New IRCC Update: PGWP Distance Learning Measures Extended Till Dec 31

On September 1, the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) mades a new extension to it’s temporary public policy allowing distance learning to be eligible for PGWP (Post Graduation Work Permit).
Until December 31, 2023, students who has completed less than fifty percent of their PGWP-eligible studies outside of Canada will continue to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Prior to the pandemic, all international students were required to complete more than fifty percent of their coursework in Canada, and time spent more than 50% studying online outside of Canada did not contribute toward PGWP eligibility.

This means that anyone who began their studies abroad prior to August 31, 2022, is eligible to apply the entirety of that time towards eligibility of post-graduation work permit.

However, if a student began their studies between September 1, 2022 and December 31, 2023, only fifty percent of the time can be counted.

After September 1, 2023, this measure and current extension will no longer apply to students studying abroad, regardless of when they began their studies.

Students who enrolled in programs after August 31, 2022, are not eligible for this distance learning measure.

How does this new IRCC extension affect Program Stacking?

Until December 31, 2023, eligible students who graduate from two eligible programs of study that were either in progress in March 2020 or begun between March 2020 and August 31, 2022 may be able to:

complete 100% of both programs outside of Canada (if both programs were in progress in March 2020 or began between March 2020 and August 31, 2022), and
combine the duration of their programs of study when applying for a PGWP in the future.

According to the current guidelines for calculating the length of the PGWP, both curricula must be a minimum of 8 months in length and concluded within 2 years at an eligible designated learning institution (DLI).

Students who began their second program on or after September 1, 2022 must complete a minimum of fifty percent of their second program in Canada.

Even if their first program was active in March 2020 or began between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, they are ineligible for the aforementioned facilitation measure.

Are you eligible to work full-time just after applying for PGWP (Post Graduation Work Permit)?

International students who submit an application for the PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) before the expiration of their study permit are eligible to work full-time without a work permit while they await a decision on their application, but only if all of the following conditions are met:

1. Their study permit was valid at the time of applying for PGWP.
2. They have completed a study program eligible for the PGWP.
3. They meet the requirements for off-campus employment without a work permit on their study permit.
4. They did not exceed the maximum number of hours allowed by study permit.