Canada immigration authorities' removal of eligible occupations for the "Canadian Experience Class" (CEC) has caused further concern among international students, who fear that the immigration department might cancel the eligibility for post-graduation work permits for students in programs related to the removed occupations. In response to these concerns, the immigration department recently confirmed that the regulations for issuing post-secondary post-graduation work permits are not affected by the reduction in occupations. As long as the program of study at a post-secondary institution exceeds 8 months, students are eligible to apply for a work permit, though the validity period of the work permit depends on the duration of the program, consistent with current regulations.
On the 8th of this month, the immigration department removed all six categories of occupations previously eligible for CEC, including cooks, food service supervisors, administrative officers, administrative assistants, accounting technicians and bookkeepers, and retail sales supervisors. Cooks have historically been the top occupation for CEC applications, and these fields are among the easiest for local university business and accounting graduates to enter.
Regarding whether the policy for post-secondary post-graduation work permits will change in the future, immigration department spokesperson Sonia Lesage pointed out that the regulations for post-secondary post-graduation work permits will not change. Even with the implementation of new study permit measures starting next year, there are no plans to change the standards for post-secondary post-graduation work permits.
She emphasized that anyone who studies full-time at a Canadian post-secondary institution for a period of 8 months or more is eligible to apply for an open work permit after graduation that does not require an employer. As for the duration of the work permit, it depends on the length of the program of study. The current measures will not change, meaning that those who study for more than two years can receive a work permit valid for up to three years, allowing them to gain the work experience required for future immigration applications.
She stated that the standards for issuing post-secondary post-graduation work permits mainly depend on whether the student's program is a full-time degree, diploma, or certificate program, and that the duration of study must exceed 8 months; those studying for less than 8 months are ineligible to apply.