ON-LINE COURSES STARTED BEFORE STUDY PERMIT APPROVAL WILL COUNT TOWARDS A POST-GRADUATE WORK PERMIT

Due to COVID-19, a number of international students were unable to take courses in person at their respective universities. As a result, the Canadian government is allowing international students who have to study on-line due to COVID-19 closures, to not be penalized when applying for a Post-Graduate Work Permit.

Initially, on-line studies only counted towards a PGWP after students were approved for a Study Permit. Now, as long as the program starts in 2020, the time international students put into their courses before getting their study permit is counted.

Only other pre-requisite is that the international student must apply for their study permit before September 15 and at least half of their program must be completed in Canada. Study permits must be applied on-line as ports of entry are not issuing visas during the pandemic.

The Canadian government will accept incomplete applications as part of a new two-step study permit system which allows international students to start studying without the full study permit. The full study permit will be issued once all documents are submitted and the application is approved.