Breaking: Canada Extends Post-Graduation Work Permits to Retain High-Skilled Talent
Today, March 17, 2023, the Minister of Immigration, the Honorable Sean Fraser, announced that international graduates with recently expired or expiring post-graduation work permits (PGWPs) will be eligible for an additional open work permit of 18 months.
The PGWP program allows international graduates to gain Canadian work experience by obtaining an open work permit.
Approximately 127,000 PGWPs are set to expire in 2023. The measure, which will begin on April 6 (2023), will provide an opportunity for PGWP holders who desire to prolong their stay to participate in a convenient procedure to renew their work permit. Moreover, it will allow Canada to maintain highly skilled professionals who would otherwise leave due to visa limitations. It is also expected to provide the country with more competitive labor market advantages.
<<Know how to apply for this permit>>
Who can apply for this measure?
The 18-month work permit extension will be available to:
- Foreign nationals whose PGWP has already expired in 2023
- International graduates who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), PGWP holders who are eligible for the facilitative process will soon receive messages with instructions.
Moreover, those with expired work permits will be able to restore their status, even if they are beyond the 90-day restoration period. They will receive an interim work authorization while awaiting processing of their new work permit application. This will allow them to continue working legally in Canada.
Please note that instructions on applying will be available on IRCC’s website in the weeks ahead.
Important Facts
- International graduates are an essential source of potential permanent residents in Canada, with tens of thousands successfully obtaining permanent residence each year.
- Typically, PGWPs cannot be extended, meaning that those who wish to continue working in Canada are required to apply for a different type of work permit. However, in 2021 and 2022, new public policies were put in place. These policies provided opportunities for an additional work permit for those whose PGWPs were about to expire.
- New data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) showed that Canada broke a record by welcoming over 550,000 new international students in 2022. Moreover, as of December 31st, 2022, there were 807,750 international students holding valid study permits.
- India, China, and the Philippines were the top three sources of international students coming to Canada in 2022.
- At the end of 2022, there were over 286,000 international graduates in Canada holding a valid post-graduation work permit.
Help for International graduates!
For Post Graduate Work Permits or other international student or graduate options, fill out the following form. Alternatively, please book a consultation session. If you are not an international student or graduate in Canada, fill out our assessment form for other immigration options in Canada.
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