Extended postgraduate work permit
Dear Mr Brown,
Please explain how international students will be able to extend their postgraduate work permits. I know that normally one can only apply for a postgraduate work permit once. But I heard that there is a change of policy to allow for a second application to be done.
— LB
Dear LB:
The Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Sean Fraser recently 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. This initiative is being implemented to address the challenges that employers are facing regarding recruiting and retaining workers during this period of economic recovery and growth after the pandemic.
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. However, starting April 6, 2023, these measures will allow PGWP holders who wish to stay longer to opt into a facilitation process to extend their work permit. The additional work permit will allow eligible applicants to continue contributing to the Canadian economy while gaining valuable work experience and preparing for the opportunity to apply for permanent residence.
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 authorisation while awaiting processing of their new work permit application.
The simplified process
PGWP holders who are eligible for the facilitative process will soon receive messages about logging into their online IRCC Secure Account, starting April 6, 2023, to opt in and update key personal information. Beginning April 6, 2023, PGWP holders who are eligible for a simplified, faster process and want to extend their work permit under this initiative must take action before May 20, 2023.
To be eligible for this special measure, you must:
• reside in Canada
• ensure that your mailing address is up to date
• validate that your passport information is up to date and has an expiration date of June 2025, or later, and
• ‘opt-in’ for up to an additional 18 months.
Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programs, including Express Entry, The Study & Work program, Visas or Appeals, etc.
Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston, and AfriCanadaServices.com in Abuja, Nigeria. Send questions/comments to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com
