Canada Freezes List of Fields Eligible for Post-Graduation Work Permit

Canada Freezes PGWP-Eligible Programs List for 2026

Big news for international students: Canada won’t be updating its list of programs that qualify for post-graduation work permits this year.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced the freeze on January 15, 2026. This means no new fields of study will be added or removed for the rest of 2026.

This is a change from what the government said before. Back in 2025, they indicated they would overhaul the eligible programs in “early 2026.”

What Is a PGWP and Why Does It Matter?

A Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is an open work permit. It lets eligible graduates work anywhere in Canada and gain Canadian work experience.

For many international students, this work experience is a crucial step toward permanent residence.

Since 2024, IRCC has required some graduates to meet field-of-study requirements. Basically, some students must complete programs linked to occupations facing long-term labour shortages.

Here’s the key detail: The field-of-study requirement applies mainly to programs below the bachelor’s level. That includes certificate-level credentials.

If you graduate with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree, you’re exempt from this requirement.

What This Freeze Means for Students

The freeze actually provides some good news. It gives students certainty about which programs lead to a PGWP after graduation.

Right now, IRCC’s list includes 1,107 PGWP-eligible educational programs.

Which Sectors Are Covered?

The eligible programs mostly fall within these sectors:

• Healthcare and social services
• Education
• Trades
• Agriculture
• STEM
• Transport

If you’re planning to attend a college or non-degree program, check that your program is on the eligible list.

How to Check If Your Program Qualifies

Students in non-degree programs need to check IRCC’s list of eligible Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes.

A CIP code is a six-digit number. It’s used to classify post-secondary programs by discipline.

You must check this list before submitting a study permit application or PGWP application.

You can find the complete list of eligible CIP codes on IRCC’s website.

What Happened in 2025

Let’s back up a bit to understand how we got here.

In June 2025, IRCC announced it would revise which educational programs could lead to a PGWP. Those changes added 119 new fields of study. At the same time, 178 fields were removed.

But then in July, the government hit pause. They delayed the removal of programs until the next update, which they said would come in “early 2026.”

That meant all 178 programs that were “removed” in June 2025 actually stayed eligible for the rest of 2025. And now with the 2026 freeze, they’ll continue to be eligible until the end of this year.

After the 2025 revisions, the total number of PGWP-eligible programs grew from 920 to 1,107.

The Bottom Line

International students now have stability for their 2026 planning. The list of eligible programs won’t change until at least 2027.

If you’re considering studying in Canada, now is a good time to confirm your chosen program qualifies for a PGWP.