In a recent revision by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international student graduates of Canadian colleges are eligible to apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit without the field of study requirement.

This requirement, implemented in 2024, applied to Canadian colleges but did not include university graduates. The requirement mandated that college graduates at any study level – diploma, certificate or degree – would need to graduate from one of the following fields to be eligible for the PGWP:

• Agriculture and agri-food
• Education
• Healthcare
• STEM
• Trade
• Transport

The field of study requirement had been implemented for Canadian college graduates to address the misalignment between graduate numbers in particular fields and in-demand roles in the labour market. Data obtained by CBC News indicates that almost 800,000 international students received study permits for business programs, far outweighing the numbers for other sectors, including healthcare and trade. These numbers exceed the corresponding opportunities in Canada’s job market, resulting in a mismatch between graduates seeking work versus roles available.

Following the March 2025 revision, students from Canadian colleges and universities qualify for the Post-Graduation Work Permit irrespective of their field of study, provided they meet the necessary language requirements.

Canadian colleges, which have recently been at a disadvantage in terms of international student recruitment due to revisions in immigration policy, are expected to begin recovering their foothold following this more equitable playing field.

International students pursuing non-degree programs at any Canadian college, polytechnic institution, or university must still meet the field of study requirements to qualify for the PGWP.

What is the PGWP?

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) enables students graduating from eligible Canadian academic institutions to continue living and working in Canada. The validity of the PGWP depends on the level and duration of the program.

As of February 2024, Master’s program graduates are eligible for a 3-year PGWP, even if their program is less than two years long, provided that:

• The program is at least 8 months long
• The student meets all other eligibility criteria (e.g., language requirements)

For all other programs:

• At least 8 months: Valid for the same length of time as the program duration
• 2 years or longer: Valid for up to 3 years

For more than one program: Valid for the combined length of the programs, provided these are eligible for the PGWP and longer than 8 months.