TEMP. CHANGES TO PGWP

Submitted by Jaya Kiran on Tue, 02/08/2022 - 23:50

Due to Covid-19 impact; IRCC is once again introducing favourable temp. changes to Post Graduate Work Permit Program 

 

This change applies to below groups:

  • 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

Groups above must also meet below Rqmts for PGWP Eligibility

  • 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

Time spent studying outside of Canada only begins to count towards PGWP length after the department receives the study permit application. As such, studies undertaken before the department received the study permit application can be deducted from the PGWP length. 

 

Note that the minimum length a PGWP can be issued for is 8 months. Therefore, if a student only completes 7 months of studies after their study permit application is received, they are not eligible for a PGWP. Students are encouraged to apply for their study permits prior to starting their studies.

 

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: In cases where a study permit application is submitted before a program starts but is refused, if a subsequent study permit application is received before the end of the program and is eventually approved, the studies undertaken after the first study permit application was received by the department count towards the length of the PGWP.

 

Source: IRCC