Canada moves up a crucial deadline for international students looking for work permits after graduation

The Canadian government has announced that it will be enforcing a new rule for international students earlier than planned.

On January 22, 2024, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed a significant alteration regarding the eligibility criteria for post-graduation work permits for international graduates. Specifically, graduates of college programs delivered through a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement will no longer qualify for this permit.

Initially slated to take effect on September 1, 2024, this change will now be implemented earlier, starting from May 15, 2024.


This adjustment implies that international students enrolling in such programs on or after May 15, 2024, will not be entitled to a post-graduation work permit upon completion of their studies.

This modification in the post-graduation work permit criteria does not outrightly hinder graduates from seeking alternative work permits post-graduation. For instance, graduates can explore the option of applying for a work permit supported by an employer's approved labor market impact assessment, particularly for occupations experiencing shortages in Canada.

The IRCC maintains a list of designated learning institutions indicating whether graduates are eligible for post-graduation work permits. This list is readily accessible on their website.

Other changes to the PGWP
The Canadian government made modifications to the post-graduation work permit programme (PGWP) effective February 15, 2024. As long as they fulfil all other requirements, students who have finished a master's degree program—even one that lasted less than two years—will be eligible for a three-year PGWP.

An open work permit given to international students who finish their studies in Canada is known as a post-graduation employment permit. PGWP holders are able to work as many hours as they choose for any company, anywhere in Canada.

A PGWP's duration is determined by the length and intensity of the student's study programme as well as the date on which their passport expires, whichever occurs first.

Canada's cap on foreign students
In response to the burgeoning housing shortage exacerbated by a surge in international student numbers, Canada unveiled a new measure in January: a two-year cap on new international student permits. The decision comes on the heels of a remarkable spike in the influx of foreign students in recent years.

Government data reveals that last year alone, Canada issued over 650,000 study permits to international students. Consequently, the total number of international students entering the country soared to a record-breaking figure exceeding one million. This staggering statistic reflects a threefold increase compared to the number recorded a decade ago.