Master’s program students will have three-year PGWP eligibility as of February 15. This also applies to students enrolled in master’s study programs with a length below two years. Earlier, the PGWP length and the study program’s length were interconnected. However, IRCC understands the fact that master’s students are essential to the Canadian labor market through their great performance. Hence, the immigration department expanded the students’ eligibility for more extended work permits.
Master’s program students to have three-year PGWP eligibility
For students enrolled in study programs apart from master’s programs, the PGWP’s duration will keep aligning with the program’s length for a maximum of three years.
Students enrolled in two-year or above programs at qualified DLIs of the Post-Graduation Work Permit are also eligible for a three-year PGWP. Designated Learning Institutions are the sole Canadian universities with the authority to admit overseas students.
In the forthcoming weeks, IRCC will modify rules for international students (at the undergraduate level) with spousal work permits. Moreover, students’ spouses at the master’s or doctoral levels will qualify to obtain a spousal work permit. This modification will have zero effect on SOWPs (Spousal Open Work Permits) for the conjugal partners or spouses of those with Canadian citizenship or Permanent Residence.
Post-Graduation Work Permit’s Eligibility Requirements
International students must fulfill the following eligibility requirements to qualify for PGWP:
- Have finished studies in at least an eight-month in a vocational, academic, or professional training program at a qualifying DLI.
- Have completed a study program resulting in a certificate, diploma, or degree.
- Reamined in Canada with full-time student status for each academic term that the program or study program was completed. In addition, this must be mentioned on the PGWP application. However, there might be certain exceptions.
- Possess an official letter and transcript from a qualifying DLI attesting an applicant’s fulfillment of the study program’s criteria. Candidates must incorporate all this within their PGWP application.
- Completed graduation from a public post-secondary institution, including a college, university, CEGEP (Quebec), Trade, or Technical school.
- A private post-secondary institution in Quebec that abides by the same laws as the province’s public schools.
- Quebec’s private secondary or post-secondary schools offer eligible programs lasting 900 hours or above and lead to DEP or ASP.
- Private schools in Canada have the authority to confer degrees, including an Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctorate degree by the provincial law. However, this applies to students only if they were enrolled in a study program that resulted in a degree approved by the province.
Each of these learning institutions must be a DLI. Notably, students enrolled in study programs that utilize a framework for curriculum licensing (in which a private college holds a license to offer the courses of an affiliated public college) will not qualify to apply for a PGWP in 2024.
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