Canada tightens student work rules: 178 programs no longer eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit

Canada is overhauling its post-graduate work permit (PGWP) program for international students. Canada changes a significant requirement for a post-graduation work permit. The modifications take effect on June 25 and are a part of larger reforms aimed at bringing education into line with the demands of the labor market.

Why were certain programs removed from eligibility?

Canada has removed 178 non-degree programs from the PGWP list, citing a lack of alignment with long-term labor market requirements. The government claims that the decision aligns study fields with long-term job shortages. However, new sectors, such as healthcare and education, are gaining prominence.

What are the new in-demand fields for work permits?

119 new study fields have been added, primarily in healthcare, trades, and education. Students who applied prior to June 25, 2025, are exempt from the changes under transitional rules.


The modifications take effect on June 25 and are a part of larger reforms aimed at bringing education into line with the demands of the labor market, as per a report.

With a renewed emphasis on long-term labor shortages, the updated list now reflects Canada's Express Entry priorities for 2025. In order to be eligible for a PGWP, international students enrolled in non-degree programs, apart from those pursuing bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees, must now have completed coursework in a field closely related to these shortages, as per a report by the Daily Hive.

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that these areas of study were eliminated because they are no longer associated with positions in chronic labor shortages.

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920 areas of study are now eligible for a PGWP as a result of this update. On the post-graduation work permit website, you can see if your field of study is still acceptable in Canada.

Even if their field of study was not on the list when they applied for their study permit, students who applied before June 25, 2025, will still be eligible for a PGWP if it was.

How does this tie into Canada’s Express Entry plans for 2025?

The IRCC announced modifications to the PGWP eligibility requirements last year. Students who graduate from a list of approved programs will be the only ones eligible to apply for a work permit in Canada as of November 1, 2024.

The most recent information comes after Ottawa earlier this year announced the new 2025 Express Entry categories.

According to the IRCC, it will hold category-based invitation rounds for workers under new categories, such as education, trades, and healthcare and social services.

The Canadian Experience Class, which invites applicants with work experience in Canada to apply for permanent residence, will be the main focus of the federal economic class draws in 2025, Ottawa added.

FAQs

Who still qualifies for a PGWP under the new rules?
Students who applied for their study permit before June 25, 2025 are still eligible, even if their program was later removed from the PGWP list.

Why did Canada exclude 178 programs from PGWP eligibility?
These programs were cut because they no longer correspond to jobs in Canada that are experiencing long-term labor shortages.