Important Updates on PGWP Eligibility

IRCC has released new guidelines for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility, effective from November 1. International graduates will now need to meet new field of study requirements to qualify for a work permit, depending on the level of study.

What Are the Eligible Fields of Study?

Fields eligible for the PGWP are tied to national labor market needs and fall under these categories:

• Agriculture and agri-food
• Healthcare
• STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)
• Trades
• Transport

Examples of Eligible Instructional Programs by Field of Study

Field of Study Category	Instructional Program	CIP 2021 Code
Agriculture and agri-food	Agricultural business and management, general	01.0101
Agriculture and agri-food	Animal/livestock husbandry and production	01.0302
Agriculture and agri-food	Plant nursery operations and management	01.0606
Agriculture and agri-food	Animal health	01.0903
Agriculture and agri-food	Agronomy and crop science	01.1102
Healthcare	Special education and teaching, general	13.1001
Healthcare	Exercise physiology	26.0908
Healthcare	Physical therapy assistant	51.0806
Healthcare	Polysomnography	51.0917
Healthcare	Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist	51.1002
STEM	Computer programming/programmer, general	11.0201
STEM	Chemical engineering	14.0701
STEM	Engineering mechanics	14.1101
STEM	Water, wetlands and marine resources management	03.0205
STEM	Computer graphics	11.0803
Trade	Electrician	46.0302
Trade	Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance technology/technician	47.0201
Trade	Machine tool technology/machinist	48.0501
Trade	Insulator	46.0414
Trade	Plumbing technology/plumber	46.0503
Transport	Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician	47.0302
Transport	Air traffic controller	49.0105
Transport	Truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator and instructor	49.0205
Transport	Flight instructor	49.0108
Transport	Transportation and materials moving, other	49.9999

New Language Criteria for PGWP

Along with the new field of study requirements, international graduates must meet specific language criteria depending on the level of their studies. Here are the requirements:

Level of Study	Language Requirement	Field of Study Requirement
Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degree	CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French	All fields of study are eligible
Diploma or Certificate	CLB 6 in English or NCLC 6 in French	Must meet new field of study requirements

What Does This Mean for You?

If you are an international student currently enrolled in or planning to enroll in a program in Canada, it is important to review the new PGWP eligibility requirements to ensure that your field of study qualifies. For further guidance, please reach out to our team.

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