The Government of Canada updated a significant part of the eligibility requirements for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) program in March 2025. With this improvement, obtaining worthwhile work experience will be simpler for international students who complete bachelor’s or master’s degree programs at Canadian universities.
Discover what has changed and how this update can support the success of international students by reading on.
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The Canadian government changed the language and subject of study standards for PGWP program eligibility at the end of last year. Depending on the kind of school and program that students are enrolled in, both requirements have different requirements.
One significant distinction is that, as of November 1, 2024, college students pursuing any kind of program—degree, diploma, or certificate—must be enrolled in a course of study that qualifies them for PGWP once they graduate. However, there are no subject-study requirements for PGWP for international students enrolled in university degree programs.
This criterion has been further revised as of March 2025. When applying for PGWP, international students seeking a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree at Canadian colleges or universities are no longer restricted by their topic of study.
Note that when applying for PGWP, international students who have earned a degree still need to fulfill the necessary language requirements.
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Yes. To be eligible for PGWP, students must have completed a program in an appropriate field of study while enrolled in any non-degree program at a college, university, polytechnic, or other educational establishment. Additionally, they must be at least as proficient in the language as is required.
Students enrolled in flight schools are an exception to this restriction. Flight school graduates are exempt from the PGWP language and field-of-study requirements if they either:
In general, PGWP-eligible fields of study fit into six larger categories:
Through initiatives like PGWP, international students contribute fresh perspectives, methods, and inventions to Canada both during and after their studies. Allowing students to enroll in a greater variety of degree programs at colleges and universities is a positive step in embracing a diverse student body and assisting the students of future in developing a robust, international network.
To qualify for a PGWP, you must:
You are eligible if you:
Programs that qualify for a PGWP include:
In general, PGWP-eligible fields of study fit into six larger categories:
As of recent updates, some key changes include:
If you complete a one-year program (at least eight months long), you may receive a PGWP for up to one year.
If you complete a two-year program or longer, you may be eligible for a three-year PGWP.
Only Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) offering eligible programs qualify for PGWP. You must verify if your chosen institution is on the official list of DLIs.
Yes, if the program is at an eligible DLI and meets the PGWP criteria, a 16-month course may qualify you for a work permit.
Programs that meet the following criteria are eligible:
Yes, as long as the certificate is from a PGWP-eligible institution and meets the program duration requirements.
New rules include:
The PGWP duration depends on your study length:
Announcement: https://www.applyboard.com/blog/college-pgwp-updates-2025
This post was last modified on March 14, 2025 3:12 pm