Study in Canada: International Students Get 4-Month Extension to Apply for PGWP

International students who enrolled to study in Canada during the pandemic are being given an extension to apply for the Postgraduate Work Permit (PGWP) till December 2023. This applies to students who had applied for a study permit for their course of study in Canada before August 2023. 

IRCC’s new guidelines have extended this allowance from its earlier expiration date of 31 August this year to 31st of December 2023. They established this as a transitory measure to motivate international students to return to Canada.

Why Did IRCC Extend the PGWP Deadline?

Many students in 2020 enrolled in Canadian universities with the hope of gaining an international experience. However, due to the unprecedented Covid-19 situation, they were taking classes online from their home countries. 

Some students from the following batches of 2021 and 2022 also experienced the same situation. Authorities temporarily altered the eligibility requirements for post-graduation work permits for such students. Canada did this to ease the issuance of open work permits for all those who are eligible 

Who Can Apply Under the Extended Deadline?

All students who enrolled in PGWP-eligible programs between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, can avail of this benefit. However, they will only accept applications from those students who have also applied for a study permit.

• Students who already have a study permit
• Students who have been approved for a study permit
• Students who have submitted the study permit application before commencement of the course and it was eventually approved. 
• Students must have been enrolled in their program before the 31st of August 2023. 

Furthermore, the students must note that the duration of PGWP will depend on the time for which the student was pursuing the course at a designated learning institution only after applying for a study permit to IRCC. 

The IRCC will not consider any duration of the study program spent learning before they receive the application for the study permit for the PGWP duration. 

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