Friday, November 22, 2024 Canada is introducing revised work permit rules that could disqualify as many as 67,000 international students from eligibility for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program. The updated regulations, unveiled by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), aim to streamline the program to align with the country’s labor market priorities. Graduates from only 966 designated academic programs will now qualify for the PGWP.
These approved fields include agriculture, agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), skilled trades, and transportation. Students in programs outside these fields will no longer be eligible for work permits, signaling a sharp policy shift that could reshape Canada’s international education landscape. This year alone, Canada issued 105,030 PGWPs to international students, with 64% granted to college graduates.
Business studies, which accounted for 42% of these permits, along with computing and IT (16%), and STEM fields (37%), will be significantly affected by the changes. Many graduates in business-related disciplines, in particular, may now find themselves excluded from this key immigration pathway. The new rules, effective this month, will not affect students who already hold or have applied for study permits before the policy takes effect.
Moreover, graduates from university degree programs are exempt and will continue to be eligible for up to three years of work authorization unde.
