PGWP (Post Graduate Work Permit) holders can now apply for open work permit
A new policy has been announced, by IRCC (Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada), that allows former international students with expiring Post graduate work permits between January to December 2022 to apply for an open work permit that can be extended up to 18 months. This policy will start in the summer of 2022, and this gives the international students a chance to stay in Canada longer and gain more work experience, which will eventually help them with the application for their permanent residency.
Every year, thousands of post-graduate work permit holders successfully transition into permanent residents. In 2021, over 88,000 post-graduate work permit holders were able to become permanent residents. The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship says, “With the economy growing faster than employers can hire new workers, Canada needs to look at every option so that we have the skills and labour needed to fuel our growth. Immigration will be crucial to easing our labour shortage, and these measures aim to address pressing needs in all sectors across the country while providing more opportunities for recent graduates and other applicants to build their lives in Canada and continue contributing to our short-term recovery and long-term prosperity.”
Other policy changes that will take effect this summer include:
- Applicants for the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway won’t have to be in Canada while the application is being processed.
- Applicants who apply for open work permits while waiting for their permanent residency application decision will be able to get work permits valid till 2024.
- Open work permit eligibility for immediate family members outside of Canada who were included in the PR application.
These new measures are to help address Canada’s labour shortages.
