Temporary policy changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP)
The instructions have been updated by IRCC to extend the facilitation measures (that were previously ending on December 31, 2021) until August 31, 2022. Students who were enrolled in a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)-eligible program from March 2020 until the summer 2022 semester can complete 100% of their program of study outside of Canada and still retain their eligibility for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP).
Given the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 on international students and the post-secondary sector, temporary policy changes have been made to post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility requirements for the following groups of students:
- students enrolled in PGWP-eligible programs in progress in March 2020
- students who began or will begin PGWP-eligible programs between spring 2020 and summer 2022
To be eligible for the temporary policy changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP), these students must meet one of the following requirements:
- have a study permit
- have been approved for a study permit
- have submitted a study permit application prior to beginning their program and have eventually been approved
Application deadline
Graduates in Canada
Students graduating in Canada or who apply at the port of entry are still required to apply for the PGWP within 180 days of holding a valid study permit, and within 180 days of receiving written notification of program completion from their designated learning institution (DLI).
Graduates outside of Canada
Students who graduate from outside of Canada and meet the eligibility requirements of the temporary PGWP policy changes described above do not need to hold or have held a valid study permit within 180 days of applying for the PGWP. In order to be eligible to apply, these graduates must either have a study permit or have received a study permit approval, and they must still apply within 180 days of receiving written notification of program completion from their DLI.
Distance learning
Under normal circumstances, all distance learning courses completed outside Canada are excluded from the time accumulated towards the length of the post-graduation work permit, and 50% of a student’s courses must be completed in Canada and in person.
The following temporary policy changes have been made to better accommodate eligible international students who have completed distance learning in or outside Canada.
All students who were enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program in progress in March 2020 or who started a program of study from spring 2020 up to and including the summer 2022 semester are not required to complete 50% of their program (or programs) of study in Canada. Up to 100% of their program can be completed online from outside Canada.
Time spent studying outside of Canada can be counted towards the overall length of the post-graduation work permit until August 31, 2022. Any time spent studying outside of Canada after August 31, 2022 should be deducted from the length of the post-graduation work permit.
Note: The minimum length of time a PGWP should be issued for is 8 months.
All other program criteria and requirements must be met.
