The Canadian government has introduced stricter criteria for international students seeking Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility, especially for those completing short-duration courses or attending certain colleges. From November 1 onwards, applicants will need to demonstrate higher proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages—English or French. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), applicants must provide test results that validate their language skills in reading, writing, listening, or speaking, with results no older than two years.
Additionally, for graduates of non-degree programs—excluding bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees—eligibility for the PGWP will be restricted to fields of study tied to occupations facing long-term shortages. These fields have been broadly categorized into sectors such as agriculture and agri-food, healthcare, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), trades, and transport.
This announcement follows an earlier statement made by the IRCC on September 18, where the changes were justified as a means to better align the PGWP program with immigration objectives and labor market needs. Facing criticism over the influx of temporary residents, including international students, the Canadian government had also announced a 10% reduction in international student intake by 2025, capping study permits at 437,000, down from this year’s 485,000 target. This cap will remain in place for 2026 as well.
Officials have indicated that the impact of these decisions will be evident later this year. Recent data suggests that the number of study permits issued between April and June dropped from 148,140 in 2023 to 125,020 this year. For Indian students, the decline was from 70,340 to 55,940. However, this figure is still nearly double the intake recorded in 2015.
Meanwhile, international students supported by the Naujawan Support Group continue to protest indefinitely in Brampton, Ontario, demanding relaxed PGWP requirements. The protests, which began in mid-September, aim to secure extended work permits, ensure all international students are eligible for the PGWP, and establish a fair pathway to permanent residency.
Protesters claim that approximately 130,000 former international students will see their work permits expire by the end of 2025, putting them at risk of deportation due to limited pathways to permanent residence. Activists have reported that desperate students are resorting to filing refugee claims, attempting to enter the U.S. illegally, or even engaging in sham marriages to maintain their status in Canada.
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