The Canadian authorities have announced that from April 6, 2023, foreign nationals with expired or expiring post-graduation work permits will qualify to work longer in Canada as the country has decided to extend the document’s validity in an attempt to retain high-skilled talent.
According to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship of Canada, Sean Fraser, international graduates whose post-graduation work permit has expired or is going to expire soon will qualify for an extended work permit, which will allow them to remain in the country for up to 18 months, VisaGuide.World reports.
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWP) that Canada has allows all international graduates to obtain a work permit while in the country and gain work experience, and by facilitating some of the rules, Canada wants to retain high-skilled talent in the country.
The Canadian government explains that as soon as the new rule becomes effective, foreign nationals whose PGWP has expired in the first three months of this year and those who were eligible for the 2022 PGWP facilitative measure will be able to apply for an additional 18 months work permit too.
In addition, it has been highlighted that those whose work permits have expired will be able to restore their status even if the 90-day restoration procedure has passed. Moreover, it was stressed that while the new work permit application is being processed, this group of foreigners will receive interim work authorization.
The decision of Canada to extend the post-graduation work permits validity was taken after the authorities concluded that all those nearing the end of the program are well integrated into the country’s labour market.
The authorities further stressed that the extended work permit would permit all eligible foreigners to continue contributing to the economy of the country while preparing to apply for permanent Canadian residence and gaining work experience.
Commenting on the decision, Fraser said that Canada needs to use every tool to support employers in the country who face challenges in hiring workers and, at the same time, pointed out that they need to support international graduates holding work permits too.
“We’re providing international graduates whose work permit is expiring or has expired with some additional time to stay in Canada to gain valuable work experience and potentially qualify to become a permanent resident,” Fraser added.
Canada has been making several changes to its laws this year in an attempt to make it easier for highly skilled talent and other workers to remain in the country.
Earlier this year, the Canadian authorities said that they would permit visitors who receive a job offer while in the country to apply for and receive a work permit without having to leave Canada and come again. This policy will remain in place temporarily.
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