Automated Work Permit Application Triage and Eligibility Tool

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has developed two automated tools to help process in-Canada work permit applications more efficiently. The first tool is for Post-Graduate Work Permits (PGWP) and the second is for other work permit extensions. These tools sort applications by complexity and can automatically approve eligibility for straightforward, routine applications — helping reduce backlogs and speed up processing times for applicants.

If your application is identified as routine, the tool may issue an automated positive eligibility determination, meaning it confirms you appear to meet the basic eligibility requirements. Importantly, these tools can only approve eligibility — they cannot refuse your application or recommend a refusal. All admissibility assessments and all final decisions are still made by a trained IRCC officer who reviews your full file. If your application is more complex, it is automatically routed to an officer with the appropriate expertise.

IRCC is committed to fairness and transparency in how these tools operate. The rules built into the tools are based entirely on legislative and regulatory eligibility criteria, and are regularly reviewed by officers, legal experts, policy analysts, and data scientists. A quality assurance process monitors outcomes to detect and address any unintended bias. You have the right to seek a review of any decision affecting you, including through Judicial Review in the Federal Court.