Canada extend fields of study wey dem bin comot for post-graduation work permits [PGWP]

BBC News

06-07-2025

Canada bin announce di removal of about 178 fields of study from di Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), but dem don bring am back and extend am to 2026.
For 25 June 2025, di Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) make some changes to di field of study wey qualify for di Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP).
During di changes, international students for 119 new fields of study go dey eligible for PGWP, while IRCC bin comot 178 fields of study from di eligibility list.
Howeva, for 4 July 2025, dem bring back di field of study wey dem comot bifor wey mean say students fit apply a PGWP for dat field for Canada.
Dem say students for di 178 fields wey dem bring back go dey eligible to apply and dose wey apply for study permits too dey covered.
For international students wey dey japa to go study di affected field of study for Canada and also work, dem go dey eligible for di post-graduation work permit till early 2026.
Di decision to remove 178 field of study worry several international students wey dey tink of dia future, as dia programs bin no longer dey qualify for work permit.
Canada bin comot di 178 fields becos dem say e no dey so important to Canada long-term labour market need- but now international students fit apply till 2026.
Wetin be di PGWP and why e even matter to students
Di Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) na for international students in Canada. E dey allow graduates from eligible Canadian post-secondary institutions to work for Canada for up to three years afta dem complete dia studies.
Dis work permit no dey specific to any job as e give graduates di opportunity to gain work experience for Canada for dia own field of study.
Some students dey use dis program to even try di permanent residency program.
Di length of PGWP depend on di student level and duration of dia study program, as well as di expiry date of dia passport.
Changes to eligible fields of study
For di year 2025, na 920 fields of study dey eligible for di Post Graduate Work Permit.
Di IRCC completely remove educational programs for Transport from di current list of PGWP-eligible programmes, but dem leave only one educational programme in Agriculture, dat na Agri-food field.
Di latest eligible educational programs dey directly related to work for some key sectors wey di govment say dem experience ogbonge labour market shortage.
On di oda hand, di 178 fields of study wey no dey eligible again na sake of di kain work wey dem dey linked to, wey no dey experience labour shortages again.
Di 119 education programmes wey dem newly add na for fields like healthcare and social services, education and trades.
Dis na di first time wey dem dey add programmes for di education field of study to di PGWP-eligible fields of study.
Inside di previous change, if you wan do programmes for Agriculture, unless na for Agri-food field, you no go dey eligible for PGWP- but now, dem don cancel and extend am.
Education programmes wey dey eligible for 2025 na French language plus teacher education, biology and chemistry teacher education, computer teacher education, and drama and dance education.
Some STEM programmes sef no dey PGWP eligible again, including fields like environment, water, and natural resources, among odas- but dis new announcement don bring dem back.
Although di PGWP-eligible fields of study dey help immigration department give priority to students wey dey non-degree level, wey meet labour market demands for work permits.
Express Entry categories dey allow IRCC to give priority to immigration candidates wey meet labour market demands for permanent residence (PR) selection.
Still, no mata which field of study pesin wan apply for, all students wey wish to get PGWP afta dem graduate, must to meet di kontri language proficiency requirements, according to di level of study.
Inside all of dis, graduates of PGWP-eligible flight schools no need to meet di field of study requirements.
Di return of di PGWP go dey in effect till 2026 wen dem go review am again.
Dis mean say students wey submit study permit applications between June 25 and July 4, 2025, for di previous fields wey no dey eligible bifor, dem dey covered under dis new rules.