Canada has recently anounced it’s extension of Post Graduate work permits to 3 years, for all International students. The update regarding the extension of work permit was posted on social media platform X, by the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada(IRCC).
Who are eligible?
>An international student who has graduated from a Dedicated Learning Institute in Canada is eligible.
>This is also applicable for students who have completed a course for 2 years.
>The duration of the program has to be atleast for 8 months to gain this work permit.
How does it benefit International Students?
International students who come to foreign countries for higher education, seek to find a suitable job in the host country. However the educational Visa of students prohibit them from staying, once their education is completed.
Canada has come up with the extension of 3 year Post Graduation Work Permit to allow students to stay back at Canada, until they find a suitable job.The students could then apply for a work permit, once they get a job. This period between post graduation and work is being extended to let international students look for suitable jobs. Students can also work as part-time Gig workers while they are looking for jobs.
What is the Canadian intent for the extension?
Canada has significantly been benefitted by the revenue it makes through the education industry which contributes to approximately 3% of the Canadian GDP. Canada further attempts to leverage this human capital by retaining skilled labor from the Canadian universities.
Canada is currently facing a labor shortage, due to multiple reasons with an aging population topping the list. This attempt aims to retain the human capital influxxing into the country in the form of international students. Students who work as part-time workers usually work as unskilled and semi-skilled workers until the find permanent employment, which contributes to the Canadian unskilled and semi-skilled labor market size. These are a few reasons behind Canada extending the Post Graduation Work Permit.
