Canada’s New Post-Graduation Work Permits Update: Who Qualifies and Who Doesn’t?

Canada has announced the fields of study international students must enroll in to qualify for post-graduation work permits (PGWP). A total of 966 programs in agriculture, healthcare, STEM, and trade/transportation align with Canada’s labor market needs. These changes take effect for students applying for study permits on or after November 1, 2024. College graduates must be in these fields, while university graduates are exempt if they complete a degree program.

Additionally, all PGWP applicants must now pass language tests—level 5 for college grads and level 7 for university grads—valid for two years. Data shows that over 105,000 PGWPs were approved in the first half of this year, with business studies leading the field. However, programs like finance and accounting were left out of the eligible list, raising concerns about inclusivity.

Do you think these changes benefit Canada’s labor market or limit opportunities for students in excluded fields? How do you feel about the language test requirement?

Join the conversation and share your thoughts! Should Canada be more flexible with its PGWP eligibility criteria, or are these changes necessary to maintain balance in the labor market?

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