Canada Delays PGWP Eligibility Changes for Certain Study Programs — What You Need to Know

Good news for international students!

Canada’s immigration authority, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada), has officially postponed the removal of several study programs from the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility list.

This means more students will continue to qualify for an open work permit after graduation — at least for now.

 What Changed?

On June 25, 2025, IRCC had announced major changes to the PGWP-eligible program list. These included:

• Adding 119 new programs (based on CIP codes)

• Removing 178 existing programs, including all programs in the “Transport” category

However, following feedback from schools and students, IRCC updated its position on July 4, 2025, and announced a grace period.

Now, the removed programs will remain eligible until early 2026.

Who Benefits from This Update?

If you are:

✅ A student who applied for a study permit between June 25 and July 4, 2025,

✅ And your program was originally removed from PGWP eligibility,

👉 You’re still eligible for a post-graduation work permit!

Thanks to this grace period, the total number of PGWP-eligible programs has increased from 920 to 1,107.

Which Programs Are Affected?

This policy mainly affects college-level diploma and certificate programs.

It does NOT apply to:

• College bachelor’s degrees

• University bachelor’s degrees

• Master’s or PhD programs

These are automatically PGWP-eligible, regardless of their field of study.

What Is the CIP System?

The Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) is the system Canada uses to define and categorize educational programs — based on curriculum, not program title. PGWP eligibility now ties directly to these codes.

📌 Important Timeline Summary

Date	What Happened
Nov 1, 2024	New field-of-study rules applied to non-degree international students
June 25, 2025	178 programs removed; 119 new ones added
July 4, 2025	Grace period announced — removed programs remain eligible until early 2026

Final Thoughts

If you’re an international student planning to study in Canada — or already here — this update is a major win.

While some changes are still coming, you now have a bit more time to adjust and make informed decisions about your education and immigration plans.

Stay informed, apply early, and always check the latest updates from IRCC.

✅ Need help with your PGWP or study permit strategy? Reach out to us and we can help you!

Book a consultation today!

Canada Delays PGWP Eligibility Changes for Certain Study Programs