Post-Graduation Work Permit Extensions Available

As was mentioned in my February post pertaining to the Post-Graduation Work Permit, it allows international graduates to remain in Canada and obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience. The PGWP’s were not renewable, until August 2022 when the IRCC provided PGWP holders, with permits expiring in 2022, the option to apply for an extension in the interim to address the labor shortage. A few days ago the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced, starting April 6, 2023, international graduates with a recently expired or expiring post-graduation work permit (PGWP) will also qualify for an additional or extended work permit to stay longer and gain additional work experience for up to 18 months. In other words, the open work permit extension will be available to anyone whose PGWP expires in 2023. Those that apply will get an email with an interim work permit authorization which they can show employers to continue working legally in Canada.

Here are some IRCC Quick facts

• PGWP holders who are eligible for the facilitative process will soon receive messages about logging into their online IRCC Secure Account, starting April 6, 2023, to opt in and update key personal information.
• IRCC is aware of issues that some PGWP holders experienced with the facilitative process used in 2022. Lessons learned from that process have been applied as we implement a similar one. The new public policy will allow anyone who was eligible under the 2022 initiative to apply for an open work permit and to restore their status. Instructions on applying will be available on IRCC’s website in the weeks ahead.
• International graduates are an important source of future permanent residents. Tens of thousands successfully transition to permanent residence each year, including more than 157,000 in 2021, a record high, and nearly 95,000 in 2022, the second-highest total ever.
• A PGWP is typically not extendable. PGWP holders who want to extend their stay in Canada as a worker are usually expected to apply for another type of work permit as their PGWP expires. Public policies previously adopted in 2021 and 2022 provided the opportunity for an additional work permit for those with expiring PGWPs.
• At the end of 2022, more than 286,000 international graduates were in Canada with a valid post-graduation work permit. About 127,000 PGWPs expire in 2023, though about 67,000 PGWP holders have already applied for permanent residence and won’t need to extend their work permit through this initiative.

Want more Information on Post-Graduation Work Permit extensions?

Please be advised, information provided in my blog posts are general and not meant to solve personal immigration issues or answer case specific questions. This is done through one-on-one consultation. Acts and regulations change regularly without notice. Be sure to enquire before applying.

You may visit the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website for more information or

Contact us

Normandeau Immigration Consultation to schedule a consultation session and speak to someone.