Dear future neighbour,
IRCC updated Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) eligibility for international students on Friday, March 22, 2024.
Prior to this announcement, the IRCC had earlier announced on January 22, 2024 that international graduates of college programs offered through a public-private curriculum licensing partnership will no longer be eligible for PGWP effective September 1, 2024. However, this recent update from IRCC has moved the date up to May 15, 2024.
What the above information entails is that foreign students enrolled in public-private curriculum licensing partnership programs beginning May 15, 2024, or later will not be qualified for a post-graduation work permit.
According to new IRCC rules, these programs are NOT eligible for PGWP, with two exceptions listed below:
Exception 1: Curriculum licensing agreements made inside the same province
International students might qualify for a PGWP if they were enrolled in a program of study at a private college that was administered on behalf of a public institution in the same province before May 15, 2024.
Students won’t qualify for a PGWP if they start one of these programs on or after May 15, 2024.
Exception 2: Curriculum licensing agreements between province
International students might qualify for a PGWP if, on or before January 31, 2023, they started a program of study at a private college that is offering instruction on behalf of a public college in a different province.
However, students cannot apply for a PGWP if they started one of these programs after February 1, 2023.
See below eligibility scenarios for PGWPs
| Type of Institution | Required length of Program | Program Outcome |
| Public post-secondary school DLI, such as a college, a trade/technical institution or a university | 8 months or longer | Student’s program must lead to one of the following:
– A degree (associate degree, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or doctorate) – A diploma or certificate |
| Quebec Public Secondary School DLI offering vocational training programs | 900 hours or longer | Student’s program must lead to one of the following:
– A Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) – An Attestation of Vocational Specialization(AVS) |
| Quebec collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP)
|
900 hours or longer | Student’s program must lead to one of the following:
-an attestation of college studies (ACS) -a diploma of college studies – a Diploma of College Studies(DCS)
|
| Quebec provincially subsidized private post-secondary DLI
Or
Quebec provincially subsidized private secondary DLI offering provincially subsidized vocational training programs |
900 hours or longer | Student’s program must lead to one of the following:
– An Attestation of College Studies (ACS) – A Diploma of College Studies(DCS)
You must be enrolled in one of the provincially subsidized study programs. This may not include all study programs offered at the DLI.
|
| Canadian private designated learning institution authorized by the province to confer degrees.
|
N/A | Your DLI must be authorized by the province to confer degrees including
– an associate degree – a bachelor’s degree – a master’s degree or – a doctorate
You must be enrolled in one of the study programs leading to a degree, as authorized by the province. This may not include all study programs offered by the private DLI.
|
See below ineligibility scenarios for PGWPs
International students cannot obtain a PGWP if any one of the below-listed scenarios applies:
- possess a research permit that ended more than 180 days prior to your application.
- previously obtained a PGWP.
- studied a second language, either French or English.
- completed courses in self-improvement or general interest.
- took part in the Global Affairs Canada-funded Government of Canada Awards Program (GAC).
- have obtained financial support from GAC
- received the Equal Opportunity Scholarship, Canada–Chile
- took part in the Organization of American States Fellowships
- participated in the Canada-Chile Scholars’ Exchanges Program
- completed the majority of the study program through correspondence, e-learning, or online courses.
- finished a study program at a Canadian non-Canadian institution.
- You completed a course or study program at a DLI for which you are not eligible for the PGWP.
- This also includes a curriculum licensing agreement (also known as a P3 or public-private partnership) that runs courses taught on behalf of a DLI that qualify for the PGWP.
Need help obtaining a visitor visa to visit Canada, or professional help putting in a study visa application, work permit application, Expression of Interest, creating an express entry or provincial nomination profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Book a consultation or send us an email on info@eseumohimmigration.com