Archive · 26 Jun 2025
Canada Updates Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligibility Rules
Canada is changing the rules for international students who want to work in Canada after they graduate.
They have updated the list of study programs that qualify for a work permit, focusing on fields where Canada needs more workers, like healthcare and trades.
Some programs are no longer eligible, while new ones have been added.
If you applied for your study permit before November 1, 2024, the rules might be different for you, based on the list that was active when you applied.
If you have a degree, you are not affected by these changes.
Canada updated Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility criteria.
178 fields of study were removed from the eligibility list, effective June 25.
119 new fields of study, mainly in healthcare, education, and trades, were added.
New rules apply to non-degree program students applying for a study permit on/after Nov. 1, 2024.
Existing students can still be eligible based on their original study permit application date.
- Who
- The Canadian government and international students.
- What
- Canada updated Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility criteria.
- When
- Changes went into effect June 25, 2024, with new rules applying to study permits from Nov 1, 2024.
- Where
- Canada
- Why
- To align work permit eligibility with fields in long-term labor shortages and Express Entry priorities.
- PGWP
- Post-Graduation Work Permit
- Eligible Fields Removed
- 178
- New Eligible Fields
- 119
- Effective Date of Changes
- June 25, 2024
- Study Permit Application Deadline
- November 1, 2024