- Canada has postponed the enforcement of reforms to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program.
- The new implementation date is now set for early 2026.
- This delay provides temporary relief for international students.
Canada has delayed the enforcement of recent reforms to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program, now set to take effect in early 2026.
This postponement offers temporary relief to international students, particularly those in non-degree college programs that were previously at risk of losing PGWP eligibility.
Policy Extension Details
According to TravelBiz, the delay means diploma and certificate programs initially slated for exclusion on June 25, 2025, will continue to qualify for several more months.
Students who applied for study permits between June 25 and July 4, 2025, will still be eligible for the PGWP despite the pending changes.
Expanded Program Eligibility
The number of PGWP-eligible programs has grown from 920 to 1,107, enhancing post-study work options for graduates of Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs).
The PGWP allows international students to work in Canada for up to three years and serves as a pathway to permanent residency through channels like Express Entry.
Revised CIP Codes
The policy update follows feedback from students and institutions. On June 25, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) revised the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes.
This update added 119 new CIP codes, mainly in the education field, and removed 178, including all transportation-related programs.
Application Date Matters
The new policy primarily affects non-degree programs and applies to students who filed for study permits on or after November 1, 2024.
However, students who applied before June 25, 2025, will still be assessed under the previous PGWP criteria, assuming their program was eligible at the time.
Unaffected Programs
College bachelor’s degrees and university undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral programs remain exempt from PGWP field-of-study restrictions.
PGWP Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for a PGWP, students must:
- Complete a program of at least eight months (or 900 hours in Quebec)
- Study full-time (with exceptions in their final semester)
- Apply within 180 days of program completion
Transition Support
The extension aims to give students and institutions sufficient time to prepare for the new rules, offering a smoother transition before the 2026 deadline.
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