On August 2, 2022, the Government of Canada announced that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is implementing new measures for former international students whose post-graduation work permits have expired or will be expiring soon. Additionally, the IRCC will be working with applicants who are seeking temporary and permanent residency in Canada. The new measures are as follows:
Open Work Permits for Those With Expired/Expiring Post-Graduation Work Permits
Those whose work permits have expired or are set to expire between September 20, 2021 and December 21, 2022 have now been granted the opportunity to work an additional 18 months in Canada, either by extending their work permit or applying for a new one. These people will be able to work while their permit is being issued or extended.
IRCC’s new measures will affect applicants in five different ways:
- My post-graduation work permit expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022, my address is up to date, and my passport is valid through April 2024.
No action is needed. An updated work permit will be sent to your mailing address by mid-October.
- My post-graduation work permit expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022, but I need to update my address and/or passport validity.
Follow the instructions in the confirmation email from IRCC so that your mailing address is updated in time. Visit here to see the full description.
- My post-graduation work permit expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022, but I won’t be able to update my address or passport validity.
You will have to apply online for the extension of your work permit. You can either receive a work permit extended to your passport expiration date OR you could wait to apply until you have renewed your passport.
- My post-graduation work permit expires from October 2, 2022, to December 31, 2022, but IRCC didn’t contact me.
If you do not receive an email from IRCC by mid-September, you are not eligible to have your work permit extended through this special process for another reason, such as information has been added to your file about your admissibility to Canada that will need further review. You may still apply online to extend your work permit.
- My post-graduation work permit expired or will expire from September 20, 2021, to October 1, 2022.
You will need to apply online for a work permit. Applications open on August 2, 2022. If you are in Canada and your temporary status has also expired, you must apply to restore your status at the same time. Under these special measures, you are allowed to restore your status, even if it expired more than 90 days ago. You are eligible to apply from abroad if you have left Canada and return after you have been approved.
*It is important to note that you cannot apply for this work permit at a port of entry. All applications must be submitted online by December 31, 2022.
Working in the Interim
Starting August 8, 2022, foreign nationals with expired or expiring post-graduation work permits will receive an email stating that they will be allowed to work in the interim (temporary period). Recipients can attach the email to their work permit to show an employer that they are authorized to continue working temporarily in Canada. The interim work period will be in effect until May 31, 2022.
*It is important to note that this measure only allows the individual to work. It does not restore the status of one’s temporary residency if their temporary resident status has expired.
Work Permits for Applicants to Temporary or Permanent Resident Pathways
Those who are currently a part of the temporary resident to permanent resident (TR to PR) pathways and whose applications have not yet been finalized can now apply for an open work permit. This new measure ensures that applicants will not lose their status or ability to work while they wait for their permanent residence application to be finalized. This open work permit has an end-date of December 31, 2024 (provided that the applicant’s passport is valid through that date).
Eligible TR to PR applicants will soon begin receiving an email from the Government of Canada if their mailing address is up to date and they are still in Canada. Applicants with passports that expire before December 31, 2024 will not receive an email and will not be able to change the length of their current work permit through this new measure. These applicants can still apply for a longer work permit by applying to get a work permit to match the day their passport expires or applying after they have updated their passport.
Applicants whose situations fall outside of the given boundaries will not be eligible for the new measure. They will instead have to apply online.
Visit the official Government of Canada website for a full description of the new IRCC measures.
Source:
Disclaimer: The information is obtained directly from the Government of Canada website and websites that appear in the source section. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing(Aug 3, 2022), but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please check their official website and digital channels.
