Canada’s Post-Graduate Work Permit Cuts in 2025: What It Means for International Students
Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs)
Canada is set to issue significantly fewer Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) to international students in 2025, with numbers projected to drop by nearly one-third compared to 2024. This sharp decline follows new federal policies aimed at reducing the temporary resident population by tightening eligibility for international graduates.
What is the PGWP?
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit that allows eligible international students who graduate from designated Canadian institutions to gain work experience in Canada. It enables graduates to work for any employer, in any field, and anywhere in the country.
For many, the PGWP is more than just a job opportunity—it’s a crucial step toward permanent residency, particularly through pathways like Express Entry. The permit length depends on the duration of the completed program, up to a maximum of three years.
What’s Changing?
In 2025, only 143,600 PGWPs are expected to be issued—down from 205,117 in 2024. From January to June 2025, just 75,000 applications were approved, a 29% decrease compared to the same period last year. The steepest declines occurred in May and June, with approvals dropping by over 56%.
The drop is tied to new Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) rules, including:
Higher language proficiency requirements
Exclusion of graduates from joint public-private college programs
Field-of-study limitations for non-degree programs
Increased scrutiny of business and general studies programs
These measures aim to reduce the number of temporary residents and raise the standard of international education.
A Closer Look at the Impact
While these changes may improve oversight and policy consistency, they also have serious consequences. Many international students—especially those from non-degree and joint college programs—now face limited post-graduation opportunities.
This not only disrupts their personal and professional plans but also impacts Canadian employers who depend on skilled international graduates to fill labor gaps.
Conclusion: A Risk to Canada’s Global Appeal
By sharply limiting access to PGWPs, Canada risks damaging its reputation as a welcoming destination for international talent. The policy may reduce strain on the system in the short term, but the long-term cost—lost talent, diminished diversity, and reduced economic contribution—could be far greater. Canada must find a more balanced approach that protects both system integrity and opportunity.
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