Canada: Former International Students and Permanent Residence Applicants Eligible for New Work and Residency Benefits
December 18, 2024
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At a Glance
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has implemented the following policies to welcome foreign post-university graduates and address labor shortages in Canada:
- Individuals in Canada who completed a Canadian post-secondary degree and hold a post-graduate work permit expiring between September 20, 2021 and December 31, 2022, can apply for a work permit extension or a new work permit of up to 18 months; and
- Foreign nationals who applied for permanent residence through the temporary-resident-to permanent-resident pathways in 2021 (for essential workers and international graduates) and who are awaiting adjudication of their applications are now eligible for bridging work permits valid until December 31, 2024, up from the previous validity of one year.
- Update- December 18, 2024: This public policy has been extended until December 31, 2026. As a result, permanent residence applicants who received this bridging work permit can now apply to extend it until December 31, 2026.
The situation
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented new work authorization-related measures for certain foreign nationals with expired or expiring post-graduate work permits and certain permanent residence applicants, to foster post-graduation immigration and address labor shortages in Canada.
A closer look
| New Policy | Details | Impact |
| International students. Foreign nationals in Canada who completed a Canadian post-secondary degree and hold a post-graduate work permit expiring between September 20, 2021 and December 31, 2022 can apply for a work permit extension or a new work permit of up to 18 months. This option was not previously available. |
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This provides more time for eligible foreign nationals to access pathways to qualify for and obtain permanent residence while contributing to the Canadian economy. |
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Permanent residence applicants. Foreign nationals who applied for permanent residence through the temporary-resident-to permanent-resident pathways in 2021 (for essential workers and international graduates) and who are awaiting adjudication of their applications are now eligible for bridging work permits (which grant work authorization to permanent residence applicants awaiting the processing of their application) valid until December 31, 2024, up from the previous validity of one year. Update- December 18, 2024: This has been extended until December 31, 2026. As a result, permanent residence applicants who received this bridging work permit can now apply to extend it until December 31, 2026. More details on the policy and process can be found here. |
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Due to ongoing processing delays impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, this ensures permanent residence applicants do not lose the ability to work while they wait for their permanent residence application to be finalized. |
Background
- Reason for measures. The initiatives, originally announced by IRCC in April 2022, are aimed at positioning Canada as a leading destination of choice for students around the world and addressing labor shortages in the country by allowing foreign nationals to contribute to the Canadian economy.
- Economic recovery. As Canada seeks to recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the government has encouraged addressing labor shortages and talent attraction through immigration as a central part of Canada’s economic recovery. These initiative follow several other initiatives implemented in 2022 by the government of Canada with the same aim, including new work permit options for Quebec-selected permanent residence applicants, and improvements to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), among others.
Looking ahead
The new work-authorization measures show Canada’s continued prioritization in addressing labor market challenges faced by employers in the country. Additional measures and improvements are expected to expand immigration in the country as a source of economic recovery.
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].
