Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) released a statement on April 21, 2008 outlining improvements to the regulations governing the Post-Graduation Work Permit for international students.
Effective immediately, international students who have graduated from a full-time program in Canadian Post-Secondary institutions are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit that is valid for up to three (3) years, depending on duration of their academic program.
• Students graduating from a 2 to 4 year program (e.g. 2-yr diploma, 3-yr diploma, 4-yr bachelor’s degree) can apply for a permit of up to 3 years in duration;
• Students graduating from a 3-semester program are eligible for a 12-month permit;
• Students graduating from a 2-semester program are eligible for an 8-month permit.
The following improvements to the Post-Graduation Work Permit have been confirmed:
• The permit will be valid for up to a maximum of three (3) years, regardless of geographic location within Canada;
• Students no longer need a job offer in hand when applying for a permit;
• The permit will be an “open” permit. This means students are no longer required to find a job related to their field of study, or change their work permit every time they change a job.
International students applying for the Post-Graduation Work Permit must:
• Have a valid Study Permit;
• Apply for the permit within 90 days of receiving official notification of fulfilling the requirements to graduate;
• Not have been issued a work permit previously for employment after graduation following any other course of study.
