Government of Canada announces changes to Post Graduate Work Permit eligibility requirements

The Government of Canada shared changes to its International Student Program on June 25, 2025 with respect to post graduate work permits.

To be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), international students in non-degree programs (programs other than bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees) must complete a program in an eligible field of study linked to jobs in long-term shortages, such as those being prioritized under Express Entry.

The recent changes reflect the 2025 Express Entry priorities:

• 119 new fields of study in key sectors like health care and social services, education and trades
• 178 fields of study no longer linked to occupations in long-term labour shortages were removed

There are now 920 total fields of study eligible for PGWP. Students who applied for a study permit before June 25, 2025 are still eligible for a PGWP if their field of study was on the list when they applied even if it has now been removed.