Canada’s immigration system to modify PGWP regulations. The federal and provincial immigration authorities in Canada are now holding talks to make significant modifications to the requirements for obtaining a Post-Graduation Work Permit. After successfully completing a qualifying program of study at a DLI, international students can obtain useful work experience in Canada with the PGWP, an open work permit. This possible change to the PGWP rules may have an effect on foreign graduates who want to work in Canada after finishing their education.
The notes from the IRCC Deputy Minister Transition Binder 2024 state that the goal of Canada’s immigration policy is to match the need of the labor market with the granting of PGWP. This alignment will limit entry for graduates of other programs while making work permits easier for students joining fields where there is a scarcity.
According to the Binder, the Minister will offer guidance on this matter in the spring of 2024, with the intention of putting these modifications into effect by January of 2025.
IRCC recently sent an internal survey document to pertinent stakeholders that highlighted this development even further. In addition to outlining the strategies the IRCC would employ to align educational initiatives with PGWP availability, the document requests input from relevant parties regarding the suggested modifications.
Implementing New PGWP Restrictions – IRCC’s Approach and Strategy
Internal survey documents offer some insights, even though the immigration service has not fully disclosed all the specifics of how they implemented these adjustments.
The internal paper states that ESDC and IRCC have worked together to connect study programs with employment titles. The goal of this effort is to identify the academic programs that give foreign students the knowledge and experience needed for high-demand industries within the Canadian economy.
The mapping procedure entails matching the Classification of Instructional Programs system with Canada’s NOC system, which classifies and categorizes vocations. Educational programs are categorized by their fields of study in the CIP system. For example, the document illustrates that the NOC code for “carpenter” associates with three distinct programs of study: carpentry, woodworking/general, and building trades.
Because of this synchronization, IRCC and ESDC are better able to understand how educational programs prepare foreign students for jobs in demand in the Canadian labor market. It helps make well-informed decisions on the eligibility and issuance of PGWP by matching the educational backgrounds of students with the needs of the labor market.
IRCC’s Rationale for Pursuing Changes to the PGWP Program
By giving priority to work permits for overseas students entering professions where there is a scarcity, the IRCC highlights its goal to realign with labor market demands while limiting chances for graduates of other programs. The most recent version of the PGWP program in Canada, implemented in 2008, allows foreign graduates to obtain open work permits based on the duration of their studies.
The PGWPs issued between 2018 and 2023 had a noteworthy 214% growth, according to the IRCC.
In addition to these modifications, the government’s broader intentions may be revealed by IRCC’s recent pronouncements regarding the levels of temporary residency in Canada, affecting individuals with visitor visas, work or study permits, or electronic travel authorizations.
In January 2024, the IRCC imposed a cap on foreign students and took a momentous step by incorporating temporary resident levels into the yearly Immigration Levels Plan for the first time in the country’s history. This policy change aims to relieve pressure on Canada’s social systems, such as housing and healthcare, which have been stressed by the yearly influx of new temporary residents. It also prioritizes hiring citizens and permanent residents for employment opportunities.
Implications for Immigration
For international graduates living in Canada to be eligible for various permanent residence schemes, they must have work experience in the country through the PGWP. Federal and provincial economic PR programs typically require candidates to have at least one year of relevant job experience, making international graduates well-suited for these opportunities.
Possible modifications to the PGWP initiative may have wider consequences for immigration. If implemented, these reforms might even impact international students currently studying in Canada.