On Friday, 4 October, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced significant updates to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility rules, affecting international students in Canada. These updates come after earlier restrictions were introduced by the IRCC on 18 September 2024, changing the landscape for students aiming to stay and work in Canada after completing their studies. Read on for more about Canadian immigration rules for post-graduation work permits.
Key Dates and Eligibility
As per the latest update, the new PGWP rules will apply starting from 1 November 2024. Students who either hold or applied for a study permit before this cut-off date will still qualify for a PGWP under the previous guidelines. However, those applying for study permits after 1 November 2024 will be subject to the updated regulations.
A critical component of the changes is the introduction of a “field of study” requirement for college graduates, including those enrolled in degree programs. As of the 1 November 2024 cut-off date, only students who graduate from an eligible field of study will be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit.
Which Programs Qualify for a PGWP?
Graduates from university degree programs will remain unaffected by these changes. They will continue to be eligible for PGWPs of up to three years without needing to meet any specific field of study criteria.
For college graduates, however, the new rules are stricter. According to IRCC’s 4 October update, graduates must complete one of 966 eligible college programs to be considered for a PGWP. These programs fall into five main categories:
• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Healthcare
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Skilled Trades
• Transportation
Notably, popular fields like tourism and hospitality and business programs will no longer qualify for a post-graduation work permit. This has sparked concern from stakeholders, including Karen Dancy, director of recruitment and international relations at Olds College. On LinkedIn, she commented, “The absence of hospitality programs from the list will have a devastating effect on local communities, especially in rural and remote areas that depend on international students.”
Stakeholder Reactions to the New PGWP Rules
The changes have led to widespread concern within the education sector. In a letter to IRCC Minister Marc Miller dated 27 September, Marketa Evans, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, voiced her strong objection to the new restrictions. She criticized the lack of provincial consultation and the federal government’s reliance on national labor market data, which she argued does not reflect regional needs. Evans urged the government to collaborate with provincial authorities to ensure the updated PGWP rules meet the needs of both international students and local communities.
The criteria for determining eligible programs remain unclear. However, IRCC has previously stated that the new rules are based on addressing long-term labor shortages in Canada. An IRCC spokesperson told ICEF Monitor on 1 October that these shortage areas align with the occupations used in the Express Entry system and that input was gathered from provinces, territories, and other stakeholders across the country.
Despite these reassurances, many experts have questioned whether the changes accurately reflect the needs of local labor markets. Pari Johnston, President & CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, raised concerns about how the reforms disproportionately affect public colleges. She emphasized that the new eligibility restrictions create an artificial distinction between college and university degree programs, even though both are approved by provincial authorities.
Impact on International Students and Institutions
The changes are expected to significantly affect the Canadian higher education landscape. According to the Toronto Star, 105,030 PGWPs were issued in the first six months of 2024, with 64% of those permits granted to college graduates. Business studies graduates accounted for 42% of these work permits, while 37% were in STEM fields, and only 1% were in skilled trades.
Under the new rules, more than 60% of the PGWPs issued to college graduates in the first half of 2024—approximately 67,000 permits—would no longer be available. This could lead to a sharp decline in international student enrollment in college programs not aligned with the revised PGWP eligibility criteria.
What Lies Ahead for Canadian Colleges
The 4 October announcement has posed a significant challenge for Canadian colleges, forcing them to rethink their international student recruitment strategies. The financial implications for institutions that have relied on international tuition fees are likely to be substantial.
Dr. Dennis Johnson, former president of the College of New Caledonia and current consultant in the sector, highlighted the severity of the situation on LinkedIn. He noted that these policy changes represent a “major shift in Canada’s International Student Program,” which could jeopardize the financial stability of many institutions. However, Dr. Johnson also suggested that the current crisis could spur innovation, encouraging institutions to adapt their programs and operations to align with new economic realities.
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