Canada Tightens Work Permit Rules for International Students: A Mostly Symbolic Change?
On June 26, Canada amended its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility, removing 178 non-degree programs while adding 119 new fields of study aligned with sectors facing labor shortages. This update brings the total eligible fields of study for PGWPs to 920. The government has also stated that graduates who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if their field of study was on the list when they applied. This is the latest in a series of changes, as last year the IRCC updated the eligibility criteria for PGWPs, and also announced the new 2025 Express Entry categories.
John Q. Hosedrinker