More programs are eligible for the PGWP

This year, 2025, the opportunities to work in Canada and qualify for permanent residency through the Education program are expanded, adding to the five occupation-based categories in short supply for Express Entry. 

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In this blog, you will learn about the programs linked to the Education field of study, their requirements and the corresponding CIP codes that will lead you to obtain the Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP). 

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Read with me to the end and find out if you are close to making your study trip to Canada. Let's get started!

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Education: the sixth category for the PGWP

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As of December 17, 2024, certain programs linked to early childhood education as well as developmental service workers to assist people with a variety of physical, mental or developmental disabilities in a family or community setting are eligible for the PGWP. An Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) measure that expands the range of opportunities for international students in a field of study linked to occupations in demand due to worker shortages in the country. 

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Now the list of Express Entry categories based on these occupations will look like this:

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1. Agriculture and agri-food.
2. Health care.
3. Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
4. Trade.
5. Transportation.
6. Early Childhood Education.

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Express Entry is Canada's fast-track entry system, which, among others, offers the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who wish to gain Canadian work experience and then transition to permanent residency.

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However, in order to obtain the Post-Graduation Work Permit, the international graduate must have completed a program eligible for such permit, only then will he/she be able to work legally in the country and meet the minimum year of qualifying experience required by the CEC program to compete in the Express Entry system and apply for permanent residency in Canada.

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What are the new PGWP-eligible programs?

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The new Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligible programs are as follows, take note and evaluate if they match your studies or vocation to expand your chances of changing immigration status in Canada!

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What is the CIP 2021 code?

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In Canada, instructional programs by field of study are classified hierarchically according to the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP). The IPC is handled by codes that provide a detailed description of the types of instructional program and provide illustrative examples of the different types of instructional programs. 

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The CIP 2021 code is the series of numbers that identifies the instructional program and its description adapted to the Canadian Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) 2021 Version 1.0.

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In the table above, you can review the link for each CIP 2021 code and further information related to the correlative academic title.

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Field of study requirements 

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The requirements for the field of study apply to international students graduating from university and university vocational programs. 

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Those students who applied for study permits before November 1, 2024 do not need to meet the field of study requirements. If for some reason they apply for a new study permit after this date, because they decided to change their program or educational institution, then they must comply with the field of study requirement.

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It is important to clarify that these requirements do not apply to university graduates with bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. If you have any doubts, you can write to Immiland's education department at education@immilandcanada.com or schedule an appointment for specialized educational counseling.

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Recommendations for taking advantage of the PGWP and transitioning to permanent residency

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Working in Canada after graduation is a good opportunity to gain qualified experience for at least one year and accumulate points to compete in the Express Entry system and its Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, but it is important for the student to know that the duration of the selected program of study will determine the duration of the PGWP and this can vary between eight months and three years, so it is necessary to manage periods of validity and expiration of their associated documentation for each immigration process. 

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In addition, it is advisable to achieve a good level of English and French, as in 2024 the department also implemented language requirements for PGWP eligibility and it is important for the student to know what CLB score is required according to their level of study. 

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For any questions related to education, remember that you can consult an Immiland education advisor at this link: https://www.immilandcanada.com/educacion/asesoria-vocacional. For a consultation on the transition to permanent residency, you can request an immigration appointment here.

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That's as far as I'll go with you for today. I hope you will take advantage of the benefits of this new category to study in Canada and obtain the Post-Graduation Work Permit. 

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Thanks for reading to the end - see you in an upcoming blog!

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With love,

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Immiland Canada Education