What’s Changing
1. Eligibility for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) & Field of Study Requirement
As of November 1, 2024, the IRCC changed eligibility criteria for the PGWP.
One of the more important changes is introducing a field of study requirement for non-degree programs. If you’re not doing a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, your program must be in a field of study (CIP code) that’s tied to occupations in long-term shortages in Canada.
On July 4, 2025, IRCC updated the list of eligible CIP codes: adding back some fields that had been removed on June 25, 2025, and removing others that no longer align with labour shortage needs.
Students who had applied for their study permit before June 25, 2025, are “grandfathered” if their field was on the list at the time, even if it has since been removed.
2. Limit on Applying for PGWP at Port of Entry
As of June 21, 2024, you can no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry (e.g., at airport, land, or marine border) when entering Canada. Applications must be submitted while inside, or through the regular application process.
3. International Student Study Permits & Caps
The Levels Plan for 2025-2027 introduces, for the first time, temporary resident targets for international students and temporary foreign workers. That means IRCC is limiting how many new study permits (international students) and work permits (new temporary workers) will be issued in future years.
There is an annual cap on international student study permits. In 2025, this cap has been set with a further 10% reduction relative to 2024 targets.
4. Work-While-Studying Rules
As of November 8, 2024, students are allowed to work off campus up to 24 hours per week without a separate work permit (provided other eligibility conditions are met).
Students studying online (outside Canada) face restrictions: after August 31, 2024, any time spent studying online from outside Canada (for programs where the lock-in date is on or after September 1, 2024) will not count toward PGWP length.
Private college programs delivered via curriculum licensing agreements (public-private arrangements) are under greater scrutiny for PGWP eligibility. Many of these are no longer eligible unless they started earlier under specific conditions.
5. Emphasis on Students & Workers Already in Canada
The IRCC’s 2025-2027 Levels Plan aims for more than 40% of permanent resident admissions in 2025 to come from individuals already in Canada as temporary residents—students and workers. This indicates a stronger pathway from education/in-country temporary status to permanent residency.
Why These Changes Are Happening
Labour market alignment: The field of study requirement ties international student programs more tightly to jobs where Canada has long-term shortages. IRCC wants to ensure that education leads to needed economic contributions.
Capacity and sustainability: With high levels of temporary residents, Canada has concerns about housing pressure, public services, infrastructure. Managing growth more tightly (both temporary and permanent) is part of the rationale.
Balanced immigration: The shift is toward favouring applicants who are already in Canada (students, temporary workers), because such candidates are already integrated to some extent, presumably easier to assess, and potentially less of a strain on initial settlement services.
Impacts & What Students / Prospective Immigrants Should Know
For Current & Prospective Students
Pick your programs carefully: If you’re enrolling in a non-degree program (certificate, diploma) and plan to apply for PGWP, ensure the field of study (CIP code) is on the eligible list. If your program isn’t, you might lose PGWP eligibility. Check the IRCC updated CIP list.
Timing matters: When you apply for your study permit may affect your eligibility. Students who applied before certain dates (e.g. November 1, 2024; or before June 25, 2025 for field changes) have protections, but those starting after will need to meet the new criteria.
Study mode/location matters: If part or all of the program is online or delivered from outside Canada, this could affect eligibility or PGWP duration under the new rules.
On-campus vs off-campus work: Rules for working off campus and how many hours are now more defined; this can affect income during studies and post-graduation eligibility.
For Policy Observers / Stakeholders
Immigration consultants, schools, and institutions need to align their program offerings with labour market demands and understand CIP codes. Programs in fields no longer linked to shortages may lose appeal for international students.
Provinces and institutions might need to adjust curricula or promote certain fields (health, trades, education, STEM) that are more likely to retain PGWP eligibility.
The cap on student permits and tighter PGWP eligibility could reduce the number of international students, or shift them toward certain programs/institutions, which may affect revenues of post-secondary institutions, particularly those geared toward non-degree credentials.
Outstanding Issues & What to Watch
Next updates of CIP eligibility: The eligible CIP code list is subject to periodic updates (next update expected early 2026 according to IRCC). Students and applicants must stay informed.
Processing delays and backlog: With new requirements, more applications may need scrutiny. Delays or complications (e.g. proving eligibility) are possible.
Permanent residence pathways: While more students/workers already in Canada are favored, competition is likely to increase. New Express Entry category-based draws in 2025 also reflect this shift.
Conclusion
The IRCC is re-shaping the education-to-immigration transition: making it more selective, more tied to labour market demands, and more restrictive in certain respects. For international students and prospective immigrants, navigating the new rules means paying close attention to program selection, field of study, timing, and location of study. While these changes might make things more complex, they also aim to ensure that education pathways lead to meaningful economic outcomes and permanent residence more efficiently for those who meet the evolving criteria.