Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser has announced that those with an expiring Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) will now be able to apply for an extension of up to 18 months.

Starting April 6, 2023, foreign nationals whose PGWP has already expired or will be expired soon, will be able to apply for an open work permit extension to stay longer and gain additional work experience in Canada. The extension will be valid for 18 months and available to anyone whose PGWP expired in 2022. It will also be available to anyone who applied for the IRCC’s Open Work Permit extension last year. In addition, it will be offered to those whose PGWP is about to expire in 2023.

This new measure will help Canada’s acute labour shortage issue, by retaining high-skilled talent for an additional period.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program is a popular option for international students who want to stay in Canada after completing their studies to gain Canadian work experience, which can also help them transition to permanent resident status. 

Source: Canada.ca