Good News for International Students: Post Graduate Work Permits regulations changed

In response to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, IRCC has loosened the impact of distance learning on post graduate work permits.

Before the pandemic, students who completed portions of their studies remotely in some cases would forfeit their entitlement to post graduate work permits altogether.  In other cases, time spent studying outside Canada would previously have been deducted from the length of the work permit they would have been eligible for upon graduation. 

Many post-secondary institutions have already announced that their 2020 fall semesters will be provided entirely through distance learning.  Moreover, COVID-related travel restrictions have impacted international students’ ability to travel.  Understandably, many international students had concerns about how these restrictions would impact their ability to remain in Canada.

IRCC announced yesterday that post graduate work permit eligibility will NOT be affected for students whose fall 2020 semesters will be entirely online due to COVID-19. 

The announcement goes on to say that students who are unable to come to Canada may complete up to 50% of their program via distance learning and will not have time spent studying remotely outside Canada (up until December 31, 2020) deducted from the length of their post graduate work permits in the future.   

If you have questions or concerns about your studies or your post graduate work permit, please do not hesitate to get in touch!