Canada Planning Changes to Post-Graduation Work Permit Program

Federal and provincial immigration authorities are currently discussing making major alterations to the eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP is an open work permit for international students who have completed a qualifying program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

As mentioned in the IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 notes, the goal of Canada’s immigration policy is to match PGWP issuance with labor market demands. This would involve providing work permits more readily to students entering fields with labor shortages while limiting access for graduates from other programs.

Timeline for PGWP Changes

As stated in the Binder, the Minister will offer guidance on this matter in spring 2024, with plans to enact the changes by January 2025.

This information was further emphasized in an internal survey document recently distributed to relevant stakeholders by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The document detailed several strategies that IRCC intends to employ to synchronize educational programs with the availability of PGWPs, along with queries aimed at gathering input from stakeholders.

Implementation of New PGWP Restrictions by IRCC

The specific methods by which the immigration department will enforce these new PGWP restrictions remain unclear. However, internal survey documents have shed some light on the planned approach.

According to these documents, IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have created a mapping of job titles to academic programs. This mapping is intended to identify which educational programs provide international students with the necessary skills and experience to contribute to Canada’s in-demand economic sectors.

This initiative includes aligning Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. The NOC system categorizes occupations across Canada, while the CIP system classifies educational programs according to their fields of study. An example provided in the internal document shows the NOC code for “carpenter” being linked to three related study programs: construction trades, carpentry, and general woodworking.

Reasons for IRCC’s PGWP Program Modifications

The IRCC’s primary objective in modifying the PGWP program is to align it with the demands of the labor market. This initiative aims to facilitate easier access to work permits for students who are entering fields with labor shortages while restricting permits for graduates in other areas.

214% Increase in PGWP Applications

The PGWP program was last updated in 2008, enabling international graduates to receive open work permits based on the duration of their studies. Since then, there has been a significant increase of 214% in the number of work permits issued under the PGWP between 2018 and 2023.

Recent changes in IRCC’s policies on temporary residence levels provide additional context for these adjustments. In January 2024, IRCC introduced a cap on international students and, for the first time, included temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. This policy shift aims to prioritize job opportunities for permanent residents and citizens and to reduce the strain on Canada’s social systems, such as healthcare and housing, by limiting the number of new temporary residents each year.

PGWP Changes on Pathways to PR for International Graduates

Gaining Canadian work experience through the PGWP is crucial for international graduates in Canada to qualify for various permanent residence (PR) programs. Many federal and provincial economic PR programs, which international graduates are typically well-suited for, often require at least one year of relevant work experience for eligibility.

If the proposed changes to the PGWP program are implemented, they could have significant downstream effects on immigration, even for those currently studying in Canada. This situation is evolving, and CIC News will provide updates as more information becomes available.