Latest Update on PGWP in Canada: Eligibility Criteria Announced
Canada has recently unveiled updated eligibility criteria for its post-graduate work permit (PGWP) on October 07th, 2024. University students graduating with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD remain eligible for the PGWP in Canada. However, students completing college-level, polytechnic, or certain university programs will only qualify for a post-graduate work visa if they have pursued one of the courses listed in the newly released list of 966 eligible programs. Let us discuss the updates incorporated in the PGWP rules in Canada in more detail.
Study in Canada: Important Stats
Around 128,928 Indian students held study permits for different study levels in 2021, whereas 225,835 students went to Canada in 2022. In 2023, this goes up to 427,085, indicating that the popularity of Canada as a dream destination for pursuing higher education is increasing every year.
Canada Immigration Policy 2024: Important Updates So Far
In January 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced some major regulations in its immigration policy for international students desiring to pursue higher studies in the country from the 2024 intake. According to Canada’s Immigration Minister, Hon. Marc Miller, the regulations were introduced to uphold the standards of Canadian higher education institutions and ensure a sustainable growth rate of students. The following are the important regulations brought up by the government of Canada this year.
October 7, 2024: Canada’s PGWP Eligibility Criteria Announced
After May 15th, 2024, international students who begin their study program at Public College Private Partnership (PCPP) colleges (including regional colleges and polytechnics) will no longer be eligible for post-graduate work permits after completing their program.
- However, this rule does not apply to university students graduating in bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD courses.
- For college-level programs and some of the university programs, 966 eligible fields have been announced across these 5 sectors:
- Agriculture and Agri-food
- Healthcare
- STEM
- Trade and Transport
What Hasn’t Changed?
To be eligible for a PGWP in Canada, international graduates must continue to meet the general eligibility criteria and complete a study program at one of the designated learning institutions if they intend to apply for a PSWP before November 1st, 2024. It means new rules won’t apply to them.
Update in Canada’s PGWP Eligibility Criteria
The new rules will be applied to those Indian students who are looking to submit their PGWP application process after November 01st, 2024. The following are the eligibility criteria for them.
- International students must have graduated from a university with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD degree and also fulfil either English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 7 and NCLC 7, respectively, in below four areas:
- Reading
- Speaking
- Writing
- Listening
- If they have completed a college-level program or any other program that is not listed in the list of 966 eligible fields, then they must demonstrate either English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 5 and NCLC 5, respectively, in all four language areas.
- If they have completed any other university-level program, then they must demonstrate either English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 7 and NCLC 7, respectively, in all four language areas.
Cap on Study Permits for International Students
- IRCC implemented a temporary cap on study permits issued to international students for two years. The number of study permits have reduced to 437,000 for 2025 and 2026 intakes.
- This means that each Canadian province was assigned a specific quota for their regional institutions, determining the number of students they could admit.
- The cap quota allocated to each province in Canada is decided based on their population.
- Applicants must provide a provincial attestation with their study permit application to get a study permit.
Exceptions
- Study permit renewals.
- Students pursuing Master’s or Doctoral degrees and elementary and secondary education will not be included in the cap.
Current study visa holders will not be impacted.
List of Provinces and Study Permit Allocations
| Provinces | Study Permit Allocation (in numbers) |
|---|---|
| Alberta | 40,000 |
| British Columbia | 83,000 |
| Manitoba | 18,652 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 3,153 |
| Northwest Territories | 333 |
| Nunavut | 333 |
| Quebec | 117,917 |
| Saskatchewan | 15,054 |
| Yukon | 417 |
| Ontario | 235,000 |
| Nova Scotia | 20,378 |
| New Brunswick | 14,651 |
| Prince Edward Island | 2,312 |
Increase in Duration of Post Graduate Work Permit
Starting September 1st, 2024, international students who have met the above eligibility criteria will be granted work permits for a fixed period of maximum 3 years.
Restriction on Open Work Permits (For Spouses)
The IRCC has also restricted the open work permits to the spouses of international students. The open work permits are now limited to spouses of highly skilled or specialised workers and international students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs. The spouses of international students in other levels of study, including undergraduate and college programs, will no longer be eligible.
FAQs
What is the intention of enforcing the new rules for getting a work permit in Canada?
The purpose behind incorporating the new rules for allocating a work permit in Canada is to maintain the higher educational standards of the country so that students coming to pursue higher education and employment can get what they expect.
Will college students not get PGWP in Canada?
International students graduating from a public college or polytechnics will be eligible for a 3-year PGWP in Canada if their course is linked to areas of high labour market demand and they are meeting IRCC rules.
What is the expiry of PGWP?
A post-graduate work visa will now be valid between 8 months to 3 years.
If you are an aspirant looking to study at your dream university, book an appointment with AdmitX today and start your applications early to avail yourself of all the benefits.
