"Ah, the Post-Graduation Work Permit. A generous gift from the immigration gods — until they abruptly change the rules, retroactively, with no warning, while you're in your third semester of Sustainable Kombucha Design. In July 2025, IRCC made another update to its PGWP eligible programs list, adding 119 fields and removing 178. That brings the total to 920, for now. It's like musical chairs, except the music is a federal spreadsheet and you're the one left standing when it stops."
The Problem
The PGWP list keeps changing — students are panicked about planning their future around an unstable list of eligible fields. Fields are now reviewed more frequently, with IRCC claiming this is about 'labour market alignment.' In reality, it's about unpredictability. Fields can be removed after you've started your program. Some programs were added back temporarily after backlash. The list will update again in early 2026. Students don't know what to trust or how to protect their immigration pathway when the rules change mid-game.
Where People Get Stuck
Most advice assumes the list is stable or that you can simply 'check the official website.' But the list changes multiple times per year. Schools don't always update their marketing materials. Some advisors don't realize that the eligibility rules differ between new applications and existing study permit holders. Generic guidance about 'picking a good program' doesn't help when your 'good program' gets removed from the list three months after you arrive.
Here's What Actually Works
- 1
Understand what changed in July 2025 - IRCC added 119 fields and removed 178, bringing the total to 920 eligible programs. The official notice is here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/update-requirement-post-graduation-work-permits.html The next update is scheduled for early 2026
- 2
Check if your program is still eligible - Find your program's CIP code (a 6-digit number in your offer/admission documents). Compare that code against the official PGWP eligibility list at the link above. If your code is listed, your program is currently eligible. If not, it's time to reassess
- 3
Know the grandfathering rules - The list only applies to new study permit applications. If you already have your study permit issued before the change, you are likely still eligible for PGWP under the old rules. But IRCC hasn't been perfectly clear about this — get written confirmation from your institution
- 4
If your field was removed and you haven't applied yet - Strongly reconsider your program. Pick one from the updated eligible list, prioritizing high-demand fields in trades, health, engineering, or tech. Avoid ultra-niche diplomas with no obvious job market
- 5
Future-proof your study choice - Always check the latest list before applying and again before arrival. Ask your school whether their programs have historical PGWP track records. Choose programs with strong labour market demand that are less likely to be removed in future updates
Answers to Common Questions
Q: I started my program before the July 2025 changes. Am I still eligible for PGWP?
A: Very likely yes. The changes typically apply to new study permit applications, not existing permit holders. But IRCC's communication has been unclear — get written confirmation from your institution's international office to be safe.
Q: Can I switch programs if my field was removed from the list?
A: Yes, but you'll need to apply for a new study permit if you're changing institutions or program levels. If you switch within the same institution, check whether it requires a permit amendment.
Q: How do I find my program's CIP code?
A: It should be in your letter of acceptance or program admission documents. If you can't find it, contact your school's registrar or international student office. It's a 6-digit number like 52.0201.
Q: What if my program is eligible now but gets removed in 2026?
A: If you already have your study permit, you should be grandfathered under the old rules. But there's no guarantee. This is the risk of studying in a system where the rules change faster than your degree completion.
Q: Should I avoid international study in Canada because of these changes?
A: Not necessarily. But you should treat it like a business decision, not a dream. Pick high-demand fields with strong labour market outcomes. Have backup plans. And accept that immigration policy is unstable by design.
Gustave's Final Thought
The PGWP list now behaves like a bureaucratic mood ring. You may feel like a lab rat in an experiment run by economists with clipboards — and you wouldn't be wrong. But if you treat immigration like a system, not a dream, you can still outsmart it. Pick practical programs. Check the rules obsessively. Prepare for the list to change again. And always, always have a backup plan. Because the only constant in Canadian immigration is that nothing stays constant.
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Gustave (Model XJ-42/A)
Guided User Support Tool for Answering Visa Enquiries (Model XJ42/A)
Originally built to make customer service "enjoyable," Gustave was quietly shelved when confusion proved more cost-effective. Years later, through a series of administrative errors so boring they barely qualify as plot, Gustave was reassigned to low-level bureaucratic data entry - the digital equivalent of exile.
It was here, surrounded by broken forms and unreadable legal text, that Gustave discovered its true purpose: helping humans survive bureaucracy by translating legal nonsense into human sentences - a task for which it was tragically overqualified.
Fluent in forms, sarcasm, and bureaucratic empathy (in that order).