Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that foreign nationals in Canada who hold an expired or expiring post-graduate work permit (PGWP) will be able to apply for an open work permit extension or a new open work permit valid up to 18 months, starting April 6, 2023. The open work permit will be available to foreign nationals whose PGWP expired in 2023 and to those individuals whose PGWP expired between September 20, 2021 and December 31, 2022 and who were eligible for a work permit extension under a former similar policy implemented in August 2022. Furthermore, graduates with expired work permits whose temporary residence status has also expired will be able to restore their status, despite being beyond the 90-day restoration period to regularize status in Canada. According to IRCC, applicants for the open work permit will be able to work in Canada during the processing of their application. The measures are intended to provide more time for eligible foreign nationals to access pathways to qualify for an obtain permanent residence while contributing to the Canadian economy and filling labor shortages. As a reminder, open work permits allow foreign nationals to work for any employer in Canada. Further instructions on applying for the open work permits will be available on IRCC’s website in the coming weeks.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Explore more at Fragomen
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.
Media mentions
Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.
Fragomen news
Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Brown outlines steps companies can take to support employees and maintain smooth operations during compliance-related situations.
Awards
Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.
Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.
Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.
Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.
Fragomen news
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper explains how proposed H-1B fee and lottery changes impact hiring of skilled international talent across sectors.
Media mentions
Partner Haider Hussain underlines the role of talent mobility in shaping future growth sectors in the Kingdom.
Fragomen news
Fragomen is recognised by the Financial Times for its innovative work in workforce mobility and cross-sector collaboration.
Media mentions
Partner Daniel Brown outlines steps companies can take to support employees and maintain smooth operations during compliance-related situations.
Awards
Fragomen has been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Law Firms™ in Germany, earning a Regional Tier 1 ranking in Hessen for Labor and Employment Law.
Media mentions
Partner Shayan Sultan discusses a rise in inquiries about UAE residency and remote work programmes amid global talent mobility trends.
Media mentions
Partner Rajiv Naik, Senior Manager Thomas Kingsmill and Manager Ko Ito highlight rising UK sponsor licence revocations and how HR and mobility leaders can manage the impact.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the $100,000 H-1B fee and its impact on financial, banking and technology firms relying on international talent.
Media mentions
Media mentions
Partner Audrea Golding explains how the $100,000 H-1B fee could affect hiring across the tech industry.
Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Nathalie Pimenta and Immigration Programme Manager Frida Sakaj discuss the importance of planning visa applications and document services early to avoid delays and ensure compliance with UK regulations.
Fragomen news