The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently announced changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, which will take effect on Nov. 1, 2024.
Under the new rules, international students who apply for a study permit on or after that date must choose fields of study from sectors facing labor shortages to qualify for the PGWP, significantly reducing the flexibility students previously had in selecting programs.
Students who applied for or already hold a study permit before Nov. 1 will still be eligible for a PGWP under the old criteria. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students can also continue to apply for the PGWP without any changes.
However, for college graduates and students in non-degree programs, eligibility will now be limited to five key areas: agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), skilled trades, and transportation. The duration of the work permit will be aligned with the length of the study program.
IRCC’s announcement, issued on Oct. 4, includes a list of 966 eligible programs for PGWP applications.
Programs outside of the specified fields, such as tourism, hospitality, and business, will no longer qualify for the post-graduation work permit.
Additionally, the new regulations require PGWP applicants to demonstrate language proficiency based on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). University students must achieve CLB level 7, while college students need to meet CLB level 5. Accepted tests include CELPIP (General), IELTS (General Training), and PTE (Core) for English, and TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French, with results valid for up to two years before the application.
The changes have sparked concern among educators.
On LinkedIn, Karen Dancy, Director of Recruitment and International at Olds College, highlighted the absence of hospitality programs from the eligible fields, saying: “This will be catastrophic for local communities, including rural and remote areas, that rely on our college-educated international learners.”
Larissa Bezo, President of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), echoed these concerns.
She told The PIE News: “The restrictions on colleges and polytechnics reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of their crucial role in addressing labor market and community needs across Canada.”
Bezo warned that the perception of limited opportunities through the college system could impact international recruitment efforts, potentially deterring students from enrolling in programs that are critical to Canada’s labor market.
According to the CBIE, 70% of international students in Canada in 2023 plan to apply for a PGWP after completing their studies.
The new PGWP regulations come amid broader changes to Canada’s student visa policies. In September, the government announced it would reduce the number of student visas issued by 10%, limiting the total to 437,000 by 2025.
This restriction applies to master’s and doctoral students, with 12% of the quota reserved for these levels. From 2025 onwards, applicants will also need a provincial or territorial approval letter (PAL) as part of their study permit applications.
Other recent changes include stricter rules on accompanying family members, with work permits now only granted to spouses of master’s students enrolled in programs lasting at least 16 months.
These changes are part of the Canadian government’s ongoing efforts to “maintain the integrity of the immigration system,” according to Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
Earlier this year, the financial requirement for study permits was increased from CAD10,000 (US$7,250) to CAD20,635, and schools were instructed to issue admission letters only if international students have secured housing.
Canada continues to attract growing numbers of international students. In 2023, there were 1,040,985 international students with active study permits, a 29% increase from the previous year, according to IRCC. This figure exceeded the government’s target of 950,000 students for the year.
India and China remain the largest contributors to Canada’s international student population, with 427,085 and 101,150 students respectively. The Philippines follows with 48,870 students, while Vietnam ranks eighth with 17,175.