“Find out about new post-study work visa rules coming into effect in Canada on November 1, 2024: the required language proficiency levels and required areas of study. Learn how these changes impact PGWP eligibility and what international students should be aware of to work in Canada right after graduating.”

The post-study work visa rules of Canada changed recently. The new policy started on November 1, 2024, with the introduction of requirements for international students who will remain in Canada after graduating. IRCC added the following two additional requirements: language proficiency standards and field-of-study requirements in post-graduation work permit application requirements. This would modify the PGWP in Canada in light of the labour market within that country. In addition, new students entering the labor market from universities must attain a set level of language proficiency and expertise.

Below, the article breaks down the major aspects of the reforms and gives advice on how one can comply with the requirements: as an existing Canadian student or as a would-be student looking to access the country for a study program.

New Canada Work Visa Rules: Language Proficiency Requirements

Language proficiency is now a requirement for all PGWP applicants. If English or French is your first language, or if it is your second language, Canada now requires international students to submit recent language test results to prove their language skills. This will help Canadian employers evaluate a candidate’s readiness in the job market.

Accepted Language Tests

This translates to:

-CELPIP, IELTS, and PTE Core in English.

-For French, one is advised to sit TEF Canada and TCF Canada tests

Applicants will further be required to produce proof of four core competencies in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

The test should have been done not more than two years ago.

One more sensitive topic that the change in the rules of Canada work visa raised concerns is the field-of-study requirement. According to IRCC, Canada has positioned several fields associated with long-term labor shortages that should be considered first. These are the sectors with high demands on skilled manpower and projected to be the future demands within the coming years.

Eligible Fields of Study for the PGWP

Agriculture and Agri-food

Health-care

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics)

Trades (such as carpentry, welding, etc.)

Transport

For international students, this means choosing a program that falls within one of the sectors listed above as one way to get the PGWP. Choosing a course under these priority areas would increase the chances of requirements being met for post-study work, improving jobs in Canada’s expanding sectors.

Eligibility: General Requirements

That is to say, new regulations maintain most of broad requirements for the PGWP. Applicants, for instance, must undertake studies in a DLI located within Canada and remain as full-time while undertaking the studies. Aside from this, the application is qualified only if submitted after at least 180 days after completing their studies. At such time, within 180 days, they still remained on valid study permits at some point.

Why These Changes in the Canada Student Visa Policies Matter

The new, streamlined post-study visa regime of Canada is going to help graduates give back to the economy of this great nation by filling the roles whose talent demand is high. Says Professor Ritu Mehta, chairperson of placements at a Canadian university. “These changes help one recalculate managerial and specialist roles to align with those roles in the labor markets of Canada.”.

This new focus on language skills and fields of focus ensures that international students get the right level of qualification but will also have better-fit openings to fill in fields that are most needed for the economic development of Canada. IRCC wants to make it easier to enter the Canadian workforce after graduation by requiring certified language skills.

How to Qualify Under Canada’s New PGWP Criteria

In case you are an international student, here is a checklist that tells you whether you can meet the new standards of the post-study work visa policy in Canada.

1. Language Proficiency: A valid test within the past two years: CELPIP, IELTS, PTE Core (English) or TEF Canada and TCF Canada (French).
2. Field of Study: Is your course included in the priority courses list, such as health sciences, STEM or agriculture?.
3. General Eligibility under PGWP Verify if your institution is a DLI, if you are in full-time status, and have completed your study according to the terms of the PGWP program.

In case you take education outside of Canada, you ensure that you are taking courses which would position your studies in any of the priority fields established by Canada in order to qualify for new PGWP requirements.

Getting Ready for the New PGWP Standard of Canada

The future of those who wish to transition from Canadian studies into work will depend on their staying up-to-date and adapting to these updates. Here are a few practical steps to prepare:

1. Schedule Language Tests Early: Since test results must be recent, make sure you plan your test dates so they align with your expected graduation and PGWP application timeline.
2. Check Eligibility for Your Program: Before enrolling in a course, ensure that it is included in the list of requirements according to the new eligibility standards of PGWP.
3. Keep Looking: As the immigration policies of Canada tend to change with the requirements of the labor market of the country, follow the updates on the website of the IRCC.

The most recent updates of post-study visa rules in Canada emphasize language proficiency and in-demand fields of study for students who intend to work in Canada after graduation. Therefore, the requirements are set in place to ensure international graduates become more employable and better prepared to meet the needs of Canada’s workforce.

Changes would seem hard to cope with for most foreign students. Ultimately, though, the effect would be a softer absorption in the Canadian environment. For this reason, satisfying such conditions would give you stronger chances of getting jobs that more accurately fit your expectations in these high-priority sectors in Canada.

Choosing to support programs in keeping with these standards will better position investment in education toward the rising tide of immigration and employment that characterizes the future shape of Canada.