Work Permit in Canada: The rules of Canada’s work permit are going to change soon, which can have a profound impact on Indians. Canada has made many major changes to its Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules, which will come into effect from November 1.
These regulations state that a minimum CLB score of 7 is now mandatory, and results from exams such as CELPIP, IELTS and PTE CORE will be accepted.
Priority will be given to people in sectors where Canada has a long-standing workforce shortage, such as agriculture, agri-food, health, science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), trade and transportation. A new set of rules is being added to the existing rules. Candidates must complete their education at identified eligible postgraduate institutions for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The new rules are part of the Canadian government’s strategy to reduce the number of foreign students to 10 per cent.
Apart from English, you will have to learn these languages
It is believed that according to the new rules, not just English but French language will also be mandatory for getting a job in Canada. The Canadian government is preparing its own standards to check language proficiency. To get a job, the candidate will have to prove his ability to read, write, listen and speak these languages.
What will be the impact of the new rules on Indian students?
Canada is one of the favorite places for Indian students where the number of Indian students can be seen in majority in both colleges and universities. According to the 2022 report of the Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE), 319,130 Indian students were registered in Canada. From January to June 2024, this figure is 1 lakh. The number of people working and students in Canada is expected to increase from 4,37,000 in 2019 to 1.2 million in 2023.
Difficulties will increase for Indians
Canada has been seen as an alternative to the US for many Indians due to its favorable immigration policy. However, recent changes are likely to come as a big shock to Indians. Over the past decade or so, Canada has emerged as one of the most preferred destinations for Indian immigrants, with many choosing temporary work permits to obtain permanent residency (PR). The new restrictions will slow down the ambitions of Indians and make it more difficult for Indian students to obtain PR.
Case study
Arvind Meena became a permanent resident of Canada (PR) about one and a half years ago. After studying from IIM-B (Indian Institute of Management Bangalore) in India, he worked for a few years in India’s top bank, after which he decided to go to Canada. After getting PR, he also got a good job in Canada, but now he fears that he will face difficulty in bringing his fiancée to Canada after marriage. Meena got married after this rule was introduced, so whether the spouse of the person getting PR will also get concession or not is not clear from the rules at the moment.
Meena’s future wife has returned to India after studying in London and is interested in working in Canada in the future but since she does not know French, she is worried about how she will manage her life in Canada if she does not get a job due to her lack of French proficiency. Kareena (name changed) says, “I will only be able to get a tourist visa for now and it is difficult to say whether I will be able to convert it into a work visa or not because it is difficult to get a work visa. If there is no relaxation in the rules given at present, then I will be able to stay with my husband in Canada for only 3 months i.e. as a guest.”
Swati says that according to the rules in force today, I have got first division in every subject but since I do not know French, it will be difficult and a struggle for me to go to Canada. I was preparing to go to Canada for many years and now when everything was in my favor, such a rule is going to come which can cause problems for many students like me.
What does the Canadian government say?
In a post on X, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the government is granting 35 per cent fewer international student permits this year. And next year, “that number will drop by another 10%.” According to recent data released by the Indian government, about 13.35 lakh Indian students are studying abroad, of which about 4,27,000 are studying and studying in Canada.
The Canadian government aims to reduce the number of low-paid, temporary foreign workers and is also reducing the duration of their work. According to Trudeau, “We have made changes to our programs after the COVID pandemic, but the labor market has changed. We need businesses to invest in Canadian businesses..”
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