For certain foreign graduates in Quebec, PGWP will be restricted in 2023

News highlights

• Quebec and IRCC have jointly announced a new measure related to PGWP
• The aim is to grant work permits for certain graduates in the province only
• Access to PGWP will be restricted for graduates of unsubsidized private institutions

Here’s some information that will benefit those who wish to take advantage of the PGWP after graduating in Canada from an institute in Quebec.

This Canadian province has been trying to remove some issues with the way certain migrants are using Quebec as a gateway to settling in Canada. This is largely seen in how certain categories of graduates have access to the PGWP. These graduates are international students who study in Canada and graduate from unsubsidized private learning institutions.

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A joint announcement was made by Jean Boulet (Minister of Labour, Employment, and Social Solidarity in Quebec) and Sean Fraser (Minister of IRCC) lately. It revealed a plan to impose restrictions on the access that certain graduates of private learning institutions functioning without subsidies have to PGWP.

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As per the new measure, post-graduation work permits will be made available only to those students who study in Canada and graduate via a subsidized study program. Quebec is exercising a check on certain gaps in the existing system that benefits graduates of certain unsubsidized private colleges. The corrective action follows the investigation conducted by the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur of Quebec.

For resolution on the matter, the Quebec government approached IRCC to align the eligibility rules for PGWP for Quebec with those rules already in effect in other provinces. With this, the chances of Quebec being used as a gateway for settling in Canada permanently.

When it comes to other provinces, access to PGWP isn’t allowed to international students who have undergone a course of study in Canada under an unsubsidized program.

Here are some quick facts related to this new measure:

• Between 2016 and 2018, approximately 4,900 international students got a study permit for attending a course in one of the unsubsidized private learning institutions.
• Between 2016 and 2018, the number of international students who got a study permit for attending a course in one of the unsubsidized private learning institutions increased to 11,500.
• Here's what the new measure will do. Access to PGWP will be restricted for international students who graduated via private learning institutions in the unsubsidized category. This will ensure that only graduates who completed study via a subsidized study program will be able to access them.
• The new restriction will involve all levels of study in Canada. This new measure will be effective from September 1, 2023.

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What is PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit)?

The PGWP permits international students who have completed their graduation from a participating post-secondary institution in Canada to gain work experience in Canada. Work obtained through the PGWP will add some credit to your Canada PR visa application.

If you are willing to migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the leading immigration and career consultant in the UAE.

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