PGWP eligible Programs Canada | 2025

Updated Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Guidelines

Recently, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updated the eligibility rules for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). As a result, international students planning to stay and work in Canada after graduation should carefully review these changes. Overall, the updates aim to better align education with Canada’s labour market needs.

New Field of Study Requirements for PGWP Applicants

In a significant announcement made in September, IRCC introduced new field-of-study requirements. These rules apply to international students who apply for a study permit on or after November 1.

Specifically, graduates from certain programs must now meet additional eligibility criteria. Consequently, not all study programs will automatically qualify for a PGWP.

Eligible Fields of Study for PGWP

To better connect education with workforce demand, IRCC has aligned PGWP-eligible programs with occupation-based categories under Express Entry, which were first introduced in 2023. These categories reflect Canada’s long-term labour shortages.

Therefore, PGWP eligibility now focuses on the following key fields:

• Agriculture and Agri-Food
• Healthcare
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
• Trades
• Transport

As a result, students graduating from programs within these fields may have stronger eligibility for a PGWP.

Understanding the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP)

To classify eligible programs accurately, IRCC uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. This system categorizes educational programs in a structured way.

Similarly, Canada uses the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system to classify jobs. Together, CIP and NOC help ensure a clear link between a student’s education and potential employment opportunities.

New Language Requirements for PGWP Applicants

In addition to field-of-study changes, IRCC has also introduced updated language proficiency requirements. These requirements depend on the applicant’s level of education.

As a result, students must now demonstrate appropriate language ability before qualifying for a PGWP. This change ensures graduates can successfully integrate into the Canadian workforce.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).