On January 22nd, IRCC revealed plans to stabilize growth and reduce international study permits for students in 2024. To align with these adjustments, IRCC unveils updated eligibility criteria for the Post-Graduation work permits (PGWP) program.
International students enrolled in study programs covered by curriculum licensing agreements will no longer be eligible for the PGWP after graduation starting in September 2024.
This concerns students who are enrolled in private colleges that operate under a license from a public college. Put otherwise, should a public college license a private institution to offer its curriculum, then students enrolled in that private college will not be eligible for a PGWP.
The IRCC cites a potential loophole in PGWP eligibility and uses the reduced control associated with programs under curriculum licensing agreements in private universities as justification for this decision.
An increase in the number of overseas students studying in Canada has made it more common for universities to withdraw admission offers when they are experiencing capacity issues.
For example, in October 2023, Northern College in Ontario withdrew admission offers to 500 students, citing a lack of suitable accommodation and employment options for overseas students.
By addressing these problems, the IRCC hopes to provide a safe and sustainable environment for foreign students studying in Canada. The goal is to avoid situations in which educational institutions accept more applicants than they can handle.
Extended work permits for concise graduate-level programs
IRCC has declared that graduates of master’s and other shorter graduate-level programs will soon be eligible to apply for a three-year work permit.
Currently, the linkage between the duration of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and the length of the study program disadvantages graduate students pursuing master’s degrees and shorter program lengths compared to undergraduates. The impending modification seeks to address this restriction by granting master’s students a longer work permit. This improvement not only gives them more chances to gain significant job experience in Canada, but it also makes it easier for them to get permanent residency.
Functioning process of the Post-Graduation Work Permit
As an open work permit, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) gives foreign graduates the freedom to work for any Canadian firm without requiring a job offer.
Although the PGWP has a maximum validity of three years, each person’s unique term usually corresponds with the duration of their study program in Canada. For example, the PGWP will be granted for a period equal to the program’s duration (e.g., a 10-month program results in a 10-month PGWP) if the finished program lasts between 8 months and less than 2 years.
The PGWP offers overseas graduates the chance to gain professional job experience in Canada, which is one of its main benefits. PGWP holders find this experience especially helpful when they later apply to become permanent residents.
International students need to meet certain criteria to qualify for a PGWP
- Successfully finished studies in an academic, vocational, or professional training program lasting a minimum of eight months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
- The study program should have resulted in a degree, diploma, or certificate.
- The post-graduation work permit application must include evidence of maintaining full-time student status in Canada throughout each academic session of the study program.
- Acquired a transcript and an official letter from the DLI, confirming that the applicant has fulfilled all requirements to complete their program of study.
Additionally, the student is required to have completed studies at:
- Graduated from a public post-secondary institution like a college, trade or technical school, university, or CEGEP (in Quebec).
- Completed studies at a private post-secondary school (in Quebec) adhering to the same regulations as public schools in Quebec.
- Finished studies at a private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) offering qualifying programs of 900 hours or more, leading to a diplôme d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP).
- Graduated from a Canadian private school authorized to confer degrees under provincial law (e.g., Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctorate), but only if enrolled in a program leading to a degree as authorized by the province.
According to the IRCC with the most latest data available from November 2023, 62,410 international student graduates were successful in obtaining permanent residency in Canada. Comparing this number to the 2022 data, which showed that 52,740 overseas graduates became permanent residents, shows a significant rise of 9,670 people.
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