Whether you are a current or a future student, review the date of your study permit application or study permit extension application to understand if your program will be impacted by the field of study requirements introduced by IRCC.
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Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility updates
Important update from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
On September 18, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) provided an update on new policies regarding study permits (or student visas) and Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) for international students.
This announcement outlines changes to PGWP requirements, including demonstration of English or French language proficiency and program eligibility for those applying for a PGWP on or after November 1, 2024.
If you applied for a study permit prior to November 1, 2024 all full-time academic programs are eligible for a PGWP.
If you applied or will apply for a study permit or study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024, your eligibility for a PGWP may depend on your program of study and meeting the minimum language proficiency now required by the government (CLB5 for college graduates). IRCC has published a list of programs with a field of study requirement. You can view the list of Seneca programs that are eligible for a PGWP. This list will continue to be updated.
We are here to support you and have prepared an FAQ page based on what we know so far. More information will be added as it becomes available.
You can also join our Ask Us Webinar to learn more or connect with The Service Hub.
Last updated: Monday, November 18, 2024
Important Dates for PGWP Eligibility
| Date of Seneca study permit application | Eligible for PGWP? |
|---|---|
Before November 1, 2024 | All full-time academic programs |
On or after November 1, 2024 | Limited programs |
| Date of study permit extension application | Eligible for PGWP? |
|---|---|
Before November 1, 2024 | All full-time academic programs |
On or after November 1, 2024*
|
All full-time academic programs |
*If you require a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024, to study a different program or at a different DLI than was indicated on the original Letter of Acceptance (LOA) submitted to IRCC when you applied for your study permit, your PGWP may be negatively impacted.
Additional guidance will be provided by IRCC in the coming weeks. For advisement on PGWP eligibility, connect with an immigration specialist by contacting theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca or current students can book an appointment by logging in to The Service Hub and visiting the My Services tab.
Studying from outside of Canada and Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has provided important updates regarding your ability to study online from your home country, depending on when you start your program and how your courses are delivered. These temporary policy changes for PGWP eligibility and studying online ended on Aug. 31, 2024. Time spent studying outside of Canada from September 1, 2024, onwards will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
New international students starting in September 2024 and onwards
Program and course delivery information for each program is available on our program pages.
To be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for the full duration, you must:
- be in Canada for the complete duration of your studies from September 1, 2024, onwards. Time spent studying outside of Canada from September 1, 2024, onwards will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
- attend at least 50 per cent of your program in class and meet all other PGWP requirements. In class options include in-person, hybrid, and flexible courses. For flexible courses, you must plan to attend your class on campus.
- If you have a study permit, or you have applied for a study permit before November 1, 2024, you will be eligible for a PGWP if you:
- meet the minimum language proficiency now required by IRCC, which is a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 (CLB5) for college graduates and meet all other PGWP requirements.
- If you apply for a study permit on or after November 1, 2024, you will be eligible for a PGWP if you:
- meet the minimum language proficiency now required by IRCC, which is a Canadian Language Benchmark 5 (CLB5) for college graduates, meet all other PGWP requirements and if your program meets the field of study requirement by IRCC. You can view the list of Seneca programs that are PGWP-eligible. This list will continue to be updated.
- If you require a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024 to begin a new program, your new program must meet the field of study requirement.
- If you require a study permit extension on or after November 1, 2024 to continue or complete the same program indicated in your Letter of Acceptance (LOA), you will remain eligible for a PGWP even if your program does not meet the field of study requirement.
For advisement on PGWP eligibility, connect with an immigration specialist by contacting theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca or current students can book an appointment by logging in to The Service Hub and visiting the My Services tab.
If you have not received your study permit approval before the start of your term, we invite you to reach out to theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca with the subject line "Travel to Canada" to discuss your options.
International Students who started their studies prior to September 2024
Time spent studying outside of Canada after September 1, 2024, will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
- Review how studying from outside of Canada prior to September 1, 2024 impacted your PGWP eligibility if you were enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program between September 1, 2022 and September 1, 2024
- Review how studying from outside of Canada prior to September 1, 2024, impacted your PGWP eligibility if you were enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program in March 2020 or started your program between March 2020 and August 31, 2022.
- If you have questions around PGWP eligibility, connect with an immigration specialist by contacting theservicehub@senecapolytechnic.ca or current students can book an appointment by logging in to The Service Hub and visiting the My Services tab.