Transita

Study Permit + Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) vs F-1 Student + OPT/STEM-OPT

🇨🇦 Canada · Study + PGWPvs🇺🇸 United States · F-1

If you're choosing between these two, the question usually comes down to where you want to build your career and how quickly you need work authorization. Both cost the same and require a language test, but Canada's PGWP and the US F-1 differ significantly in work permit length, pathway to permanent residency, and which job market you're entering.

Section 01

At a glance

Study + PGWP
F-1
Processing time
2–8 months
1–4 months
Application fee
$535
$535
Initial validity
4 yrs
5 yrs
Path to PR
No
No
Points-based
No
No
Employer sponsor
Not required
Not required
Minimum salary
—
—
Language test
Required
Required
Verified
2026-05-09
2026-05-03
Section 02

Which one fits you?

  1. 01

    Work permit duration

    Pick Study + PGWP

    Pick Canada if you want 8 months to 3 years of post-study work authorization based on program length.

    Pick F-1

    Pick the US if 12 months (or 36 for STEM) of practical training fits your career timeline.

  2. 02

    Path to permanent residency

    Pick Study + PGWP

    Pick Canada if permanent residency is a goal; PGWP work experience counts toward CEC eligibility.

    Pick F-1

    Pick the US if you're focused on initial work experience; F-1 has no built-in PR pathway.

  3. 03

    Processing speed

    Pick Study + PGWP

    Pick Canada if you can wait 2 to 8 months for your permit to process.

    Pick F-1

    Pick the US if you need faster processing, typically 1 to 4 months.

  4. 04

    Work flexibility

    Pick Study + PGWP

    Pick Canada if you want fully open work rights; any employer, any role, no job offer needed.

    Pick F-1

    Pick the US if you're willing to tie OPT work to your field of study for practical training.

Section 03

Read the full pathway

🇨🇦

Study Permit + Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)

Two-stage student route: a Study Permit at a designated learning institution (DLI), followed automatically (if eligible) by a Post-Graduation Work Permit of 8 months to 3 years depending on programme length. PGWP is open work — any employer, any role — and the Canadian work experience earned counts directly toward Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for permanent residency. The most common route used by international graduates entering the Canadian labour market.

Full Study + PGWP guide
🇺🇸

F-1 Student + OPT/STEM-OPT

Academic student visa with up to 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) post-graduation, extendable to 36 months for STEM degrees. The most common path for international students entering the US tech workforce.

Full F-1 guide
Official Study + PGWP source Official F-1 source

Still can't decide?

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