PGWP freeze brings certainty for international students in Canada

Canada has paused making changes to the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) eligibility list.

That means that no new fields of study will be added or removed from the eligibility list for the remainder of the calendar year.

The eligibility list of the PGWP is a highly sought-after open work permit that allows international graduates to remain in Canada to gain local professional experience, which is a critical milestone for those seeking permanent residency.

Read also: What Canada’s new work licence system means for foreign workers

Under the current freeze, the list of eligible programs remains at 1,107, focusing on sectors deemed essential to the Canadian economy. These include bealthcare and social services, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) skilled trades, agriculture and agri-food, education and transport.

In 2024, the government introduced “field-of-study” requirements, mandating that certain graduates must have completed programs linked to chronic labour shortages to qualify for the permit.

While this policy primarily impacts those in certificate and diploma programs, it does not apply to those graduating with bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees.

Read also:Canada’s plan to end open work permits raises fresh concerns for Nigerian migrants

Industry experts suggest the freeze is  welcome for students and educational institutions alike.

“For prospective international students, this freeze provides a level of certainty that has been lacking,” according to Janice Rodrigues, an immigration specialist. “It allows individuals to enrol in programs with the confidence that their eligibility for post-study work won’t be stripped away midway through their first term.”

The announcement also clarifies the status of 178 programs that were originally earmarked for removal in June 2025. While those programs were initially set to lose eligibility, the government paused their removal late last year. Because of the 2026 freeze, these programs will now remain eligible for the PGWP until at least the end of the year.

Students enrolled in non-degree programs are urged to verify their Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code against the official IRCC list before submitting study or work permit applications to ensure they meet the current requirements.

Ngozi Ekugo is a Senior Correspondent at BusinessDay. She holds a Masters in management from the University of Lagos, an undergraduate from University of Lagos, and is in an alumni of Queen's College. Shes currently an associate member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM). She has a brief experience at Goldman sachs, London in its Human Capital Management division. She is interested in human capital development and is leveraging her varied experience across sectors to report labour and global mobility trends for stakeholders to make informed decisions.

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