Canada Announces New PGWP Eligibility Rules: Are You Eligible?

Starting November 1, 2024, Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will implement new rules for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program. These changes introduce stricter eligibility criteria for applicants.

Key Updates to PGWP Eligibility Requirements
New Language Proficiency Standards
Field of Study Restrictions
Proof of Language Proficiency

New Language Proficiency Standards

One of the main changes is the new language proficiency requirements, which vary depending on the type of degree or diploma:

Program Type	English Requirement	French Requirement
University bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees	CLB 7 in all skills	NCLC 7 in all skills
Other university programs	CLB 7 in all skills	NCLC 7 in all skills
College programs and other types	CLB 5 in all skills	NCLC 5 in all skills

Field of Study Restrictions for Certain PGWP Applicants
Another significant change is the introduction of the field of study requirements for certain graduates. University bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral graduates face no restrictions on their field of study. However, graduates from other university programs, as well as college graduates and those from other program types, must graduate from an eligible field of study.

Eligibility if you applied before November 1, 2024

Graduate Category	Language Requirement
Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university	Minimum CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas
Other university programs	Minimum CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas
College programs or other programs not listed	Minimum CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 areas

Eligibility if you apply on or after November 1, 2024

Graduate Category	Language Requirement	Field of Study Requirement
Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a university	Minimum CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas	No restrictions on field of study
Other university programs	Minimum CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 areas	Must graduate in an eligible field of study
College programs or other programs not listed	Minimum CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 areas	Must graduate in an eligible field of study

If your study program has a field of study requirement, you must graduate from a program connected to occupations with long-term shortages. These fields are categorized into five broad groups:

All PGWP applicants must demonstrate their English or French proficiency in four areas:

Your test results must be less than 2 years old when you submit your application. We accept language test results from these tests:

English	French
CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program You should take the CELPIP-General test.	TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
IELTS: International English Language Testing System You should take the IELTS General Training option.	TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
PTE Core: Pearson Test of English You should take the PTE Core option

What Remains Unchanged

It’s important to note that some aspects of the PGWP program remain the same:
General and physical location eligibility requirements still apply.
Applicants must complete their study program at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution.
Applications submitted before November 1, 2024, will be assessed under the current eligibility criteria.
Graduates from PGWP-eligible flight schools will continue to be assessed under the current criteria, even after November 1, 2024.

Impact on International Students and Canadian Immigration

The new rules signal a big change in how Canada wants to keep international talent. By adding language proficiency requirements and field of study restrictions, the government aims to make sure PGWP recipients are ready to join the Canadian workforce and help in areas with labour shortages. For future international students, these changes highlight the need for careful planning. When choosing their programs, students should consider these new rules to prepare for their careers in Canada.

Preparing for the New PGWP Requirements

As these changes come into effect, international students and graduates should take steps to meet the new criteria:

Improve language skills well before applying for a PGWP.
Select study programs that fit the eligible fields of study, especially for non-bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral programs.
Stay updated on any new information or clarifications from IRCC about these changes.