Students who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if their field of study was on the list when they applied for their study permit even if it has since been removed.

Education Desk Mumbai

Canada has updated its list of programs eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to align international education with workforce demands. The revised list, published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on June 25, adds 119 new fields of study while removing 178 others, largely from sectors no longer facing labour shortages.

The update will come into effect for international students applying for study permits on or after November 1, 2024. Those who submitted their applications before June 25, 2025, will continue to be assessed based on the eligibility rules in place at the time of their application. This transformation represents a change in the way Canada links its education policy and immigration policy to the changing requirements of the labour market. Currently, 920 programs nationwide make graduates eligible for a PGWP, an important gateway that enables them to gain Canadian experience after graduation.

What’s in and What’s out?

According to the IRCC, programs were removed if the linked occupations are no lon-ger experiencing labour shortages. At the same time, fields related to healthcare, education, architecture, skilled trades have been prioritised for inclusion.

Programs added to PGWP eligibility Healthcare & Veterinary Sciences:

-  Veterinary medicine (DVM)

-  Veterinary/animal health technician and assistant

-  Dentistry (DDS, DMD)

-  Dental clinical sciences (MS, MSc, PhD)

-  Oral biology and maxillofacial pathology (MS, MSc, PhD)

Education (Teacher Training):

-  French language/French language arts teacher education

-  Biology teacher education

-  Chemistry teacher education

-  Computer teacher education

-  Drama and dance teacher education

Architecture & Design:

-  Architecture (BArch, BA, BSc, MArch, MA, MS, PhD)

-  Advanced architectural design (MArch, MA, MS, PhD)

-  Landscape architecture (BSLA, MLA, PhD)

 Skilled Trades & Construction:

-  Construction management (general)

-  Construction project management

-  Cabinetmaking and millwork

-  CNC machinist technology

-  Professional diver and instructor training

Transport & Related Sectors: 

-  All transport-related programs

Agriculture & Agri-Food:

- Most agriculture and agri-food courses, with only one retained program

Environmental & Marine Sciences:

-  Environmental studies

-  Marine resources management

 Skilled Trades:

-  Solar energy installation

- Drywall installation

 Under the IRCC, programs were eliminated where occupation-related positions no longer had a shortage of qualified workers. The updated PGWP list now better reflects Canada's Express Entry immigration system, both of which prioritise candidates with skill sets in areas facing workforce shortages.

Language Criteria & Exemptions

In spite of the changes in program eligibility, language proficiency requirements for PGWP applicants have not changed. Non-university graduates need to fulfill CLB/NCLC level 5, whereas university graduates need to fulfill level 7. Flight school graduates continue to be exempt from program-specific rules of eligibility.