Canada has introduced new criteria for obtaining a post-graduate work permit (PGWP). In particular, they plan to introduce updated language requirements and change the criteria of the field of study. Find out when the changes will take effect and what rules future students should be aware of

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Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced new rules regarding eligibility for a

post-graduate work permit (PGWP). The new requirements will enter into force as early as November 1, 2024 and will bring significant changes to the lives of foreign students, including college graduates. Read more about the new rules and available programs in this article.

Who will be covered by the new rules for obtaining a work permit after graduation?

Students who applied or had a study permit before 1 November 2024 will be eligible for PGWP under current rules. However, students who apply for a study permit before or after this date will be subject to the new rules.

What will change for students with a Canadian Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)?

- Graduates of higher educational institutions

IRCC said that graduates of higher education institutions will be eligible for PGWP for up to three years without any restrictions, depending on the field of study.

- College graduates

However, for college graduates, only certain programs will be eligible under the new rules.

From November 1, 2024, graduates of college programs must graduate in an “appropriate field of study” to be eligible for the PGWP.

What are the requirements for college graduates from now on in Canada?

IRCC has listed 966 programs that are considered eligible and cover five broad areas:

- Agriculture and agro-food.

- Health care.

- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

- Skilled crafts.

- Transport.

It is worth noting that the most popular fields of study among international students, such as tourism, hospitality and business studies, are not on the list. This exclusion is expected to affect a significant number of international students seeking work opportunities in Canada.

Tentative List of Programs Eligible for a Canadian Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)

RRC Polytech has created a preliminary list of programs that meet the requirements for a post-graduation work permit:

- Aircraft maintenance engineer.

- Development and delivery of programs.

- Business administration – logistics and supply chain management.

- Carpentry and woodworking.

- Civil engineering technology.

- Construction management.

- Data science and machine learning.

- Complete web development package.

- Development of games - programming.

- Graphic design.

- Health care assistant and clerk of the health care department.

- Mechanic of heavy equipment.

- Information security.

- IT operations.

- Marine and strength sports technician.

- Technology of communal construction.

- Network services technician.

- Labor protection.

- Scientific laboratory technology (cell and microbiology, chemistry and quality analyst, quality assurance).

- Construction technology.

- Technological management.

- Facilitator of medical rest for the elderly.

- Transport, logistics and supply chain management.

- Welding.

You can get advice on education abroad on the Visit World portal. Our lawyers can answer all your questions about the current rules for admission to certain educational institutions, as well as help with the preparation of documents for admission and study abroad. To order a specialist consultation, follow this link.

New requirements for language skills

In addition to the field of study requirements, international students applying for the PGWP program must also meet certain language requirements.

From 1 November 2024, all applicants will be required to demonstrate their proficiency in English or French through approved language tests.

- Language requirements for graduates of higher educational institutions:

The requirements for this category of foreigners are set at Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level 7 in English or its French equivalent, Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) 7.

- Language requirements for college graduates:

College graduates must meet the lower threshold of CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in all four language areas (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).

What tests can I take to prove my French and English proficiency to study in Canada?

To be eligible for the PGWP, you must now provide proof of language proficiency through one of the following tests (with test results less than two years old at the time of application):

1. English:

- General Test of English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP);

- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General training; or

- Pearson Test of English (PTE) Core.

2. French:

- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF Canada); or

- Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada).

Public reaction to changes in immigration law for students in Canada and possible consequences

The decision to limit eligibility for PGWP has raised concerns among educational institutions. Experts believe that the absence of hospitality from the list could prove disastrous, especially for local communities, particularly rural and remote areas, which rely on foreign students with higher education.

The exclusion of popular areas such as business and hospitality has drawn criticism from stakeholders.

The new rules significantly reduce the number of foreign students who were eligible for work permits after their studies. Especially considering that more than 105,000 PGWPs were issued in the first half of 2024, with 64% of those awarded to graduates of college programs.

It is worth noting that only business school graduates made up 42% of permits, and STEM fields - 37%. Under the new rules, a significant proportion of these graduates, particularly those working in business and other non-eligible industries, will no longer be eligible for PGWP.

Considering the above, it can be concluded that although the new policy of the Canadian government is aimed at solving the problem of long-term labor shortages in key sectors, it can significantly affect Canadian educational institutions and international students.

We will remind you! In recent months, Canada has refused entry to an increasing number of visitors and has significantly reduced the number of visas issued. We have already told what the reason for the sharp change in the country's immigration policy is.