Canada Updates Eligible Fields of Study for Post-Graduation Work Permits

The Government of Canada has revised the list of educational programs that qualify international graduates for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

On June 25, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced major changes to the eligible fields of study for PGWPs to better align with Canada’s 2025 labour market needs.

As a result of these changes:

• 119 new fields of study have been added to the PGWP-eligible list.
• 178 fields of study have been removed.

Who is affected?

These new rules apply to international students who:

• Are enrolled in non-degree programs (programs that do not lead to a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree); and
• Applied for their study permit on or after November 1, 2024.

Students who submitted their study permit applications before June 25, 2025 are grandfathered in. This means they remain eligible for a PGWP based on the approved list at the time of their application—even if their program has since been removed from eligibility.

Summary of Changes

There are now 920 fields of study eligible for PGWP.

Notably:

• Transport programs have been completely removed from eligibility.
• Agriculture and Agri-food now has just one eligible program.
• Newly added fields align with sectors experiencing ongoing labour shortages, such as healthcare, education, and trades.
• Fields no longer eligible are linked to occupations that no longer face labour shortages.

Examples of Added and Removed Programs

Below are selected examples of programs that have been added or removed. (Note: these lists are not exhaustive.)

Agriculture and Agri-Food

Removed from PGWP eligibility:

• Agriculture, general (01.0000)
• Agricultural business and management, general (01.0101)
• Farm/farm and ranch management (01.0104)
• Agricultural power machinery operation (01.0204)
• Crop production (01.0304)

No new programs were added in this field.

Education

No programs removed.

Newly PGWP-eligible programs include:

• French language/French language arts teacher education (13.1325)
• Biology teacher education (13.1322)
• Computer teacher education (13.1321)
• Chemistry teacher education (13.1323)
• Drama and dance teacher education (13.1324)

Healthcare and Social Services

Removed from PGWP eligibility:

• Bilingual, multilingual and multicultural education, other (13.0299)
• Multicultural education (13.0202)
• Indigenous education (13.0203)
• College student counselling and personnel services (13.1102)
• Student counselling and personnel services, other (13.1199)

Newly PGWP-eligible:

• Veterinary medicine (DVM) (01.8001)
• Veterinary/animal health technology/technician (01.8301)
• Dentistry (DDS, DMD) (51.0401)
• Dental clinical sciences, general (51.0501)
• Oral biology and oral and maxillofacial pathology (51.0503)

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Removed from PGWP eligibility:

• Agricultural and extension education services (01.0801)
• Natural resources/conservation, general (03.0101)
• Environmental studies (03.0103)
• Water, wetlands and marine resources management (03.0205)
• Environmental/natural resources management and policy, other (03.0299)

Newly PGWP-eligible:

• Architecture (04.0201)
• Advanced architectural design (04.0202)
• Landscape architecture (04.0601)

Trades

Removed from PGWP eligibility:

• Solar energy technology/technician (15.1703)
• Electrical and power transmission installation/installer, general (46.0301)
• Building/property maintenance (46.0401)
• Building/home/construction inspection/inspector (46.0403)
• Drywall installation/drywaller (46.0404)

Newly PGWP-eligible:

• Construction management, general (52.2001)
• Construction project management (52.2002)
• Diver, professional and instructor (49.0304)
• Cabinetmaking and millwork (48.0703)
• CNC machinist technology/CNC machinist (48.0510)

Transport

Removed from PGWP eligibility:

• Public transportation and infrastructure planning/studies (44.0403)
• Airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance technology/technician (47.0607)
• Engine machinist (47.0615)
• Marine maintenance/fitter and ship repair technology/technician (47.0616)
• High performance and custom engine technician/mechanic (47.0617)

No new programs were added in this field.

PGWP Eligibility and Express Entry

IRCC aligns PGWP-eligible fields of study with Canada’s labour market priorities—similar to how Express Entry categories prioritize candidates for permanent residence.

Recent changes in Express Entry’s targeted occupations echo these PGWP updates, reflecting the same labour market needs.

Language Requirements for PGWP

Students must also meet language proficiency requirements, depending on their level of study:

Note: Graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools do not need to meet specific field-of-study requirements.