Exciting Updates for Canada’s International Students
If you are an international student in Canada looking to apply for a post-graduation work permit, brace yourself for requirements. The Canadian government, through the IRCC (International Refugees Citizenship Canada), has recently updated and announced the new eligibility criteria for PGWP. According to the announcement made in September, international students across various levels of study planning to apply for PGWP must now meet new requirements to qualify for a work permit.
The new guidelines will only affect students applying from November 1st and do not apply to university bachelor’s master’s and PHD graduates. So, what does this mean for you? Let us find out!
Are You Eligible? Eligible Fields of Study for PGWP
Generally, the PGWP eligible fields of study are categorized in groups that closely align with the profession-based Express Entry categories that the IRCC introduced in 2023. These categories address the country’s most pressing labour market needs. Eligible fields of study for PGWP include:
- Agriculture and agri-food
- Healthcare
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Trade
- Transport
PGWP eligible programs falling under the above fields are categorized and listed according to CIP, (Classification of Instructional Programs). This system is Canada’s most reliable way of categorizing and describing educational programs similar to the NOC, (National Occupation Classification), a job classifying system in the country.
