Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) is a work permit that is issued to students on the basis of their course duration which they have completed in Canada. The maximum length of PGWP can be of 3 years.
PGWP provides an opportunity for students and enables them to work in Canada after completing their education. Students are allowed to be issued PGWP only if they have completed their studies from a Designated Learning Institute (DLI) which is recognized by the federal and provincial government of Canada.
Candidates graduating from DLIs are eligible to apply for PGWP for 180 days after getting their final grades. Candidates must make sure that their study permit doesn’t expire before they get their final grades.
PGWP enables candidates to earn valuable work experience in Canada which is counted when the candidates apply for their Permanent Residence.
The Canadian government has introduced various new measures regarding PGWP due to the ongoing pandemic. As because of Covid-19, many international students are not able to enter Canada due to travel restrictions. Immigration, Refugees and, Citizenship, Canada (IRCC) keeping in mind the immigration problems caused due to the Coronavirus, made a major announcement in May that distance learning obtained up until December 31, 2020, would be counted in the criteria for obtaining a PGWP. These changes in PGWP are shaping up the post-pandemic immigration system adopted by Canada that is making education and immigration easier for International applicants. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Distance learning was not considered as a criterion for PGWP eligibility.
The new eligibility rules for PGWP are:
1) Students will be able to study online overseas without any time being deducted from their PGWP up until April 30, 2020. This will only be taken into account if the students complete their 50% of studies in Canada.
2) Students who have graduated from more than one eligible programs will be able to combine the lengths of their programs when applying for PGWP. This rule is applicable for students who have enrolled in a program starting between May to September 2020 and study online up till April 2021. Students are also required to complete at least 50% of their studies in Canada.
3) Students who have opted for short-term programs with a duration of 8-12 months starting from May to September 2020 will be eligible to apply for PGWP while being able to complete their entire program overseas.
Students are required to submit a study permit application before starting a program of study at a DLI in the winter/summer/fall 2020 semester or for the winter 2021 semester to be eligible for the new measures introduced by IRCC.
IRCC has also said that Covid-19 related restrictions will be eased depending on the progress made by Canada and in other countries to flatten the curve and containing the Coronavirus’s spread worldwide.
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