IRCC Confirms No Changes to PGWP-Eligible Programs Throughout 2026
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially confirmed that it will not make any changes to the list of Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)–eligible fields of study during 2026. This announcement brings clarity and stability for international students planning their education and post-study work options in Canada.
The decision was confirmed through a government update released in mid-January 2026, stating that the current list of eligible programs will remain unchanged for the entire year. As a result, no programs will be added to or removed from PGWP eligibility in 2026.
This confirmation comes after earlier government statements in 2025 suggesting that a major revision of eligible programs would occur in early 2026.
Understanding the PGWP and Field-of-Study Rules
The Post-Graduation Work Permit is an open work permit that allows eligible international graduates to gain Canadian work experience after completing their studies. This work experience is often a key factor for those seeking permanent residence through pathways such as Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs.
In 2024, IRCC introduced a new field-of-study requirement for PGWP eligibility. Under this policy:
- Certain graduates must complete a program linked to occupations experiencing long-term labour shortages.
- This requirement mainly applies to non-degree programs, such as diplomas and certificates.
- Students graduating with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree are exempt from the field-of-study requirement.
What the 2026 Freeze Means for International Students
The decision to freeze the eligible program list provides much-needed certainty for students, especially those planning to enroll in college or certificate-level programs.
As of now, 1,107 educational programs remain eligible for a PGWP, and this number will stay unchanged throughout 2026. These programs are primarily concentrated in sectors aligned with Canada’s labour market needs, including:
- Healthcare and social services
- Education
- Skilled trades
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics
- Transportation and logistics
Students enrolled in non-degree programs should carefully confirm that their chosen program remains on the approved list, as PGWP eligibility is not automatic for all credentials.
How Students Can Confirm Program Eligibility
Each eligible program is identified using a Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code, a six-digit identifier used to categorize post-secondary education by field of study.
International students pursuing diploma or certificate programs are expected to verify their program’s CIP code against IRCC’s approved list before applying for a study permit or planning a PGWP application. Choosing a non-eligible program could result in the loss of PGWP eligibility after graduation.
Background: Major PGWP Reforms Introduced in 2025
In mid-2025, IRCC made significant changes to PGWP eligibility criteria:
- More than one hundred new programs were added to the eligible list.
- A large number of programs were initially removed.
- Shortly afterward, the government paused the removal of programs, allowing them to remain eligible through the end of 2025.
Following these revisions, the total number of PGWP-eligible programs expanded substantially, increasing from just over nine hundred to more than eleven hundred.
With the newly announced freeze, all programs that remained eligible at the end of 2025 will continue to qualify for PGWP eligibility throughout 2026.
Key Takeaway for Students
The 2026 freeze offers stability at a time when Canada’s international student policies have undergone frequent changes. While the government continues to align education pathways with labour market needs, students now have a clear and predictable framework for PGWP eligibility for the year ahead.
Careful program selection remains essential, especially for students in non-degree pathways who rely on the PGWP to gain Canadian work experience.
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