Canada extends PG Work Permit to 3-years for all Master’s graduates | – Times of India

Canada PGWP extended: The Government of Canada has updated its Post Graduate Work Permit policy, to promote sustainable, long-term population growth in Canada and improve the reliability of the system, all while ensuring a positive experience for international students in the country, according to the official website.
The department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), posted the update on social media platform X, stating “Effective February 15, 2024, changes to the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP) for graduates of master’s degree programs will come into force.”
The tweet also states that the IRCC will now grant PGWP to graduates of master’s degree programmes in Canada who, even if their programme lasted less than two years, may still be eligible for a three-year work permit after graduation.

Owing to the number of international students coming to Canada for higher education, the Canadian government decided to change the duration of the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The move is aimed at giving master’s degree programme graduates more time to gain the work experience required to apply for permanent residency, according to the official website.
Starting February 15, 2024, students who complete master’s degree programmes lasting less than two years can apply for a three-year post-graduation work permit, as long as they meet all other PGWP eligibility requirements.
What is the eligibility for obtaining a PGWP in Canada?
In order to be eligible for Canada’s PGWP, one has to fulfill the following criteria:
Graduates of programs lasting at least two years at designated learning institutions eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) can get a 3-year PGWP. Similarly, graduates of master’s degree programs less than 2 years long are also eligible for the 3-year PGWP. For international candidates, who are currently enrolled in public-private partnership college programs can be eligible for PGWP if they meet other criteria. Candidates pursuing a diploma or certificate programme, however, are ineligible to apply for the PGWP.
The official website states, “You can apply for a 3-year PGWP, even if the length of your master’s degree was less than 2 years, as long as you meet all other eligibility criteria (e.g., the program must have been a minimum of 8 months). This does not apply to certificate or diploma programs.”
Candidates who are presently pursuing a PG programme in a designated learning institute (DLI) in Canada can apply for the Post Graduate Work Permit; more for eligibility details, check the official IRCC website here.