Team of Boldvoices | 15 November 2026
Canada has frozen its list of eligible post-graduation work permit (PGWP) fields of study for 2026. Indian applicants considering a diploma or certificate should ask the school for the exact six-digit Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code before committing to tuition.
Who needs to check the list
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada exempts graduates of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from the field-of-study requirement. Other exceptions include people who applied for a study permit before 1 November 2024 and graduates of eligible flight schools. Where the requirement applies, the code must have been on the eligible list when the study permit or PGWP application was submitted.
How to screen two similar courses
Ask each institution for the campus, credential, intake, program duration and six-digit CIP code. Compare the code against the federal list on the relevant application date. Two colleges can market a course under the same name while reporting different codes. If a school cannot confirm the code or the program’s permit eligibility in writing, leave it off your shortlist until it can.
Language rules differ by credential
For a bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate, and generally for other university programs, the current minimum is CLB 7 in English or NCLC 7 in French in each of the four language skills. For college, polytechnic and other non-university programs, the general minimum is CLB 5 or NCLC 5 in each skill. Check the federal table for your credential, any exception, and which tests are accepted. An overall score on its own does not establish that all four skills meet the threshold.
How long the work permit could last
An eligible master’s program of at least eight months, or 900 hours in Quebec, can qualify for a three-year permit even if the program itself is under two years. For other eligible programs shorter than two years, the permit may be valid for up to the length of the program. An eligible program of at least two years can lead to a permit of up to three years. Passport expiry can shorten the permit. Build your budget around the duration your particular credential could support.
After graduation, put two dates in your calendar
The federal application page allows up to 180 days after graduation to apply. Record when your school first confirms completion and when your study permit expires. If your status expires before you file, a separate and shorter restoration deadline may apply. Check your authority to work while waiting before starting or continuing a job. Budget C$255 for the PGWP itself, with separate costs where restoration or other services apply.
Keep an application folder from the first semester
Save the admission and enrolment records, the school’s written program and CIP confirmation, your completion letter and transcript, and the relevant language evidence. Check full-time study requirements and whether any term or period outside Canada affects your eligibility. If your plan depends on working after graduation, make these checks before accepting the offer, while you can still switch programs.
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