Canada Expands Post‑Graduation Work Permit Eligibility to Meet Labour Market Needs
On June 25, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a sweeping update to the Post‑Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria. This update enhances alignment with Canada’s evolving labour market by:
- Adding 119 new study programs, especially in education, childcare, and development services.
- Removing 178 programs deemed no longer aligned with occupational shortages.
Students admitted into eligible non-degree programs on or after 1 November 2024 are subject to the updated rules. However, those whose study permit applications were submitted before June 25, 2025 are grandfathered—they retain PGWP eligibility if their program was on the list at application time.
What’s Changed—and Why
IRCC’s objective is clear: prioritize fields tied to ongoing labour shortages, responding to both domestic needs and Express Entry priorities . Programs added reflect shortages in areas such as early childhood education, developmental services, and various social services roles. This mirrors the inclusion of these occupations in the Express Entry education category, introduced in late 2024
These additions include (CIP 2021):
- Developmental Services Worker – 19.0710
- Montessori Teacher Education – 13.1207
- Waldorf/Steiner Teacher Education – 13.1208
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching – 13.1210
- Teaching Assistants/Aides, General – 13.1501
- Child Development – 19.0706
- Child Care & Support Services Management – 19.0708
- Child Care Provider/Assistant – 19.0709
- Early Childhood and Family Studies – 19.0711
With this, IRCC’s PGWP eligibility categories now include six sectors:
- Agriculture & agri‑food
- Healthcare
- STEM
- Skilled trades
- Transportation
- Education (new addition)
Who the Changes Affect
- Study permit applied on or after 1 Nov 2024
- Non‑degree college/vocational university graduates must complete an eligible program.
- Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral graduates (including college bachelor’s degrees post‑March 2025) are exempt regardless of field.
- Study permit applied before 1 Nov 2024
- These students are grandfathered and can pursue PGWPs in any program, whether or not it’s newly on the list.
- College bachelor’s degree graduates (apply after Nov 2024)
- No field‑of‑study restriction applies as of March 2025 .
- Non‑degree College/Polytechnic/Vocational grads
- Must complete a program within one of the six eligible sectors to qualify.
New Language Proficiency Requirements
For study permits applied on or after 1 November 2024, language benchmarks are now required to qualify for PGWP:
- CLB/NCLC 7: Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, or other university-level programs
- CLB/NCLC 5: College diplomas, certificates
- No requirement: Flight school graduates
Understanding Exemptions and Clarifications
- Field-of-study requirement exceptions:
- University degree holders (bachelor’s and above)
- Those who began study permits before 1 Nov 2024
- Flight school graduates
- Clarifications issued in March 2025:
– IRCC officially removed field‑of‑study requirements for college bachelor’s degrees, placing them on par with university degrees .
– There were brief wording inconsistencies on IRCC’s site regarding “start date vs. application date”; these have since been corrected . - Final-semester status:
– Universities may designate part-time final semesters as full-time for PGWP eligibility, reflecting IRCC’s intention.
Summary of Current PGWP Eligibility Rules
| Student Type | Study Permit Date | Program Type | Language | PGWP Eligible? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University degree graduates | Any | Bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral | CLB 7 | Yes, regardless of field |
| College bachelor’s grads | Study permit ≥ Nov 2024 | College bachelor’s | CLB 7 | Yes—field restriction lifted (since March 2025) |
| Non‑degree college/vocational grads | ≥ Nov 2024 | In eligible field | CLB 5 | Yes, if field within six categories |
| As above if permit < Nov 2024 | < Nov 2024 | Any field | None | Yes, grandfathered free from field restriction |
| Flight school graduates | Any | Flight training | None | Yes |
Why This Matters
These adjustments reflect a strategic shift by IRCC to ensure PGWP holders contribute to critical labour shortages, support Express Entry pathways, and address long-term resource allocation. The inclusion of the education sector underscores the high demand for early childhood educators and teaching professionals.
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