Canada Updates PGWP Course List: New Visa Requirements

By Visa Jobs CanadaJune 27, 2025International Students & GraduatesCanada immigration, course requirements, post-graduation work permit, visa sponsorship, work permits

Understanding the Changes to Canada’s Post-Graduation Work Permit

Canada recently updated its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules to better align educational programs with the needs of its job market. As of June 25, these changes affect international students and enhance the chances of securing jobs in high-demand fields upon graduation.

What is a PGWP? The PGWP allows international students who complete eligible programs in Canada to work full-time for up to three years after graduation. However, the new rules mean that only certain programs will qualify for this permit.

Key Changes to Eligibility

The updated eligibility list has added 119 new fields and removed 178, all focused on addressing Canada’s ongoing labour shortages. The goal is to connect education with industries in need of workers, such as healthcare, social services, education, and skilled trades. Universal programs like bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees remain unaffected.

Now, there are a total of 920 fields of study eligible for a PGWP, which is beneficial for international students aiming for Canadian PR (permanent residency) in the future.

Who is Affected?

The new eligibility rules apply to students who applied for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024. To ensure your program qualifies, check that its Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code appears on the updated list before applying for your PGWP.

However, there are exceptions! You won’t be impacted by the new rules if:

– You applied for a PGWP before November 1, 2024.
– You graduated from an eligible flight school.
– You completed a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
– You applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024.

This means that current students will not see any retroactive penalties. If your study permit was submitted before June 25, 2025, you will follow the eligibility rules in place at that time.

How This Relates to Your Canadian Job Journey

Understanding these changes is vital for international job seekers looking to move to Canada. With specific programs now tied directly to the labour market, students can choose courses that not only interest them but also lead to promising job opportunities. This alignment increases your chances of obtaining work permits in Canada and eventually transitioning to permanent residency through pathways like the Express Entry system.

What is Express Entry? It’s a popular immigration system that manages applications for Canada’s federal economic immigration programs, including skilled trades and federal skilled workers.

By aligning your education with labour demands, you can improve your prospects of becoming a permanent resident in Canada.