Canada Updates PGWP List, Removes 178 Programs for Intl Students

• Canada adds 119 and removes 178 programs from PGWP eligibility to reflect workforce demands.
• New list prioritizes healthcare, education, skilled trades, and architecture.
• Changes affect study permits applicants from November 1, 2024; language criteria remain unchanged.

Canada has revised its list of programs qualifying for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to match international education with job market needs. The updated list, released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 25, includes 119 new areas of study and eliminates 178 others, primarily from industries that are not experiencing labor shortages anymore.

The change will take effect for international students seeking study permits on or after November 1, 2024. Applicants who submitted their applications before June 25, 2025, will still be evaluated according to the eligibility criteria that were applicable when they applied.

This shift signifies an alteration in how Canada connects its education policy and immigration policy to the evolving needs of the labor market. At present, 920 programs across the country qualify graduates for a PGWP, a vital avenue that allows them to acquire Canadian experience post-graduation.

CIC reports referencing IRCC indicate that programs were eliminated when the associated occupations no longer faced labour shortages. Concurrently, areas associated with healthcare, education, architecture, and skilled trades have been emphasized for inclusion.

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Under the IRCC, programs were removed in instances where there was no longer a shortage of qualified workers for specific occupation-related positions. The revised PGWP list now aligns more closely with Canada's Express Entry immigration framework, which values candidates possessing skills in sectors experiencing labor shortages.

Despite the alterations in program eligibility, the language proficiency requirements for PGWP candidates remain unchanged. Non-university graduates must meet CLB/NCLC level 5, while university graduates are required to achieve level 7. Graduates of flight school remain exempt from the eligibility rules specific to the program.