In a recent update, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) unveiled new regulations affecting eligibility for post-graduation work permits (PGWP) in Canada. Effective from November 1, 2024, these rules will impact students enrolling in Canadian colleges. Understanding the changes is crucial for prospective international students planning their educational journey in Canada.
Key Changes Announced by IRCC
On October 4th, IRCC announced sweeping changes to the PGWP eligibility requirements. These modifications come as a follow-up to earlier restrictions introduced on September 18th. Crucially, students who acquire or apply for a study permit before November 1, 2024, will not be subject to the new regulations and can enjoy previous benefits.
Conversely, those applying after this date must comply with the updated conditions, the most significant being the new “field of study” requirement. This change mandates that graduates of specific college programs must now have studied in particular areas to qualify for a work permit post-graduation. Interestingly, university degree graduates remain unaffected by this change and can still obtain PGWPs lasting up to three years without additional subject scrutiny.
Eligible Fields of Study for PGWP
A detailed list containing 966 approved academic programs was part of this recent update. The eligible programs are clustered into five primary sectors: agriculture and agri-food; healthcare; science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); skilled trades; and transportation.
This development signifies exclusions in traditionally popular fields among international students such as tourism and hospitality or business courses. Without these pathways being PGWP-eligible, there could be profound implications for certain sectors relying on skilled international graduates. Karen Dancy from Olds College remarked on LinkedIn that the absence of hospitality programs could have severe repercussions on local areas—particularly rural and remote communities dependent on college-educated international learners.
Colleges Ontario Challenges Federal Work Permit Reforms
In a recent open letter addressed to Marc Miller, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Marketa Evans, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, voiced strong opposition to new restrictions on work permits for college graduates. Evans emphasized the lack of provincial consultation and the reliance on national labor market data that may not reflect local employer needs. She urged for a collaborative approach between federal authorities and the Ontario province.
The method for determining which college programs qualify for Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) remains ambiguous. The IRCC clarified that selections would focus on long-term labour shortages consistent with Express Entry’s criteria, involving input from provinces, territories, and various stakeholders.
Nevertheless, numerous stakeholders question whether this process accurately addresses regional labour demands. Pari Johnston, President & CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, highlighted this concern: “The reforms disproportionately affect public colleges by mandating alignment with national labour market needs to be determined in Ottawa. This overlooks the vital role of international graduates from more than 10,000 high-demand programs across our network.”
Significant Impact on College Graduates
According to The Toronto Star, 105,030 post-graduation work permits were granted in the first half of this year, with 64% allocated to international graduates from colleges. Among recipients, 42% pursued business studies, 37% were in STEM fields, and 16% specialized in computing and IT disciplines. Notably, only 1% studied skilled trades.
