Indian students among graduates denied Canada work permits after rule clarification; around 1,500 may be affected

Indian students are among a growing group of international graduates in Canada who say they have been denied post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) despite enrolling in programmes they believed were eligible under federal immigration rules, according to Canada's CTV News. The dispute has triggered legal challenges and calls for Ottawa to review the refusals, with a students' coalition estimating that around 1,500 graduates could be affected.

The controversy centres on a June 24 update to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)'s online guidance, which clarified that graduates of "non-credit" programmes, except certain flight-school programmes, are generally not eligible for a PGWP.

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Punjab student among those challenging refusals
One of the affected graduates is Jaspinder Kaur from Punjab, who completed a business management diploma offered through Portage College and the Canadian Institute of Osteopathic Therapy (CIOT) in Calgary.

Kaur told CTV News she expected to qualify for a post-graduation work permit after finishing her two-year course but instead received a refusal from IRCC.

"I was so shocked," she said.

Kaur has since filed a request asking IRCC to reconsider its decision and has also sought a judicial review in Canada's Federal Court.

"My father spent his whole lifetime saving on me. After completing my two years of study, I thought I would be able to work and gain some Canadian experience," she told CTV News.

Students say applications were filed before guidance update
According to CTV News, several graduates said they enrolled, completed their studies and submitted complete PGWP applications before June 24. They argue their applications should not be assessed using guidance that was updated after they applied.

Another graduate, Sukhpreet Singh, said he received a work permit but many classmates with similar circumstances did not.

"Some people are getting it and some are not, but it's like one in 20 applying that are approved," he told CTV News.

Singh said students invested about C$32,000 in tuition over two years, excluding housing and living costs.

Graduate Mukul Rana said many students enrolled before the May 15, 2024, PGWP policy deadline believing they would remain eligible for work permits.

"This is a betrayal of thousands of international students; it is not just administrative, it is a human crisis," Rana told CTV News.

Around 1,500 graduates may be affected
CTV News reported that the Portage Students Union has formed a coalition representing affected graduates and estimates that about 1,500 former students could be impacted.

The group has asked the Canadian government to review refusals, clarify whether the June 24 guidance applies to pending applications, introduce transitional measures and reopen cases where fairness concerns exist.

College says IRCC makes the final decision
Portage College said decisions on post-graduation work permits are made solely by IRCC and advised affected graduates to seek advice from licensed immigration professionals.

The college also said an earlier letter informing students they would remain eligible for a PGWP referred to eligibility to apply, not a guarantee that the permit would be approved.

IRCC told CTV News that there have been no changes to PGWP eligibility criteria and that the June 24 update simply clarified longstanding rules regarding non-credit programmes.

The department said applicants must complete a programme leading to a degree, diploma or certificate from a designated learning institution and maintained that non-credit programmes have long been outside PGWP eligibility.

It added that it does not collect data on refusals specifically linked to non-credit study programmes.