PGWP (Post-Graduate Work Permit) is a work permit that allows international students to stay and work in Canada after graduation. Typically, the duration of a PGWP can range from 1 to 3 years depending on the program of study. However, on January 8, 2021, the Canadian government allowed former international students whose PGWP had expired or was about to expire to apply for an open work permit valid for 18 months. This extends the total stay duration under the PGWP category to up to 4.5 years!!!

The new open work permits will be valid for 18 months and will allow former international students to stay in Canada and continue seeking employment. Unlike standard work permits, which bind foreign workers to a specific employer in Canada, open work permits allow foreign nationals to work for any employer of their choice.

To apply for an open work permit under the new policy, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must have a PGWP that expired on or after January 30, 2020, or a PGWP that will expire in 4 months or less from the date of application;
• You must be in Canada;
• You must have temporary legal status in Canada or be in the process of restoring your status.

The application process will be open from January 27 to July 27, 2021

The government understands that the negative impact of the pandemic has disadvantaged students who graduated in 2019 and 2020 due to a weakened labor market. A significant number of international graduates have been laid off. Therefore, meeting the work experience requirement for PGWP in Canada has become challenging for them. This is seen as one of the positive solutions the Canadian government has implemented to assist those with PGWP who have lost their jobs or had their hours reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of this policy is to provide those with PGWP more time to accumulate the work experience they need to qualify for Canadian immigration. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) estimates that approximately 52,000 graduates with expired or soon-to-expire PGWP could benefit from this public policy.

PGWP is highly valued by international graduates as surveys show that about 60% wish to transition to permanent residency in Canada. They often need Canadian professional work experience to qualify for skilled immigration pathways. PGWP allows them to gain such experience and then continue applying for skilled immigration programs such as Express Entry, Quebec Experience Program, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and many other programs that prioritize applicants with Canadian work experience.

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