Important Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Changes for 2025
Summary:
Canada’s 2025 PGWP updates add a language test, introduce field-of-study rules for non-degree grads, restrict most public–private partnership programs, tighten distance-learning, keep the 3-year PGWP for master’s, and require online-only applications within 180 days. Some jobs still require an Immigration Medical Exam (IME) to avoid work restrictions.
Important Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) Changes for 2025
International graduates planning to stay and work in Canada face the most significant PGWP updates in years. Below is a practical, bottom-funnel guide to what changed, who’s most affected, and how to adapt.
We have also included links to help you verify each new rule on the Government of Canada website, and provided information on how to book important tests like your Immigration Medical Exam if you need one.
What Has Actually Changed (& What It Means)
Here’s an overview of the most important changes to the PGWP program that took place for 2025:
A Language Test Is Now Required for Most Applicants
If you submit your PGWP application on or after November 1, 2024, you must include an approved English or French test score. Minimum levels differ by program:
Bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree grads: CLB/NCLC 7 in all four skills.
College, polytechnic, and other non-university programs: CLB/NCLC 5 in all four skills.
IRCC instructs applicants to take language tests in person and include the results with the application.
New Field-of-Study Rules for Many Non-Degree Programs
If your study permit was issued based on an application on or after November 1, 2024, and you graduated from non-degree programs (e.g., diplomas, certificates, post-grad certificates), your program must fall under a PGWP-eligible field of study aligned to long-term labour shortages (tracked via CIP codes).
IRCC updated this list July 4, 2025 and noted it had reinstated programs removed on June 25, 2025 until the next update in early 2026. Always check the current list before applying.
Public-Private Partnership (Curriculum-Licensing) Programs Are Largely Ineligible
Programs delivered by a private career college on behalf of a public institution are not PGWP-eligible, except for limited grandfathered cases tied to when you started (e.g., on/before May 15, 2024 if within the same province; on/before January 31, 2023 if across provinces). Check the special-cases section closely.
Distance-Learning Limits Are Getting Tightened
For students with a “lock-in date” on or after September 1, 2024, you must complete at least 50% of your program in class in Canada. Time spent outside Canada is deducted from PGWP length. Earlier COVID-era flexibilities have now ended.
New Rule for Application Timing and Where to Apply
You have up to 180 days after graduation to apply and must maintain or restore status if your study permit expires while waiting for final marks. Also, you cannot apply at the border (a process known sometimes as “flagpoling”). Instead, make sure you apply online from inside or outside Canada.
What’s Staying The Same?
Not everything has changed. Some rules carried over and continued to apply in 2025.
Master’s Grads Can Get a 3-Year PGWP (Even for Programs Under Two Years)
As of February 15, 2024, most master’s program graduates are eligible for a 3-year permit (assuming all other criteria are met). This is unchanged in 2025 and continues to be a major win for master’s students.
How These Updates Affect Applicants
Eligibility
Degree-level grads (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) do not have a field-of-study restriction but do have the language requirement (CLB/NCLC 7).
Non-degree grads often face the eligible-field check and the CLB/NCLC 5 requirement.
Graduates of most public-private partnership programs are now ineligible, unless they meet the new exception dates.
Duration
Applicants in Master’s program can now stay on their PGWP for up to 3 years, even if they’re on a program that lasts two years or less.
Other applicants can stay up to their program length (max 3 years), minus any outside-Canada study time during this period.
Transition to Permanent Residence (PR)
PGWP work in TEER 0–3 jobs can count toward Canadian Experience Class (CEC) if it is post-graduation, authorized, and meets hour thresholds.
Work done while a full-time student does not count toward CEC minimums (including co-op). For some candidates, student work may help for FSW minimums, but not for CEC.
Who’s Most Impacted in 2025?
Not everyone will be affected by these new rules equally. Here’s a quick overview of who will be most impacted:
College/Polytechnic diploma or certificate graduates (including post-grad certificates) must now pass the field-of-study screen and meet CLB/NCLC 5—a dual filter that didn’t exist before.
Students in public-private partnership (P3/curriculum licensing) programs who started after the cutoff dates are now mainly ineligible.
Students who will spend a significant portion of their studies online or outside of Canada after August 31, 2024 will also be affected. Outside-Canada time now reduces PGWP length, and at least 50% must be in class in Canada for those with newer lock-in dates.
Master’s graduates: are positively impacted. They can now obtain a 3-year PGWP regardless of program length (as long as it is at least 8 months, which is still the minimum program length to qualify for a PGWP in the first place).
Learn More: Millions of International Student Visas Are Expiring in Canada This Year: Here’s What It Means for You
Action Plan for Students Nearing Graduation
If you are a student whose graduation date is coming up soon, here is what we recommend you do:
Confirm that your school and program are PGWP-eligible. Use the Designated Learning Institution (DLI) list, and if you’re in a non-degree program, confirm your CIP code is on the eligible fields page. DLIs often list CIP codes on their sites. If in doubt, ask your registrar.
Book your language test early. Scheduling your language test well in advance will ensure that delays do not risk your PGWP eligibility.
Protect your status while waiting for final marks. If your study permit will expire before you receive grades, either apply for a visitor record or depart and apply from outside Canada. Do not let status lapse; if it does, you’ll need to restore your status and pay extra fees.
Apply within 180 days, and only online. Remember, flagpoling is no longer allowed for a PGWP.
Check your passport expiry. Your PGWP won’t be issued past your passport expiry date. Renew early so you get your full entitlement. If you receive a shortened PGWP, you can extend it by paper after renewing your passport.
Line up documents up front. Plan to include your proof of completion, transcripts, proof of full-time studies, language results, and field-of-study proof if required. IRCC’s Get the right documents page spells this out.
When Do You Need a Medical Exam for a PGWP?
A medical exam is not required for every PGWP, but is required if you plan to work in certain jobs (e.g., health care, child care, or primary/secondary education) or if you’ve lived in specific countries for six months or more in the last year.
Completing an upfront medical exam with an approved Panel Physician can also ensure that your permit is not issued with job restrictions. For example, not having taken a medical exam might mean that you are not authorized to work in sectors like child care/health services.
If your current document has such restrictions, complete a medical and apply to change conditions.
When you take your Immigration Medical Exam (IME) through PanelPhysician.ca, we provide the following benefits and considerations:
Upfront IMEs scheduled quickly with results submitted via eMedical to IRCC.
IME results are valid for 12 months, so we’ll time your exam to avoid re-testing during processing. (IRCC has also extended a policy allowing some in-Canada applicants to reuse IMEs completed within the last 5 years when certain conditions are met).
Proof of completion (we provide the document/IME number you upload with your online application if IRCC requests it).
If you know you want to work in a healthcare/childcare/school setting, you may want to book your medical exam before filing the PGWP so your permit arrives without occupation restrictions.
Learn More: How to Prepare For Your Immigration Medical Exam in 2025
Staying on Top of Changes Helps You Protect Your Status
For applications filed in 2025, the most important shifts in PGWP policy are the language requirement and the field-of-study filter for many non-degree programs, as well as ongoing limits on PPP-delivered programs and distance learning. Master’s grads remain clear winners with a 3-year PGWP.
It is strongly advised that all PGWP applicants start the process as early as possible. Verify your DLI and CIP, book your language test, protect your status, and—if you’ll work with children, patients, or in schools—book an upfront medical exam so your permit can be issued without restrictions.
