The professional scope of PGWP application has been added

The Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has recently expanded the range of study areas eligible for a Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

As of December 17, 2024, the learning areas eligible for PGWP include certain courses related to early childhood education and development service workers.

Prior to this change, IRCC listed the requirements for the learning field on October 4, 2024. They are divided into five categories, similar to the occupation based fast entry category:

Agriculture and agricultural products;

Nursing workers;

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM);

Technician;

Transportation.

After this update, a sixth category has been added to the list: education.

PGWP qualified courses are grouped and listed using the Teaching Item Classification (CIP) (Canada's system for classifying teaching or educational courses).

The following table lists all new courses currently eligible for PGWP in the education sector, along with their corresponding CIP codes.

PGWP Professional Requirements

In September 2024, IRCC announced that international students need to graduate from fields of study related to long-term shortage occupations in order to qualify for PGWP. The requirements for these fields of study do not apply to undergraduate, master's, or doctoral graduates. They are suitable for international students who have graduated from college courses and university vocational courses.

Students who apply for a study permit before November 1, 2024 are not required to meet the requirements of their field of study.

But if they apply for a new study permit after this date (e.g. due to changing schools and/or courses), the requirements of the study area will apply.

This is one of the many measures introduced by IRCC in 2024, affecting international students who wish to work in Canada after graduation.

The department has also implemented language requirements for PGWP qualifications, which vary depending on the learning level of international graduates.

What is PGWP

PGWP is an open work permit that allows foreigners who complete a qualifying course of study at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to work for most employers in most industries in Canada.

The duration of PGWP depends on the length of the completed learning plan, ranging from eight months to three years.

By providing international student graduates with the opportunity to gain work experience, it can serve as a stepping stone to obtaining permanent residency, as Canadian work experience can help them qualify for Canadian Experience based Immigration (CEC) and improve their scores in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).