PGWP CHANGES : 2024 UPDATE

Changes have taken place to the post-graduation work permit program (PGWP). Starting February 15, 2024, students who have graduated from a master’s degree program, even if it is less than 2 years, are eligible for a 3-year PGWP if they meet all other eligibility criteria. 

Starting May 15, 2024, students beginning curriculum licensing agreement programs will not be eligible for a PGWP.

IRCC has revised the dates of eligibility cut off date to May 15, 2024.

The special measures (reduced facilitation) for distance learning and PGWP validity have been extended to August 31, 2024.

On January 22, 2024, IRCC confirmed that international graduates of college programs delivered through a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement would no longer be eligible for a post-graduation work permit. 

This change will take effect on May 15, 2024, rather than the previously announced date of September 1, 2024. This means that international students who begin this type of program on May 15, 2024, or later will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit when they graduate.

Curriculum licensing agreements

Curriculum licensing agreements allow students to graduate from a program that was delivered by a private career college on behalf of a public PGWP-eligible institution. These programs are not PGWP-eligible unless a student meets the criteria for one of the exceptions below:

Exception 1: Curriculum licensing agreements between provinces/territories (cross-jurisdictional)

• Students who began a program of study at a private college being delivered on behalf of a public college in another province/territory on or before January 31, 2023, may be eligible for a PGWP. They must also meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.
• Students beginning these cross-jurisdictional programs on or after February 1, 2023 are not eligible for a PGWP.
• For example, a student enrolled in a cross-jurisdictional curriculum program on September 1, 2022, and finalized their program in May 2024. They would remain eligible for a PGWP because they were enrolled before January 31, 2023.
• Students who have completed their cross-jurisdictional program and submitted an application for a PGWP on or before January 31, 2023, continue to be eligible.
• For example, a student completed their program under a cross-jurisdictional curriculum program on October 31, 2022. They must have applied for their PGWP on or before January 31, 2023, to be eligible.
• Students must continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.

Exception 2: Curriculum licensing agreements within the same province

• • Students who began a program of study at a private college being delivered on behalf of a public college in the same province before May 15, 2024, may be eligible for a PGWP. They must also meet all other program eligibility criteria.
  • For example, a student who began a program of study under a curriculum licensing agreement program on May 14, 2024, may be eligible for a PGWP. Students must continue to meet all other eligibility criteria.

No exceptions: Students beginning curriculum licensing agreement programs on or after May 15, 2024, will not be eligible for a PGWP.

Source: IRCC Program Delivery Update: