Canada Accelerates Deadline for International Student Work Permits

Canada has accelerated a key deadline affecting international students seeking work permits post-graduation. The government has moved up the implementation of a new rule, effective May, which will disqualify graduates of certain college programs from qualifying for post-graduation work permits. This change, initially scheduled for September 1, 2024, will now take effect earlier, starting May 15, 2024.

The adjustment means that international students enrolled in these programs on or after May 15, 2024, will not be eligible for post-graduation work permits upon completing their studies. However, this does not prevent graduates from exploring other avenues for work permits, such as applying for permits supported by an employer's approved labour market impact assessment, especially for occupations facing shortages in Canada.

Changes to the post-graduation work permit program (PGWP)

Additionally, the Canadian government has made further changes to the post-graduation work permit program (PGWP), effective February 15, 2024. One significant change is that students who have completed a master's degree program, even if it lasted less than two years, will now be eligible for a three-year PGWP, provided they meet all other requirements.

The PGWP allows international students to work without restrictions on the number of hours or the employer, anywhere in Canada. Its duration is determined by the length and intensity of the student's study program and the expiration date of their passport, whichever comes first.

In response to the housing shortage exacerbated by the influx of international students, Canada announced a new measure in January: a two-year cap on new international student permits. This decision follows a significant increase in the number of international students entering Canada, with over 650,000 study permits issued last year alone, bringing the total number of international students to over one million, a threefold increase compared to a decade ago.

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- Rajneesh Kumar