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PGWP Field-of-Study Restrictions for College Graduates
Effective: November 1, 2024 (initial); list amended June 25, 2025; bachelor exemption March 2025; list frozen January 2026
TL;DR
Non-degree college graduates must now graduate from a program in one of five priority fields (agriculture/agri-food, healthcare, STEM, trades, transport). Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD graduates are exempt. The eligible-CIP-code list was frozen for 2026.
What changed
- College diploma/certificate students need a CIP code on the eligible list.
- Bachelor's, Master's, PhD graduates exempt regardless of field.
- Eligible-program list amended June 2025; frozen for 2026.
Who is affected
College diploma/certificate students who applied for study permits on or after Nov 1, 2024.
Source: View on canada.ca →
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