Lukas Troni, a University of British Columbia graduate with a degree in geography and environment, was forced to stop working at a Canadian environmental organization following a surprise rejection from the federal government. Troni had applied for a postgraduate work permit (PGWP), which allows international students from approved Canadian schools to work in the country for a set period.
On April 14, Troni received notification that his permit was denied because he failed to include English or French language test results. This requirement has been in place for most applicants since November 2024, but Troni claims the application portal provided no clear instruction on where to upload the documents.
“It’s like a truck hits you all of a sudden and you’re left to scramble to see what you can do to continue living your life the way you had been before,” Troni said. While he is fluent in English and eventually aced the test, he is currently waiting for a decision on a request for reconsideration.
Hidden Requirements and Portal Confusion
The issue appears to be systemic, with dozens of similar complaints appearing in Reddit communities focused on postgraduate work permits. Will Tao, a Vancouver-based immigration lawyer, stated that the layout of the application website made the language test requirement difficult to find.
Tao noted that the “come-to-Canada survey” used to automate checklists does not flag the language test. He explained that information was often hidden in expandable boxes without special fonts or colors to make them stand out.
Collateral Damage of Digital Transitions
The impact of these clerical hurdles has been severe for some. A U.S. Citizen and Carleton graduate living in Ottawa was rejected twice; despite scoring a perfect 10 on the language test, the second request was denied because the test was taken after the initial refusal.
The graduate, who is now preparing to move back to Boston and leave his home of eight years, described himself as “collateral damage.” He had raised the issue with the office of Ottawa Liberal MP Yasir Naqvi, but a letter received on April 15 stated that nothing more could be done.
Tao suggests that staff shortages and a shift toward digital decision-making tools may be complicating the resolution of these communication issues. He believes some problems may be left to “fester” because the department lacks the resources to address them immediately.
Government Response and Future Changes
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office confirmed that IRCC is developing a dedicated field for language test results as part of broader IT changes. The department acknowledged that some applicants were confused about how to submit the paperwork.
Between Nov. 1, 2024 and Dec. 31, 2025, the department received more than 302,000 PGWP applications. Of those, 945 were rejected for language-related reasons, with nearly 80 percent of those rejections occurring in the last six months of 2025.
While the government maintains that overall refusal rates have not increased, the current situation suggests that further IT updates could be necessary to prevent future denials. Applicants who have already been rejected may continue to seek reconsiderations, though success is not guaranteed.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP)?
We see a permit that allows international students who have completed their studies at an approved Canadian school to work in Canada for a period of time.
Why are some PGWP applications being rejected?
Some applicants are being denied because they did not include the results of a French or English language test, which has been a requirement for most applicants since November 2024.
What is the government doing to resolve the confusion?
A spokesperson for Immigration Minister Lena Diab’s office stated that a dedicated field to submit language test results is being developed for the work permit site.
Do you believe digital application portals should have more human oversight to prevent clerical rejections?
