Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) issued several announcements concerning Canada’s international student program on December 7.
One of the announcements confirmed that IRCC will not grant any further extensions to Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders. This decision comes after IRCC had extended the PGWP work permit three times in response to labor market disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and during the post-pandemic recovery phase. The extensions allowed PGWP holders to continue working in Canada amidst processing delays and paused Express Entry draws.
The most recent extension was granted on April 6 for PGWP holders whose permits were set to expire on or before December 31, 2023. This extension provides an open work permit valid for 18 months.
IRCC emphasizes that PGWP holders whose permits expire on or before December 31 remain eligible for this extension. PGWPs enable international students to work in Canada after completing their academic programs, typically for up to three years depending on their program’s duration, and are not renewable except under special circumstances.
In 2022, 98,000 PGWP holders became permanent residents, constituting nearly 82% of all temporary residents who obtained permanent residency that year. Moreover, IRCC projected that by 2023, there would be 268,000 PGWP holders in Canada, with 127,000 permits set to expire.
How does this affect Express Entry candidates?
Express Entry is a popular route for PGWP holders seeking permanent residency in Canada. Many may be concerned about the cessation of extensions as their PGWP expiration nears.
Candidates with expiring PGWPs who haven’t yet received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) risk losing their eligibility to work in Canada. The recent pause in Express Entry draws from October 26 to December 6 adds pressure, as without an ITA, they cannot apply for permanent residency or maintain status during IRCC’s processing.
Although IRCC conducted three draws between December 6 and December 8, two were category-based selections for candidates with French proficiency and STEM work experience. The all-program draw on December 6 invited 4,750 candidates with a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 561, higher than recent draws.
What to do if your PGWP is expiring:
Candidates facing this situation have several options to remain in Canada while awaiting IRCC’s decision:
- Apply for a visitor record at least 30 days before PGWP expiration. A visitor record typically lasts six months, subject to variation.
- Apply for a new work permit, albeit with additional time and cost. Explore options for a different Open Work Permit or request an employer to obtain a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) for a closed work permit.
- If a permanent residency application is submitted but pending, candidates may be eligible for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP). This permit allows continued work in Canada during the waiting period for IRCC’s final decision, applicable to various economic immigration programs under Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Quebec Skilled Workers, or the Agri-Food Pilot Program.
