New PGWP Eligibility Requirements: How to Work in Canada After Graduation (2024 Update)
The eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program have recently been updated. Below is an overview of the changes, including what has stayed the same and the new requirements for students looking to work in Canada after graduation.
Who Does Not Need To Meet New Requirements
To remain eligible for a PGWP, applicants must meet the general requirements and complete a program at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution (DLI), even after November 1, 2024. If you apply for a PGWP before this date, only the current eligibility rules apply, and do not need to meet the new PGWP eligibility requirements.
Graduates from PGWP-eligible flight schools also only need to meet the current criteria, regardless of when they apply, meaning that the new requirements outlined below do not apply to them.
New Eligibility Requirements
If you submitted your study permit application before November 1, 2024, the current criteria continue to apply. However, if your study permit application is submitted on or after November 1, 2024, the following new PGWP eligibility requirements must be met.
Language Requirements
You must provide proof of your language ability in English or French when you submit your PGWP application.
The requirements are described as below:
- University Graduates (Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral Degrees)
- Language Requirement: You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 for English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 for French in all four language abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
- Field of Study Requirement: All fields of study are eligible; there is no additional requirement.
- Other University Programs Graduates
- Language Requirement: You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 7 for English or NCLC 7 for French in all four language abilities.
- Field of Study Requirement: You must graduate from an eligible field of study.
- College Program or Other Programs Graduates
- Language Requirement: You must prove your English or French language skills with a minimum level of CLB 5 for English or NCLC 5 for French in all four language abilities.
- Field of Study Requirement: You must graduate from an eligible field of study.
Applicants must demonstrate proficiency in four abilities: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The language test results must be less than two years old at the time of application.
Field of Study Requirements
If your study program has a specific field of study requirement, you must graduate from a program linked to occupations experiencing long-term shortages. The eligible fields of study are divided into five categories:
- Agriculture and Agri-food
- Healthcare
- Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
- Trade
- Transport
These categories are classified under the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), which is used in Canada to categorize post-secondary education programs.
For more information about these changes and its role, please refer to this link
