The Canadian government has announced that foreign nationals in the country with a post-graduate work permit (PGWP) that has expired or is about to expire may apply for an open work permit extension or a new open work visa that is good for up to 18 months.
The PGWP Program enables international graduates to receive an open work permit in order to gain significant Canadian work experience and use it later, according to Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, who confirmed the programme.
“To assist businesses that continue to have trouble finding the employees they require to expand, we must use every instrument in our arsenal. At the same time, we’re giving foreign graduates whose work permits are about to expire or have already expired some extra time to stay in Canada so they may get useful job experience and possibly meet the requirements to become permanent residents “Declared Sean Fraser.
Starting on April 6, 2023, foreigners whose PGWP has already expired in 2023 and those who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure will also have the opportunity to apply for an additional 18-month work permit, which will benefit both PGWP holders and Canadian employers, according to an official statement.
Furthermore, holders of expired work permits will be able to regain their status, even after the 90-day restoration window has passed, and will be given a temporary work permission while their new work permit application is being processed.
The change occurs as Canadian authorities realise that competent foreign graduates fill the gaps in the country’s labour shortage and that many of them are deeply ingrained in the local labour market.
The supplementary work permit will enable qualified applicants to keep things as they are, obtain important work experience, and eventually seek for permanent residence.
It should be noted that PGWP holders who qualify for the facilitative process will get messages asking them to update their personal data on their IRCC Secure Account. Following that, the necessary information will then be made available on the website.
The Canadian government promises to apply the lessons from the past and shorten the procedure this year to provide PGWP holders with the best possible service.
