Explore Courses

Canada announces interim policies allowing overseas students to prolong stay

Updated on 05 May, 2023

Shivangi Mishra

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor

International students in Canada who have a post-graduation work permit expiring between January and December 2022 will be eligible for an additional open work permit for up to 18 months beginning in summer 2022. With this, recent international graduates with temporary status will be able to prolong their stay in Canada. 

As per an official press release, immigration minister Sean Fraser announced a new temporary policy for overseas students, allowing them to gather job experience and improve their chances of securing Canadian permanent residence. 

New advantages for overseas students studying in the country entitles resumption of Express Entry, and draws for candidates in the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) from early July 2022.

Counselling+">Study Bachelors in Canada and gain PR – Get free Counselling

According to Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Express Entry processing durations currently range from seven to twenty months. Canada will process several significant Express Entry applications within six months of their filing.

Indians have continued to benefit the most from PR and student visas. Under the ‘Express Entry’ pathway, Indians received 50,841 invitations to apply for permanent residence in Canada in 2020. Nearly 100,000 Indians became permanent residents of Canada in 2021 when the country welcomed a record 405,000 new immigrants.

This step is part of a larger initiative to allow PGWP holders to stay in Canada for extended periods of time, gain job experience, and improve their chances of obtaining permanent status. As Express Entry draws for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates have been put on hold since September, many PGWP holders whose permits are about to expire are being compelled to seek a new work permit, abandon their jobs, or leave the country.

Officials will be releasing details in the upcoming weeks.

Approximately 95,000 PGWPs will expire in 2022, and this new open work permit could assist up to 50,000 PGWP holders. Candidates will no longer have to stay in Canada while processing their applications.

“We’re looking into a simpler, expedited process for this,” says IRCC.

IRCC will provide permit validity extension until the end of 2024 to people applying for an open work permit while waiting for their PR application to be processed. It usually is not extendable or renewable.

Read More
MS in Industrial Engineering in CanadaOne Year MS Courses in CanadaComputer Networking Courses in Canada
University of LethbridgeUniversity of Toronto Fees for Indian StudentsHospitality and Tourism Management
Master’s in Aerospace Engineering in CanadaHuman Resources Courses in CanadaMasters in Brand Management in Canada
Vocational Courses in Canada for International StudentsOne Year Post Graduation Courses in CanadaOne Year MBA Programs in Canada

Shivangi Mishra

Sr. Content Editor

She is an experienced writer and journalist who has extensively covered the education sector in India and Abroad. Now helping Indian aspirants realise their foreign education dream by providing them with relevant content and information through upGrad Abroad. Amateur traveller, loves to read Architectural Digest!

See More