By eliminating the field of study criterion, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Department of the Government of Canada has made it easier for overseas students to get a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). In 2024, the mandate was implemented for Canadian institutions, but not for colleges. The change was made in order to give the nation’s foreign education system more scrutiny.
According to Larissa Bezo, CEO of the Canadian Bureau for International Education, the PGWP field of study criterion will no longer be met by graduates of the nation’s college degree programs.
Bezo stated in a LinkedIn post, “These students must prove their English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas.”
Additionally, international students who filed for a study permit after November 1, 2024, to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree program at any Canadian college would be affected by the change.
What Is The New Eligibility For PGWP?
After fulfilling the updated eligibility requirements, graduates of any bachelor’s or master’s degree from any Canadian college may apply for PGWP.
- Language proficiency
- University graduates (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral): CLB 7 or NCLC 7
- College programme graduates: CLB 5 or NCLC 5
- These requirements apply to PGWP applications submitted after November 1, 2024.
Is There Any Special Exemption Or Any Considerations?
The following pupils are exempt from these new limitations:
- Students who started their studies before November 1, 2024, are eligible; there are no restrictions depending on their subject of study.
- Graduates of flight schools are still eligible for PGWP regardless of their topic of study or level of language competence.
- Programs covered by curriculum licensing agreements (which go into force after May 15, 2024) are often not eligible for PGWP.
What Is The Duration For The Work Permit?
The length of a student’s finished curriculum determines how long their work visa will last. The work visa is granted for the same length of time as the program, which can be anything from eight months to two years.
The student may apply for a three-year work visa if the program lasts two years or more. When many programs are finished, the overall time may be taken into account under specific circumstances.
What To Do After Passport Expires Before Your PGWP?
Before applying, students must confirm that their passport is still valid for the whole time they are eligible for PGWP. According to the website, the work permit will only be granted for the duration of your passport’s validity.
They can request a PGWP extension if the passport expires before the whole qualifying term. To prolong the PGWP, they will need to apply for the extension on paper after obtaining a new passport with the necessary validity.
