Canada tightens rules for international students seeking work after graduation

Canada has introduced new regulations for international students seeking post-graduation work permits (PGWP), significantly tightening eligibility criteria based on fields of study linked to long-term labor shortages. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that, starting November 1, 2024, international students must choose study programs in high-demand sectors like agriculture, healthcare, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), skilled trades, and transportation to qualify for the PGWP.

The changes affect those applying for a study permit on or after November 1, while students with existing permits or those applying before the cut-off date will still be eligible under the previous criteria. University students pursuing bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees are largely unaffected by the new rules. However, for college graduates and students in non-degree programs, only those studying in the five designated areas will qualify for the PGWP.

A new language proficiency requirement is also being introduced for PGWP applicants, with university students needing to achieve a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 and college students a CLB level 5. Accepted tests include CELPIP, IELTS, PTE for English, and TEF and TCF for French, with results valid for up to two years.

The changes have caused concern among educators. Programs outside the specified fields, such as tourism, hospitality, and business, are no longer eligible for the PGWP, raising fears that this could harm rural communities and international student recruitment. Karen Dancy of Olds College and Larissa Bezo of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) warned that excluding these programs could hurt local economies and labor markets that rely on international students.

In 2023, over 70% of international students in Canada intended to apply for a PGWP. The restrictions are part of broader efforts by the Canadian government to manage immigration levels and maintain the integrity of the student visa system. Other recent policy changes include reducing student visa numbers, increasing financial requirements, and stricter rules on work permits for spouses of students.

Despite the new restrictions, Canada continues to attract a growing number of international students, with over 1 million active study permits in 2023, primarily from India and China.