International students pursuing master’s programs lasting less than two years are now eligible for a three-year post-graduation work permit (PGWP), marking a significant shift in eligibility criteria by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
This expansion recognizes the potential of master’s students to contribute to Canada’s job market and offers extended opportunities for post-graduation employment.
Under the revised regulations, PGWPs issued to students enrolled in programs other than master’s level will continue to align with the program’s duration, capped at three years. However, students in programs at PGWP-eligible designated learning institutions (DLIs), which are at least two years long, now qualify for an extended three-year PGWP.
In addition, IRCC plans to revise regulations regarding spousal work permits for international students at the undergraduate level. As a result, only spouses of students at the master’s and doctoral levels will be eligible for a spousal work permit, without affecting spousal open work permits for the spouses or conjugal partners of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
To qualify for a PGWP, international students must meet several criteria, including completion of studies in an eligible program lasting at least eight months at a designated learning institution (DLI), enrollment in a program leading to a degree, diploma, or certificate, maintenance of full-time student status in Canada, provision of required documents, and graduation from an eligible institution.
However, starting from September 2024, students attending programs utilizing a curriculum licensing framework will no longer be eligible to apply for a PGWP. This applies to cases where a private college has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college.
