Applicants for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program in Canada will face new changes from November 1 this year.
According to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), these updates focus on language requirements, proof of language ability, and field of study criteria, VisaGuide.World reports.
Under the revised guidelines, candidates must graduate from programs linked to occupations in long-term shortage if their study program requires a field of study. The fields are categorized into five broad areas, which are as follows:
- Agriculture and Agri-food
- Healthcare
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Trade
- Transport
While the new regulations take effect, several existing requirements remain in place. Candidates must still meet general and physical location eligibility criteria and complete their studies at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution.
Canada Reduces International Student Permit Intake by 10% for 2025
This announcement follows the Canadian government’s decision on September 19 further to reduce the intake cap on international student study permits for 2025. The IRCC plans to implement a ten percent reduction from the 2024 target of 485,000 new study permits issued as part of ongoing efforts to manage the volume of temporary resident arrivals in the country.
Trudeau revealed that the country would issue 35 percent fewer international student permits this year, with another ten percent decrease planned for next year.
International study permits will be reduced to 437,000 in 2025, down from 509,390 approved in 2023 and 175,920 in the first seven months of 2024. This marks a ten percent decrease from this year’s figures, with the same limit set to continue through 2026, representing a total decline of 35 percent from 2023.
Canada Closed Border Applications for PGWP to Curb Flagpoling
On June 20245, Canada ended border applications for a post-graduate work Permit to combat “flagpoling”. Such a decision followed a part of Canada’s efforts to reduce the practice known as “flagpole,” where temporary residents leave and reenter the country to bypass the usual wait times for online applications.
In this regard, the Canadian government highlighted that between March 1, 2023, and February 29, 2024, nearly one-fifth of PGWP applicants engaged in “flagpoling” to receive expedited immigration services at the border. The cancellation of this option aimed to streamline the application process and maintain the integrity of Canada’s immigration system.