Canada Maintains Post-Graduation Work Permit Eligible Courses for 2026

Canadian immigration authorities have confirmed that the list of academic programmes eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will remain unchanged throughout 2026, offering clarity and stability to international students planning their studies and career pathways.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that no new courses will be added and none removed from the existing eligibility list during the year. The decision effectively freezes the field-of-study requirements reviewed and updated in 2025.

Under the policy, applicants must ensure that the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) code attached to their course appears on the current list of eligible programmes at the time they submit either a study permit or a PGWP application.

As a result, the 1,107 approved programmes, largely concentrated in skilled trades, healthcare, and science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), will continue to qualify without alteration in 2026.

The move follows a major review carried out in 2025, which primarily affected college-level programmes. University degree programmes were not impacted by that revision and remain outside the scope of the field-specific changes.

The PGWP allows international graduates of Canadian institutions to gain local work experience after completing their studies, a key step for many toward permanent residency and, ultimately, Canadian citizenship. The policy is expected to help students and institutions plan with greater certainty amid ongoing immigration reforms.