Canadian work permit

IRCC has provided updated information on which educational programs now qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).  As of new guidelines released in September, certain international graduates across various study levels who apply for a PGWP after November 1 will be required to meet additional criteria based on their field of study to qualify for the work permit*.  *Note: These field of study requirements do not apply to graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or PhD from a university.  Discover your options to study in Canada What are the fields of study eligible for PGWPs?  The eligible fields of study for PGWP align with occupational categories introduced by IRCC in 2023 under the Express Entry system, which are designed to reflect national labor market demands.  The eligible fields include:  Agriculture and Agri-food  Healthcare  Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)  Trades  Transportation  PGWP-eligible programs within these fields are classified and listed using the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP), which is Canada’s system for categorizing educational programs, similar to the National Occupational Classification (NOC) used for jobs in Canada.  The table below lists examples of instructional programs eligible for a PGWP in each field of study, along with their corresponding CIP codes:  CIP 2021 Title CIP 2021 Code Field of Study Category Agricultural business and management, general 01.0101 Agriculture and agri-food Animal/livestock husbandry and production 01.0302 Agriculture and agri-food Plant nursery operations and management 01.0606 Agriculture and agri-food Animal health 01.0903 Agriculture and agri-food Agronomy and crop science 01.1102 Agriculture and agri-food Special education and teaching, general 13.1001 Healthcare Exercise physiology 26.0908 Healthcare Physical therapy assistant 51.0806 Healthcare Polysomnography 51.0917 Healthcare Cytotechnology/cytotechnologist 51.1002 Healthcare Computer programming/programmer, general 11.0201 STEM Chemical engineering 14.0701 STEM Engineering mechanics 14.1101 STEM Water, wetlands and marine resources management 03.0205 STEM Computer graphics 11.0803 STEM Electrician 46.0302 Trade Heating, air conditioning, ventilation and refrigeration maintenance technology/technician 47.0201 Trade Machine tool technology/machinist 48.0501 Trade Insulator 46.0414 Trade Plumbing technology/plumber 46.0503 Trade Heavy equipment maintenance technology/technician 47.0302 Transport Air traffic controller 49.0105 Transport Truck and bus driver/commercial vehicle operator and instructor 49.0205 Transport Flight instructor 49.0108 Transport Transportation and materials moving, other 49.9999 Transport How to find your CIP code  International graduates who know the title of their program and wish to find the corresponding CIP code can follow these steps:  Visit the Statistics Canada webpage for the 2021 CIP system (accessible here).  Either enter keywords related to the program in the search bar above the table or browse the available study fields listed in the table.  Both methods will lead to a second table that breaks down the sub-categories for each study field.  Choose the relevant sub-category for your program. If uncertain, use the “display definitions” button to learn more about each category.  Proceed to the relevant sub-category.  On the final table, you will find detailed information about specific instructional programs within the chosen sub-category. If you are unsure, use the “display definitions” function to read more about each program.  Select the relevant program.  The last page will offer detailed information about each instructional program, including examples and exclusions. Note that program titles are general, so the descriptions are crucial for choosing the correct CIP code.  New language requirements for PGWP applicants  In addition to the new field of study conditions, IRCC has introduced language proficiency requirements for PGWP eligibility. These language criteria vary based on the level of education of international graduates. Both changes are summarized in the table below.  Level of Study Language Requirement Field of Study Requirement University bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 language areas All fields of study are eligible Any other university program CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in all 4 language areas Must graduate in an eligible field of study College program or any other program not listed above CLB 5 in English or NCLC 5 in French in all 4 language areas Must graduate in an eligible field of study *Students applying for a PGWP before November 1 of this year do not have field of study requirements but will still need to meet the language criteria listed above. Discover your options to study in Canada

Three Canadian provinces have extended invitations to candidates this week to apply for their respective Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).  The PNP, established in 1998, aims to distribute the benefits of immigration more evenly across Canada by sharing immigration responsibilities between the federal government and provincial or territorial governments.  Today, the PNP is a key pathway for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada.  Discover your options to study in Canada Although a provincial nomination doesn’t automatically result in permanent residency (PR), it significantly boosts a candidate’s application. Those in the Express Entry pool who receive a provincial nomination are awarded an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, almost ensuring they will receive an invitation to apply (ITA) in a future Express Entry draw.  Provincial Immigration Results: October 5-11 Ontario  On October 8, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) sent out invitations to candidates eligible for the Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream.  A total of 885 invitations were issued to individuals in skilled trades, with a minimum score requirement of 48.  Additionally, the province invited 841 candidates in a targeted draw under the same stream for priority occupations. To qualify for an invitation, candidates needed a minimum score of 52 and a job offer in a priority occupation. The list of priority occupations, categorized by NOC code, can be found here.  British Columbia  Also on October 8, the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) invited over 173 candidates through the Skilled Worker and International Graduate streams.  The minimum cut-off varied according to industry. The breakdown can be seen below:  Draw type Minimum score Number of invitations Childcare 83 44 Construction 89 25 Healthcare 99 21 Tech 116 83 Veterinary care 80 <5 Manitoba  On October 10, the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) held three separate draws.  The first draw, part of an occupation-specific selection under the Skilled Worker in Manitoba stream, issued 82 invitations to individuals who completed post-secondary education in Manitoba, with a minimum score requirement of 845 points.  On the same day, 114 candidates were invited through the International Education stream.  Lastly, the MPNP held a draw under the Skilled Worker Overseas stream, inviting 38 individuals with a minimum score of 711. Candidates had to be invited by the MPNP under a “Strategic Recruitment Initiative” to be eligible for this draw.  Discover your options to study in Canada