Beginning April 6, present post-graduate work allow holders will be capable to choose into extending their visas. Moreover, overseas nationals whose PGWP expired in 2023 and people who already prolonged or have been eligible to increase their visas below a related coverage introduced in 2022 will be capable to apply for an extension.
PGWP Extension !
We’re extending the power to work for PGWP holders, together with these whose work permits have just lately expired.
As of April 6, in case your PGWP is legitimate or has just lately expired you possibly can apply to increase your capacity to work in Canada by as much as 18 months. pic.twitter.com/TF2m0iNEFg
— Sean Fraser (@SeanFraserMP) March 17, 2023
The announcement is the most recent in a sequence of coverage developments aimed toward tackling Canada’s labour shortages.
“We have to use each instrument in our toolbox to assist employers who proceed to face challenges in hiring the employees they should develop,” mentioned Sean Fraser, minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship.
“On the identical time, we’re offering worldwide graduates whose work allow is expiring or has expired with some extra time to remain in Canada to realize invaluable work expertise and doubtlessly qualify to develop into a everlasting resident.”
Usually, PGWP holders want to use for a distinct kind of labor allow in the event that they want to stay within the nation after their visa expires.
Larissa Bezo, president and CEO of the Canadian Bureau for Worldwide Training, mentioned the organisation ‘warmly welcomes’ the information.
“In the present day’s announcement serves to underscore Canada’s need to retain high-skilled expertise from coast to coast to coast,” she mentioned. “The extension of post-graduate work permits for as much as 18 months creates additional alternative for our worldwide college students to determine significant connections throughout our communities and to realize invaluable Canadian work expertise.”
“We have to use each instrument in our toolbox to assist employers”
Philipp Reichert, director of world engagement at College of British Columbia Okanagan, mentioned it’s a “nice replace” that can “assist any present holders proceed to work and acquire expertise and doubtlessly then qualify for the assorted PR stream choices”.
It additionally “relieves loads of stress for a lot of of them with the interim work authorisation”, he mentioned.
On the finish of 2022, there have been greater than 286,000 worldwide graduates in Canada with a legitimate post-graduation work allow.
IRCC estimates that roughly 127,000 PGWPs expire in 2023. Of those, 67,000 have already utilized for everlasting residence and won’t want to increase their work allow by this initiative.
Eligible visa holders will obtain a message from IRCC instructing them to log into their immigration account and choose in.
Extending permits will give worldwide graduates the prospect to realize extra Canadian work expertise, which may present a pathway to everlasting residency within the nation.
IRCC predicts that immigrants will quickly characterize 100% of the expansion of the nation’s labour power and that they may make up half of Canada’s complete inhabitants inside the subsequent decade.
The nation accepted a report 437,000 new everlasting residents in 2022, however some have warned that Canada doesn’t have the capability for the variety of worldwide college students who need to develop into Canadian residents.
