Federal and provincial immigration officials are considering significant changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility. The PGWP allows international students who complete an eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to work in Canada.
According to the 2024 IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder, Canada’s immigration system aims to align PGWP issuance with labor market needs. This would facilitate access to work permits for students entering in-demand occupations while reducing access for graduates from other programs.
The Binder states that the Minister will provide advice on this issue in spring 2024, with plans to implement changes by January 2025.
An internal survey document from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) highlighted methods to align educational programs with PGWP availability and solicited feedback from stakeholders.
Implementation of New PGWP Restrictions
While the exact implementation details are unknown, the internal survey documents provide some insights. IRCC and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have mapped job titles to programs of study to identify which educational programs equip international students with skills relevant to in-demand sectors.
This mapping involved synchronizing Canada’s National Occupation Classification (NOC) system with the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) system. The NOC system categorizes occupations, while the CIP system classifies educational programs by field of study. For example, the “carpenter” NOC is linked to programs in construction trades, carpentry, and woodworking.
Rationale Behind Changes to the PGWP Program
IRCC aims to realign the labor market by facilitating work permit access for students entering high-demand occupations and reducing access for graduates from other programs.
The PGWP program was last updated in 2008 to issue open work permits based on study length. From 2018 to 2023, the number of PGWPs issued increased by 214%.
Recent IRCC announcements about temporary residence levels may further explain these changes. In January 2024, IRCC introduced an international student cap and included temporary resident levels in the annual Immigration Levels Plan. This move aims to prioritize hiring permanent residents and citizens and to reduce the strain on Canada’s social systems like healthcare and housing by limiting new temporary residents.
Immigration Implications
Gaining Canadian work experience through the PGWP is crucial for international graduates seeking permanent residence (PR). Many federal and provincial economic PR programs require at least a year of relevant work experience.
The proposed PGWP changes could significantly impact immigration pathways for international students already studying in Canada.