target before you book the test saves both money and months.

We read two Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) pages on 14 October 2026: the page on who can apply for a PGWP, and the page about the permit itself. The first of these did not list the accepted tests or the fee, so we do not state them here.

The language level depends on where you studied

IRCC sets CLB 7 for university programmes, meaning bachelor's, master's, doctoral or other university programmes. It sets CLB 5 for college, polytechnic or other non-university programmes. The level must be met in all four language areas: reading, writing, listening and speaking.

IRCC says this requirement does not apply if you submitted your PGWP application before 1 November 2024. If you apply now, assume it applies to you.

IRCC's page also says that if you combine programmes with different language levels, you must meet the higher one. A student who finishes a college diploma and then a university degree should plan for CLB 7.

Your field of study may also matter

Bachelor's, master's and doctoral graduates face no field of study requirement, according to IRCC. Other university programmes and all college programmes are different: if you applied for your study permit on or after 1 November 2024, you must graduate in an eligible field of study.

The list of eligible fields sits on a separate IRCC page that we did not read. Before you pay fees for a college diploma, check that your field appears on it. A diploma that is not on the list can leave you with no PGWP at all.

Other rules that decide your eligibility

IRCC lists a programme of at least eight months (900 hours in Quebec), full-time status in each semester, and graduation from an eligible designated learning institution. Part-time study is allowed only in your final semester.

That last point matters. IRCC says graduating from a designated learning institution does not automatically make you eligible, and it points you to the institution list to see which programmes qualify. Check the school and the programme, not just the school.

The permit is valid only while your passport is valid. Check that your passport covers the whole period before you apply. If your passport runs out first, IRCC says you can extend the PGWP on paper after you get a new one.

You also cannot get a second PGWP after an earlier one. Plan your studies so that the programme you finish last is the one you want the permit for.

How long the permit lasts

IRCC says a programme of two years or more may earn a three-year PGWP. One of eight months to under two years may earn a permit up to its length. A master's starting on or after 15 February 2024 may get three years.

The master's rule does not apply to certificates or diplomas. It applies only if the master's programme ran at least eight months and you meet the other requirements. Multiple programmes can be combined if each is eligible and at least eight months long.

Language tests take weeks to book and score. Our IELTS fee guide for Pakistan and the PTE fee guide show costs and booking in Pakistan. Check with IRCC that your test is accepted for the PGWP before you book.

If you plan to stay in Canada after the permit, read how to check Canada Express Entry eligibility from Pakistan. The steps to get into Canada in the first place are in our Canada study permit guide.

A simple timeline to follow

Pick an eligible programme before you apply, take your language test during your final year, collect the proof of completion, and apply inside the 180 day window. Treat the window as a hard deadline, because IRCC states it plainly.

1. Choose a programme that is at least eight months long and PGWP eligible.
2. If it is a college programme, check the field of study list first.
3. Take an accepted language test early in your last year and aim above the minimum.
4. Get written confirmation that you completed your programme.
5. Apply within 180 days, while your passport is still valid.

IRCC also says your study permit must have been valid at some point during those 180 days. Do not let it lapse long before you apply. If you already hold a work permit, see when a work permit holder may study without a study permit.

Common questions

What language level do I need for a PGWP?

CLB 7 in all four skills for university programmes and CLB 5 in all four for college programmes, according to IRCC.

Does the language rule apply to everyone?

No. It does not apply to those who applied before 1 November 2024, or to flight school graduates, according to IRCC.

How long do I have to apply?

You have 180 days from confirmation that you completed your programme. Your study permit must have been valid at some point in that window.

Can a master's shorter than two years get a three-year PGWP?

It may, if it started on or after 15 February 2024, ran at least eight months, and you meet the other rules. It does not apply to certificates or diplomas.

Can I get a second PGWP?

No. IRCC says you cannot get a second PGWP after an earlier one.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 14 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read the IRCC pages PGWP: who can apply and PGWP: about the permit. We could not read the application fee, the list of accepted language tests or the list of eligible fields, so check those on IRCC before you apply.