International graduates in Canada are facing unexpected roadblocks with their postgraduate work permit (PGWP) applications due to confusion over language test requirements.
Lukas Troni, a University of British Columbia graduate, was denied a PGWP in April 2025. The reason: he failed to include English test results, a requirement since November 2024. Troni, fluent in English and employed at an environmental organization, says the application portal offered no clear guidance.
"It's like a truck hits you all of a sudden," Troni said. Immigration lawyer Will Tao notes the requirement was buried in a hard-to-find expandable box online, leading to widespread confusion. A Reddit community is filled with similar stories.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) received over 302,000 PGWP applications between Nov. 2024 and Dec. 2025. Of those, 945 were rejected for language-related reasons, with nearly 80% of denials occurring in the last six months of 2025.
A Carleton graduate, rejected twice despite earning a perfect language test score, says there's still no dedicated upload field for results. He is now preparing to leave Canada for his home in Boston. IRCC acknowledges the issue and is developing a more transparent application system, but many are left feeling like collateral damage. Troni awaits a decision on his reconsideration, his confidence in the system shaken.