Canada extends the time international students study online from outside Canada and have it count towards PGWP eligibility even if they’re completing 2 study programs.
Canada extending Online eligibility for PGWP Programs
Canada extends the time international students study online from outside Canada and have it count towards PGWP eligibility even if they’re completing 2 study programs.
Explore your study permit in Canada
1. IRCC extending Online eligibility for PGWP
International Students can complete up to 100% of their studies online from outside Canada and still have it count towards their Postgraduate Work permit.
This means all of the time you spent studying online from outside Canada between spring 2020 and August 31, 2022, counts toward the length of a PGWP. This applies even if you’re completing 2 study programs.
If you’re completing 2 study programs, you can finish 100% of your studies online if the programs were ongoing or started between March 2020 and summer 2022, and
- both study programs are with an eligible DLI and are completed within 2 years (this mean you can get up to 3 years PGWP), and
- each program meets all PGWP eligibility requirements and is at least 8 months long
Apply to a Canadian School in DLIs list
2. The following time won’t count toward the length of a PGWP
The following time won’t count toward the length of a PGWP:
- time spent studying outside Canada after August 31, 2022
- time spent studying before you applied for a study permit
3. Valid time of a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
The valid time of a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
- If your program was less than 8 months: You aren’t eligible for a PGWP.
- If your program was at least 8 months, but less than 2 years:
IRCC may give you a PGWP that’s valid for up to the same length as your study program. For example, if you completed a 9-month program, we may give you a work permit for up to 9 months.
- If your program was 2 years or more:
IRCC may give you a PGWP that’s valid for 3 years.
- If you completed more than 1 program:
You may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.
Each of the programs you completed must be
- PGWP-eligible and
- at least 8 months in length
You can’t get a PGWP if you already had one after completing an earlier program of study.
4. How to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP)?
You can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada or from another country, as long as you’re eligible.
You have up to 180 days to apply for a PGWP after you get your
- degree or diploma
- transcript or
- official letter from your school
If your study permit will expire before you get your marks, you have 2 options. You can
- apply for a visitor record to stay in Canada longer or
- leave Canada and apply for your PGWP
If your study permit expires before you apply
If you don’t change your status to visitor and your study permit expires, you have up to 90 days after your study permit expires to apply for a PGWP and restore your status as a student.
To restore your status as a student, you must
- apply online for your PGWP and pay the correct fee ($255) and
- pay the fee to restore your status as a student ($350)
- Because of system limitations, you must pay the fees to restore your status as a student online and attach a copy of the receipt to your PGWP online application. You don’t need to make a separate application to restore your status as a student.
You can’t work until your study permit and work permit have been approved.
If you don’t apply within the 90 days, or if the 90 days have already passed, you must leave Canada.
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