Great News for International Workers: Extended Work Permits for PGWP Holders in Canada!

If you are a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) holder with an expiring or expired document in 2023, you may be eligible for an extended work permit of up to 18 months. The Canadian government has announced a new measure to facilitate the process for PGWP holders who want to continue working in Canada and gain more valuable work experience.

According to the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 127,000 PGWPs are expiring in 2023. To address the concerns of these PGWP holders, the government has decided to extend their work permits temporarily. Starting April 6, 2023, eligible PGWP holders can opt in to a facilitative process to extend their work permit.

The new measure also applies to PGWP holders whose documents have already expired in 2023 and those who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure. Even if your work permit has expired and you are beyond the 90-day restoration period, you can still restore your status and receive an interim work authorization while awaiting processing of your new work permit application.

This measure is a great relief for PGWP holders who were affected by the pauses in the draws and who were previously unable to extend their work permits. The extended work permit will allow them to continue working in Canada while they work towards gaining more valuable work experience.

This is not the first time the government has made exceptions for PGWP holders. Due to a pause in Express Entry draws, PGWP holders with documents expiring from September 2021 to December 31, 2022, were eligible for an extension. However, with Express Entry resuming, the minimum cutoff score to be invited to apply for permanent residence has skyrocketed, making it difficult for many candidates to qualify.

The new measure is a great temporary solution to help PGWP holders gain more valuable work experience in Canada and avoid predatory immigration practitioners who were taking advantage of the situation. If you are a PGWP holder with an expiring or expired document in 2023, make sure to check your online IRCC Secure Account for messages about opting in and updating your key personal information.

The idea for a facilitative measure for this group of PGWPs was supported by Manitoba’s immigration minister, Jon Reyes, who tweeted an open letter to Fraser earlier this week. This measure is a long time coming and is a great relief for PGWP holders who want to continue working and gaining valuable work experience in Canada.

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