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.
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.
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.
