This is a piece of great news for international students.

If you're considering studying in Canada, this new policy could significantly enhance your post-graduation options. With a longer work permit, graduates have more time to explore career options, gain practical skills, and contribute to the workforce. This can enhance their overall experience and potentially open doors for permanent residency or other immigration pathways.

That's fantastic news for international students! A three-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP) can be a significant benefit, providing more opportunities for graduates to gain valuable work experience in the country where they completed their master's program. Typically, the length of the PGWP is tied to the duration of the study program, so this extension for master's programs of less than two years is a positive development.

Starting today, international students studying in master's programs that are less than two years in length, are eligible for a three-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP).

Before today, the length of an issued PGWP was correlated with the length of a program of study. However, in recognition that master’s students are placed to perform well in Canada’s labor market, Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has chosen to expand the eligibility for these students to receive longer work permits.

The length of issued PGWPs for students in programs of study other than at the master’s level will continue to correspond with the length of study program, to a maximum of three years.

Students in programs at PGWP-eligible designated learning institutions (DLIs)—the only schools in Canada authorized to accept international students—that are at least two years in length are also eligible for a longer, three-year PGWP.

What are the PGWP eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for a PGWP, international students must:

• Have completed studies in an academic, vocational, or professional training program that is at least eight months long, at an eligible DLI;
• Have studied in a program that led to a degree, diploma, or certificate;
• Held full-time student status in Canada during every academic session of the program or programs of study completed, which should be indicated on the PGWP application (with certain exceptions allowed);
• Have received a transcript and an official letter from an eligible DLI confirming that the applicant has met the requirements to complete their program of study (both of which must be included in the PGWP application);
• Have graduated from a public post-secondary institution such as a College; Trade or technical school; University; CEGEP (in Quebec); Private post-secondary school (in Quebec) that operates under the same rules as public schools in Quebec; Private secondary or post-secondary school (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer and results in the issuance of a dipl?me d’études professionnelles (DEP) or an attestation de spécialisation professionnelle (ASP); or Canadian private school that can award degrees under provincial law (for example, Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or Doctorate) but only if the student was enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province.

Any of these educational institutions must be DLI-approved.

Note: As of September 2024, students attending a program that utilizes a curriculum licensing framework (where a private college has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college) will no longer be eligible to apply for a PGWP.

It's always a good idea for international students to stay informed about changes in immigration policies and work permit regulations to make the most of their post-graduation opportunities. This news reflects a positive trend toward providing international students with enhanced opportunities to contribute to the workforce and integrate into the host country's professional landscape.