Good News for Foreign Nationals with Expired or Expiring Post-graduation Work Permits in Canada

An extension of post-graduation work permits for up to 18 months has been announced in an effort to attract and retain highly skilled talent. International graduates from Canadian universities will benefit from the change, since it will provide them the chance to get useful job experience in Canada and raise their prospects of being granted permanent residency.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Honourable Sean Fraser, on Friday 17 March. The extended post-graduation work permits, according to him, will assist Canada draw in and keep the best and brightest students from around the world who choose to study there.

The permits will be available to eligible international students and will be valid for up to 18 months, compared to the current maximum of 3 years.

The new measures shall come into effect from 6 April 2023. Foreign nationals who met the requirements for the 2022 PGWP relief and whose PGWP has already run out in 2023 may also apply for an additional 18-month work permit.

Even after the 90-day restoration window has passed, people with expired work permits can still get their status restored. They will also receive a temporary work permit while they wait for their new work permit application to be processed.

These measures will allow Canada to retain highly skilled workers and PGWP holders who wish to stay longer in a streamlined process to renew their work permits.

This action aims to address the lack of skilled workers in high-demand industries like technology and healthcare. In order to draw and keep talent from outside, the Canadian government has also developed additional initiatives, such as a new path to permanent residency for foreign graduates and essential workers.

Extended post-graduation work visas are anticipated to aid Canadian universities and colleges in enticing and keeping foreign students, who represent a sizable source of income for the country's educational system. More than 600,000 foreign students reside in Canada.

Higher education abroad sector contributes more than $22 billion to the Canadian economy each year.

The announcement has been welcomed by the education sector, which has been lobbying for an extension of post-graduation work permits for several years. The move is expected to enhance Canada's reputation as a welcoming destination for international talent and help the country remain competitive in the global marketplace.

In conclusion, the extension of post-graduation work permits is a positive step towards retaining highly skilled talent in Canada, which will help address labour shortages and drive economic growth. If you have any further doubts, contact our experts at MWT Education Consultancy who will be glad to help you.