Before the pandemic, international students could not carry out their online studies outside Canada and get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) once the program is complete. But nowadays, things are different. More so, the country has extended the period in which the students can study online. The period’s deadline was slated for 31st Dec. 2021 but this has been changed to 31st Aug. 2022. This measure was implemented as one of Pandemic-related measures so that the international student who were affected by the virus could be eligible for PGWP.
The Rule is Applicable even for the Students Taking Two Study Programs
Even if you were taking more than one study program, you are still covered by the above rule as long as the programs were started between March 2020 and summer 2022.
Remember, study programs are required to carry an eligible Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and as well meet other PGWP requirements. Also, the shortest period that a program can be is eight months. In addition, the time that’s spent studying online (outside Canada) after 31st Aug. 2022 and any other time that was spent before applying for the study permit doesn’t count toward the length of a PGWP.
The length of one’s study is as important as it is the PGWP eligibility. It’s also vital for determining the length of your PGWP. For instance, in case your study period is more than eight months but less than two years, the validity of your PGWP matches the length of the study program. If the period was more than two years, then the PGWP period might go up to three years.
