67,000 Foreigners In Canada Risk Disqualification As New Work Permit Rules Unveils

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has published a list of 966 academic programs that qualify only students in agriculture, agri-food, healthcare, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), skilled trades, and transportation for a Work Permit.

These new work permit regulations will take effect in November 2024.

Out of the 105,030 international graduates who received work permits this year, at least 67,000 may not meet the new criteria if they studied outside the specified fields.

This estimate comes from a report by The Toronto Star, which noted that 64% of the postgraduate work permits were awarded to international graduates from colleges.

Graduates in business studies accounted for 42% of the permits, while those in STEM fields made up 37%, and computing and IT represented 16%. Only 1% of permits were issued to graduates in skilled trades.

Under the revised work permit rules, foreign students must concentrate on certain fields of study to be eligible for Canada’s post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

Students who apply for or already possess a study permit before the new regulations are implemented will still qualify for a PGWP under the current rules.

However, those applying on or after the effective date will encounter stricter requirements, including the need to study in specific fields to be eligible for the PGWP.

Graduates from university degree programs are exempt from these new restrictions and will continue to qualify for PGWPs of up to three years without needing to adhere to field-specific criteria.

These changes underscore the importance for international students to carefully choose their fields of study to ensure they qualify for work permits in Canada.

The criteria for determining the eligible programs remain unclear, but IRCC indicated that it would be based on long-term labor shortages in the Canadian economy, similar to the criteria used in the Express Entry category-based selection process.

An IRCC representative noted that the policy was developed with input from various stakeholders, including provinces, territories, and other partners.

However, the new rules have faced significant backlash from the education sector, which argues that these changes could restrict opportunities for international students.

Marketa Evans, president and CEO of Colleges Ontario, expressed her concerns in an open letter to IRCC Minister Marc Miller on September 27, highlighting the lack of consultation with provinces and the reliance on national labor market data to address local employer needs.

Evans urged the federal government to engage in discussions with provinces to align the new policy with regional employment requirements.

Pari Johnston, President and CEO of Colleges and Institutes Canada, echoed Evans’ sentiments.

“Ottawa’s decision to align programmes with national needs creates a fundamental disconnect between the pressing needs of local labour markets and the essential contributions of skilled international graduates,” Johnston said, as reported by ICEF Monitor.