Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is building a dedicated field on its post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application portal for applicants to submit language test results, responding to widespread confusion among international graduates.
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab said that the update is part of broader IT improvements at the department and confirmed that the current portal has caused uncertainty for many international students.
The move follows the federal government’s November 2024 introduction of a mandatory language test requirement for all PGWP applicants. At the time, IRCC did not update its application portal, citing system limitations.
Because no specific field for language results appeared in the portal, many applicants assumed the documents were optional and failed to include them. This oversight resulted in numerous PGWP rejections.
From November 1, 2024, through December 31, 2025, IRCC processed more than 302,000 PGWP applications. Of these, 945 were rejected for language-related reasons, according to the department spokesperson.
IRCC has not announced when the new field will be implemented. Until then, international students must continue submitting language test results following existing guidelines.
All PGWP applicants applying after November 1, 2024, must submit results from an officially designated language test in English or French. Test results remain valid for two years from the testing date.
Required proficiency levels measured by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) depend on the applicant’s level of study. University bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or other university programs, as well as college bachelor’s degree programs, require CLB 7. College programs or other non-university programs require CLB 5.
Currently, international students seeking a PGWP must upload language test results under the Client Information section of their online account. Only one file can be saved in that section. If multiple files are uploaded, only the most recent one remains in the application. IRCC recommends combining all documents, such as a language test report and a school letter confirming program details, into a single merged PDF before uploading.
Applicants may need to compress their file to meet IRCC’s system requirements.
Those who already submitted a PGWP application without language test results can still add missing documents through IRCC’s web form.
The process involves going to the Ask about or update your application section, selecting Add a document to your application, choosing I’m the principal applicant, entering the application number and Unique Client Identifier (UCI), selecting No, I want to add the document(s) to support or complete my application, and uploading documents. Unlike the application portal, the web form allows multiple file uploads up to 3.5 megabytes total.
For applicants whose PGWP applications have already been rejected, the path forward is more complex. If the study permit is still valid, a new work permit application can be submitted. If the study permit has expired, the applicant must apply for restoration of status as a student and then submit another PGWP application, provided they remain within 180 days of completing their program.
A reconsideration request may also be submitted to have the refusal decision reviewed. This can be done online through IRCC’s web form or by email if provided with the decision letter. There is no fee or hard deadline, but it is best to act within 30 days of receiving the refusal letter. Success is not guaranteed, and many applicants in this situation consult a regulated Canadian immigration consultant or immigration lawyer.
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