A growing crisis has left hundreds of Indian students in Canada facing sudden post-graduation work permit (PGWP) rejections, permit revocations, and mounting legal fees, despite having enrolled in their courses long before federal immigration rules were updated. The dispute centers on an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) policy clarification issued on June 24, 2024, which deemed non-credit programs ineligible for work permits.
Affected students, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, argue that Canadian authorities are enforcing these guidelines retroactively and inconsistently. While many completed their programs expecting eligibility based on institutional assurances, rejections began spiking after July 7, 2026, with some graduates receiving approvals while classmates from identical intakes were rejected or had valid permits revoked as issued in error.
Many of the affected students attended institutions operating under public-private partnerships, such as CIOT College and Campbell College in agreement with Alberta-based Portage College. In response to student demonstrations on campus, college officials indicated that they had raised the issue with IRCC, though final decisions rest solely with federal immigration officers.
Political backing within Canada remains scarce, with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith reaffirming that international students whose visas expire without permanent residency cannot expect to stay indefinitely. In light of the standoff, students have submitted a formal appeal to Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar seeking diplomatic intervention for fair treatment.
With graduates of non-credit programs also barred from the Provincial Nominee Program, hundreds of students are now taking their cases to Canadian courts through petitions for judicial review. Legal proceedings are placing an immense financial burden on families, with per-applicant legal costs ranging between 3,500 and 5,000 Canadian dollars, on top of existing education loans that over 60 percent of the students carry.
While demonstrations persist in Calgary and Edmonton, immigration lawyers recommend that affected individuals seek legal review while simultaneously enrolling in new qualifying courses to preserve their legal standing in the country.