International students eyeing Canada can breathe easier: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) confirmed on 18 January 2026 that it will make no changes to the roster of academic programs that qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) this year. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)
The announcement ends weeks of speculation that Ottawa might tighten eligibility to curb abuse of the program and to address concerns over housing and labour-market capacity. In practical terms, students who have already applied—or are about to apply—for programs at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) can proceed without fear that their pathway to a three-year open work permit will disappear mid-study.
Need help turning that green light into an approved study permit? VisaHQ’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) walks applicants through every form, checks supporting documents and tracks processing in real time, making it easier to line up the paperwork you’ll need for both your studies and the PGWP that follows.
![IRCC freezes Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)-eligible course list for 2026]()
Why it matters for business: Canada increasingly relies on former international students to feed its talent pipeline. Roughly 42 % of all Express Entry invitations in 2025 went to PGWP holders, a cohort that employers favour for their Canadian education, work readiness and open-permit flexibility. Freezing the list means recruiters, especially in STEM fields and health care, can plan campus hiring with confidence.
For students, the message is clarity. They must still complete at least eight months of full-time study in an eligible program and apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving their final transcript. The freeze does not extend the duration of the permit, nor does it alter in-Canada processing times, which hovered around 17 days in January.
School administrators also benefit. DLIs can market their programs internationally without revising promotional material or refunding fees because of sudden rule changes. Analysts project that the status-quo decision will help Canadian institutions hold market share against the United Kingdom and Australia, both of which tightened post-study work rules in late 2025.
The announcement ends weeks of speculation that Ottawa might tighten eligibility to curb abuse of the program and to address concerns over housing and labour-market capacity. In practical terms, students who have already applied—or are about to apply—for programs at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) can proceed without fear that their pathway to a three-year open work permit will disappear mid-study.
Need help turning that green light into an approved study permit? VisaHQ’s Canada portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) walks applicants through every form, checks supporting documents and tracks processing in real time, making it easier to line up the paperwork you’ll need for both your studies and the PGWP that follows.
Why it matters for business: Canada increasingly relies on former international students to feed its talent pipeline. Roughly 42 % of all Express Entry invitations in 2025 went to PGWP holders, a cohort that employers favour for their Canadian education, work readiness and open-permit flexibility. Freezing the list means recruiters, especially in STEM fields and health care, can plan campus hiring with confidence.
For students, the message is clarity. They must still complete at least eight months of full-time study in an eligible program and apply for the PGWP within 180 days of receiving their final transcript. The freeze does not extend the duration of the permit, nor does it alter in-Canada processing times, which hovered around 17 days in January.
School administrators also benefit. DLIs can market their programs internationally without revising promotional material or refunding fees because of sudden rule changes. Analysts project that the status-quo decision will help Canadian institutions hold market share against the United Kingdom and Australia, both of which tightened post-study work rules in late 2025.
