BREAKING NEWS: IRCC temporarily allows students to apply for a 2nd PGWP
Great news for international students in Canada! Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has finally granted every international student's wish, you can now apply to extend your post-graduate work permit.
IRCC has recognized that the work experience accumulated through the post-graduate work permit (PGWP) is crucial for those seeking to apply for permanent residence in Canada. Therefore, with the ongoing disruptions of the pandemic, it has been increasingly difficult for students to acquire and maintain this Canadian work experience. IRCC has estimated that over 58,000 graduates (holders of post-graduate work permits) have successfully applied for permanent residence in 2019.
Who is eligible y for a second post-graduate work permit
You must have a post-graduate work permit (PGWP) that expired on January 30th, 2020 or later OR a PGWP that expires within the next 4 months before you apply for the second one
You must still be present in Canada
You must have a valid status or restoring your status at the moment of application. Please note that applicants in Canada can now restore their status even if the 90 day period has passed, as long as they had a valid status on January 30th, 2020.
How long will the second work permit be valid for?
The second post-graduate work permit will be valid for an additional 18 months and will remain an open work permit, which will allow students to work for any employer in Canada.
When to apply for the second post-graduate work permit
You will only be able to apply for a 2nd PGWP between January 27th, 2021 to July 27th, 2021.
How to apply for a second post-graduate work permit
The application will most likely be done online through IRCC's portal as the Canadian borders remain closed and applying for a work permit at the point of entry (border) is currently discouraged.
