Canada removes field of study requirement in PGWP for international students

In a LinkedIn post by Bezo she said, “These students must prove their English or French language skills with a minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) 7 in English or Niveaux de competence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 7 in French in all 4 language areas.”

Also, the change will apply to those international students who had applied for a study permit after November 1, 2024, to pursue a college bachelor’s or master’s degree programme in any Canadian college.

What is the new PGWP eligibility?

Graduates in any bachelor’s or master’s programme from any Canadian college can apply for PGWP, once they meet the revised eligibility:

–Language proficiency

–University graduates (bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral): CLB 7 or NCLC 7

–College programme graduates: CLB 5 or NCLC 5

–These requirements apply to PGWP applications submitted after November 1, 2024.

Is there any special exemption or any considerations?

Certain students are not subject to these new restrictions, including:

– Students who commenced their studies before November 1, 2024 – No limitations based on the field of study apply.
– Flight school graduates – Remain eligible for PGWP without any restrictions related to language proficiency or field of study.
– Programs under curriculum licensing agreements (effective after May 15, 2024) – Generally, these programs do not qualify for PGWP.

What is the duration for the work permit?

The duration of a student’s work permit depends on the length of the completed programme. For a programme lasting between 8 months and 2 years, the work permit is issued for the same duration as the programme. If the programme is 2 years or longer, the student can apply for a three-year work permit. In cases where multiple programmes are completed, the total duration may be considered under certain exceptions.

What to do after passport expires before your PGWP?

Students have to ensure that the passport remains valid for the entire duration of their PGWP eligibility before applying. The work permit will only be issued for as long as your passport is valid, as mentioned on the website. If the passport expires before the full eligible period, they can apply for a PGWP extension. To extend the PGWP, they will have to obtain a new passport with the required validity and then submit a paper application for the extension.