Canada expands post-graduation work permit eligibility for international students

The recent announcement by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) removes the previous restriction, which required students to select from a limited list of 966 specific fields.

"This change is advantageous for college students," said Vu Thi Hai Anh, an immigration expert at Algonquin College in Ottawa.

Canada remains one of the top destinations for international students, second only to the United States.

In 2023, the country hosted over 1.04 million international students, marking a 20% increase from the previous year. Indian students accounted for 41% of this population, followed by Chinese students at 10%. Approximately 70% of these students aim to secure work permits upon graduation.

Tuition at Canadian colleges averages around CA$20,000 (US$13,856) per year, whereas universities often exceed CA$30,000 annually.

Canada aims to issue 437,000 study permits this year, a decrease of 10% compared to the previous year.