Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announces work permit extension for PGWP holders

• Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has made a big announcement for Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) holders.
• Canadian Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced on 17 March 2023 that international graduates with a just expired or expiring post-graduation work permit (PGWP) will qualify for an extra or extended work permit to stay longer and acquire added work experience for up to 18 months.
• The Open Work Permit extension will be available to anyone whose PGWP expires in 2023.
• It will also be available to those whose PGWP expired in 2022 and who applied for IRCC’s Open Work Permit extension last year.
• From 6 April, candidates will be able to apply for the extension on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
• After applying for the extension, the applicants will receive an email with an interim work permit authorisation which they can show employers to continue working legally in Canada.

What is PGWP?

• PGWP stands for Post-Graduation Work Permit. It is a document that allows international students who have graduated from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) to stay and work in Canada for up to three years after completing their studies. The PGWP is an open work permit, which means that the holder can work for any employer in Canada, without needing a job offer or a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
• The length of the PGWP depends on the duration of the study program completed in Canada, with a maximum of three years for programs that are two years or longer. The PGWP is a popular option for international students who wish to gain Canadian work experience and potentially qualify for permanent residence through programs such as the Canadian Experience Class.
• According to the Canadian immigration department, more than 286,000 international graduates were in Canada with valid post-graduation work permit as of 2022. About 127,000 PGWPs expire in 2023, though about 67,000 PGWP holders have already applied for permanent residence and won’t need to extend their work permit through this initiative.