Canada’s graduate work permit policy
Canada’s graduate work permit policy for international students may see major changes
In order to control the number of international students, Canadian Immigration Minister Marc Miller recently hinted that the regulations for foreign students to obtain Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) will be revised soon.
The Immigration Department distributed a questionnaire to major Canadian universities to give people a rough idea of what the new rules might include.
Post-graduation work permit may not be available for all majors
Under the proposed new rules, international students’ majors will be coded according to Canada’s National Occupational Classification, which will show which majors are in-demand jobs in Canada where long-term labour shortages are expected.
For example, to become a carpenter, you can study one of the following three majors: building technician, carpentry, and wood work.
A questionnaire obtained by the Toronto Star shows that the proposed reform of post-graduation work permits for international students will link eligibility for work permits to labour market demand, while reducing the overall number of post-graduation work permit holders and increasing the likelihood that international students will find professionally relevant jobs in the job market and put their knowledge into practice.
Open work permits may become a thing of the past
For more than a decade, international students have been able to study in any university program in Canada and qualify for an open work permit upon graduation, meaning they can obtain a work permit after graduation regardless of whether their major and program are related to Canada’s economic needs.
While obtaining work permits has made Canada a top destination for foreign students, the policy has also been blamed for leading to runaway growth in international student enrolments.
The surge in international students has prompted the immigration department to implement a two-year cap on international student numbers, reduce the number of new study permits issued and limit the number of hours per week that international students can work off-campus while studying.
The eight-question questionnaire is awaited by immigration officials who are awaiting feedback from colleges and universities across the country on the prospects of international students finding jobs in in-demand industries after graduation under their respective provinces’ immigration selection programs.
The ability for international students to obtain an open work permit in Canada after graduation has always been a strong motivation for people to study in Canada, as the Canadian immigration system increasingly attracts immigrant applicants who are already in Canada to become permanent residents. The Immigration Department also rewards those who have Canadian education credentials and work experience, who will receive extra points when applying for immigration.
Experts say controlling post-graduation work permit eligibility for international students could be an effective tool for Ottawa to achieve its goals, including restoring the integrity of international education programs, improving the quality of permanent resident applicants and aligning their studies with labour force needs.
The last major change to the post-graduation work permit program was in April 2008, allowing recent graduates to obtain an open work permit for up to three years, depending on the length of their course, with no restrictions on where they could study and no requirement to have found a job.
