Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a freeze on updating the list of educational programs eligible for the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) in 2026.

IRCC confirmed this decision through a recent website update on January 15, 2026, stating that no new fields of study will be added or removed for the remainder of the year.

The government’s initial plans to overhaul the eligible programs in early 2026 have been put on hold.

In 2024, IRCC implemented a field-of-study requirement for certain post-secondary graduates applying for a PGWP. This rule mandates that international students must have completed an educational program linked to occupations facing long-term labor shortages to qualify for a PGWP.

A PGWP is an open work permit that allows eligible graduates to work in Canada and gain valuable Canadian work experience, often a crucial step for those seeking permanent residence.

The field-of-study requirement primarily applies to programs below the bachelor’s level, such as certificate-level credentials. Graduates with a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree are exempt from this requirement.

Impact of the 2026 Freeze on Students

For international students considering studying and working in Canada, the freeze offers clarity on which programs can lead to a PGWP post-graduation.

Currently, IRCC’s list comprises 1,107 PGWP-eligible educational programs, mainly in sectors like healthcare, education, trades, agriculture, STEM, and transport.

Students completing college or non-degree programs should ensure their program is included on the eligible list if they plan to apply for a PGWP.

Verifying Eligible Educational Programs

Students from non-degree programs must verify IRCC’s list of eligible Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) codes before submitting a study permit or PGWP application.

A CIP code is a six-digit number used to categorize post-secondary programs by discipline. The complete list of eligible CIP codes for a PGWP can be found here.

Background: PGWP Changes in 2025

In June 2025, IRCC announced revisions to the educational programs that could lead to a PGWP. These changes saw 119 new fields of study becoming eligible, while 178 were removed.

In July, the government temporarily halted the removal of programs from PGWP eligibility until the next update, anticipated in early 2026.