TEMP, POLICY CHANGES TO PGWP

October 6, 2022

This update modifies distance learning facilitation measures and provides new guidelines surrounding distance learning for students who start their program of study between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023. 

The instructions explain that, for these students, time spent studying outside of Canada until August 31, 2023, will be counted toward the overall length of the post-graduation work permit (PGWP) as long as it constitutes less than 50% of the program.

New temporary policy changes (facilitation measures) will be in effect between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023, for the following group of students:

• students who began or will begin PGWP-eligible programs between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2023

Important: 

Time spent studying at a designated learning institution (DLI) while the student is outside of Canada only begins to count toward the length of the PGWP after the department receives the study permit application. As such, studies undertaken before study permit application receipt date will be deducted from PGWP length. 

Program stacking

Until August 31, 2023, eligible students who graduate from more than one eligible program of study, when both programs were either in progress in March 2020 or were started between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, may be able to both

• complete 100% of both programs from outside of Canada (if both programs were either in progress in March 2020, or began between March 2020 and August 31, 2022) and
• combine the length of their programs of study when they apply for a PGWP in the future

Each program needs to be a minimum of 8 months in duration, and the programs need to be completed from an eligible designated learning institution (DLI) within 2 years as per current instructions on determining the length of the post-graduation work permit.

Students who start their second program on or after September 1, 2022, are not eligible for the facilitation measure above, even if their first program was in progress in March 2020, or if it began between March 2020 and August 31, 2022. If students start their second program on or after September 1, 2022, they need to complete at least 50% of their second program in Canada.

Note: For vocational programs in Quebec, the diploma of vocational studies (DVS) must be at least 900 hours in length, but an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) can be less than 900 hours in length when submitted in combination with the DVS.

PGWP 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 while 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 DLI.

Source: IRCC Newsroom