New Changes to the Post Graduation Work Permit in Canada

In addition to Canada’s high quality of living and world-class education system, it’s now offering another major advantage to international students with access to the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGPW).

The Post Graduation Work Permit in Canada (PGPW) is considered an important asset in acquiring permanent resident (PR) status in Canada. It is an open work permit that can be used to gain work experience in a Canadian company, which is a key factor in order to successfully qualify for immigration programs, including Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) and Express Entry. 

Just like PGWPs (Post Graduation Work Permit in Canada) are important to international students, they’re also important to Canadian employers, as they benefit significantly from it. When hiring a foreign national, Canadian employers go through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), a process where they have to submit an application to prove that they tried to hire a Canadian but could not do so. This lengthy process is not required from PGPW holders, thus companies can hire PGWP holders more easily.

As of January 8, 2021, the Canadian government introduced a new policy which will allow former international students with an expiring or already expired PGWP to apply for a new open work permit. This will allow many Canadian employers who employ foreign nationals on a PGWP to continue doing so without going through the LMIA. Therefore, employers who are benefiting from international talent won’t need to compromise the quality of their workforce as a result of immigration constraints. 

Being able to keep the workers they need regardless of their nationality or their immigration status will be of great benefit for many Canadian employers, companies, and the Canadian economy as a whole.