Canada's immigration department has re-issued guidance on a rule that's been quietly costing international students their post-study work rights: lose full-time status, even briefly, and you can lose eligibility to work — and later, to get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The clarification lands as Indian students, Canada's largest source group, report a wave of PGWP refusals.
What happened
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) emphasized on July 28 that international students can only work during their studies while maintaining full-time enrolment at a designated learning institution (DLI) and complying with their study permit conditions, according to The Higher Education Review.
The guidance follows reports of PGWP refusals among international students — including Indians — who had switched to part-time studies or otherwise failed to meet academic requirements while still working. The article notes IRCC assesses "each application... individually based on the applicant's academic records and compliance with immigration regulations," meaning a single semester of part-time enrolment without an approved exemption can jeopardize both your ability to work now and your PGWP eligibility later.
IRCC also spelled out the penalties: working without proper authorization or breaching permit conditions can lead to removal from Canada, refusal of future applications, and in some cases a five-year ban on returning, per reporting summarized by ICEF Monitor.
Why it matters
Indian students make up one of the largest international student cohorts in Canada and lean heavily on part-time work to cover living costs. The rule itself isn't new, but the renewed emphasis — and the refusals prompting it — suggest IRCC is scrutinising compliance more closely than before. This comes on top of a separate, sharper trend: new IRCC data shows temporary resident arrivals to Canada fell nearly 70% in the first five months of 2026 versus the same period in 2024, with new international student arrivals down 83%, as Ottawa tightens study permit caps and PGWP eligibility across the board.
What this means for your trip
If you're heading to Canada on a study permit, don't treat "full-time enrolment" as a formality — dropping to part-time status, even for one term, without an institution-approved exemption on file can cost you your work eligibility and your PGWP down the line. Keep documentation of any approved leaves or course-load changes, and check with your institution's international office before altering your study plan. If you're a prospective applicant, budget for a tougher, slower system overall: fewer permits are being issued, and scrutiny on paperwork has increased.
Students should "consult institutions before changing course loads, understand permit conditions, and retain documentation of authorized exceptions such as approved leaves." — guidance summarized via The Higher Education Review
The bottom line
Canada isn't closing the door on international students, but it is closing loopholes around part-time study and work eligibility. Anyone already in Canada on a study permit should treat full-time status as non-negotiable; anyone still applying should expect longer odds and stricter checks than a year ago.
