The Canadian government has announced that it will extend the post-graduation work permit program for international graduates, allowing them to work in Canada for up to 18 months after completing their studies. This move is designed to help international students gain valuable work experience in Canada, which can increase their chances of obtaining permanent residency.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), on Friday, announced that international graduates with a recently expired or expiring post-graduation work permit (PGWP) will qualify for an additional or extended work permit to stay longer and gain additional work experience for up to 18 months.
The PGWP Program allows international graduates to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
The extended work permit program is part of Canada’s efforts to attract and retain international talent. By allowing international graduates to work in Canada for a longer period of time, the government hopes to encourage them to stay and contribute to the Canadian economy.
In addition to the extended work permits, international graduates may also be eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) immigration program. This program allows individuals with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Overall, the extension of the post-graduation work permit program is good news for international students who wish to stay and work in Canada after completing their studies, as it provides them with more opportunities to gain valuable work experience and potentially pursue a long-term career in Canada immigration.
The PGWP Program allows international graduates to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
“We need to use every tool in our toolbox to support employers who continue to face challenges in hiring the workers they need to grow. At the same time, we’re providing. (Canada visa)
A PGWP is typically not extendable. PGWP holders who want to extend their stay in Canada as a worker are usually expected to apply for another type of work permit as their PGWP expires. Public policies previously adopted in 2021 and 2022 provided the opportunity for an additional work permit for those with expiring PGWs.
“We need to use every tool in our toolbox to support employers who continue to face challenges in hiring the workers they need to grow. At the same time, we’re providing international graduates whose work permit is expiring or has expired with some additional time to stay in Canada to gain valuable work experience and potentially qualify to become a permanent resident,” Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said.
Employers are facing unprecedented challenges in finding and retaining the workers they need during this period of economic recovery and growth, the IRCC said, adding that this move was aimed at filling in crucial labor gaps (Canada).
Starting April 6, 2023, these measures will allow PGWP holders who wish to stay longer to opt into a facilitative process to extend their work permit and will allow Canada to retain high-skilled talent.
Those with expired permits
Foreign nationals whose PGWP has already expired in 2023 and those who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure will also have the opportunity to apply for an additional 18-month work permit.
Those with expired work permits will be able to restore their status, even if they are beyond the 90-day restoration period, and will receive an interim work authorization while awaiting the processing of their new work permit application.
“International graduates are an important source of future permanent residents.
Tens of thousands successfully transition to permanent residence each year, including more than 157,000 in 2021, a record high, and nearly 95,000 in 2022, the second-highest total ever,” the IRCC said.
At the end of 2022, more than 286,000 international graduates were in Canada with valid post-graduation work permit.
About 127,000 PGWPs expire in 2023, though about 67,000 PGWP holders have already applied for permanent residence and won’t need to extend their work permit through this initiative.