Canada New PGWP Rules 2025: Every student pursues their dream differently. Some wants to get proper education domestically by living within their own country but some wants to get it done from foreign countries. It is important to be aware about the recent updates regarding the Post-Graduate Work Permit or PGWP. If any student who is planning to work in Canada after finishing their studies, then they must have the knowledge about the policy changes. Recently many rules and regulations are changed regarding eligibility criteria. Canada has changed the laws, which includes a new clause which is demanding the field of study.
IRCC which is known as the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada has announced plans to decrease the percentage of temporary residents in Canada from 6.5% to 5% of the total population by 2026. This declaration is made by IRCC on 18th of September, 2024. The PGWP program witnessed the changes from 1st November onwards. Some changes have introduced focusing on aligning the program with labor market demands are the requirements for language proficiency and then deciding the study fields. If you want to apply for a PGWP even if you have already applied for a study permit or not, it is essential to understand the key changes and what will be the impact on your application. In detail we can discuss the changes to get a better picture.
Key Highlights of Changes in Canada PGWP Rules:
- The changes made effective on 1st November, 2024.
- The applicants must have to fill the language requirements to make them eligible for the PGWP. Language proficiency is must.
- All fields of study are accepted. There is no specific field of study requirements.
- Those applicants who are Graduates with Bachelors degree or possessing master’s degree or having any doctoral degree must achieve a CLB/NCLC level of 7 in all four language skills in English or French.
- The applicants who are Graduates from other university programs must also meet the CLB/NCLC level of 7 in all four language skills.
- Also they have a degree in a field that aligns with Canada’s labor market needs.
- The applicants who are college graduates or those from non-listed programs a CLB/NCLC level of 5 in all four language skills is required.
- Meeting these criteria is essential for a successful PGWP application.
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What has not changed yet?
- Applicants must have to fulfill both general and physical location requirements.
- If the applicants have done their graduation from a designated learning institution or DLI that qualifies for a PGWP then the new rules will not affect the applicants.
- And certain criteria will remain same even after the new policy changes after 1st November, 2024.
The Required Study fields for PGWP program:
If you are going to apply for the PGWP program, and your educational program is subject to the new “field of study” requirement then it must be associated with specific occupations that Canada has identified as experiencing a long-term shortage. The five important study areas are
- Agriculture and Agri-food
- The field of healthcare
- In the field of Science
- In the field of Technology
- In the field of Engineering
- In the field of Mathematics (STEM)
- In the field of Trade
- In the field of Transport.
To prove the language test which tests are available?
As you know that language proficiency is much needed. So as an applicant you have to take language proficiency test.
The test results should not be older than two years at the time of your application.
You have to take various tests for English and French.
For English you can opt for
- The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program or CELPIP General Test.
- The International English Language Testing System or IELTS General Training.
- The Pearson Test of English or PTE Core Test.
For French you can take
- The Test d’évaluation de français (TEF Canada)
- The Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada).
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There are certain exemptions. These are:
- The new PGWP rules have some exemptions for some students.
- Those applicants who have applied before 1st November, they can apply without any restrictions instead of whatever may be the study area.
- The graduate students from flight schools are also exempted to follow the new rule. They can also apply without language or field of study requirements.
- Students applying for the programs that are of two years or longer duration can get work permit of up to three years.
- At the same time for the programs which lasts eight months and two years, the work permit will be given up to the length of the program.
- By this the students can get required work experience in Canada.
- Students have to keep their passports valid for the entire time they are eligible for PGWP. As the work permit is only valid as long as the passport is active.
- If someone’s passport got expires before the term of the program then he/she should get a new passport and apply to extend their work permit.
- These updates are part of Canada’s plan to attract and keep international talent by simplifying the transition from education to work.
