Private Quebec College Graduates Will Not Be Eligible for PGWP Starting September 2023

Starting September 1, 2023, graduate students of unsubsidised private education institutions in Quebec would no longer be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

As per the federal government, the policy is intended to protect the integrity of Quebec's international student programme. Journalists and the Quebec Ministry of Higher Education have uncovered that certain private colleges have been engaging in unethical recruitment methods for the past few years.

The PGWP is an open work permit that allows overseas students to work for any employer in Canada after graduation for up to three years. It can be used as a stepping stone to becoming a permanent resident.

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International student graduates must have studied full-time for at least eight months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to be eligible for a post-graduate work permit.The students should have completed the course and earned adiploma, degree, or certificate to apply for a PGWP.

International students participating in a private study programme in other Canadian provinces normally do not have access to the PGWP. Quebec's private institutions will be brought in line with the rest of the country once the measure takes effect.

In a press release, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser stated that Canada recognises the significant cultural, social, and economic benefits that international students offer to the country. Making the change to post-graduation work permit eligibility that Quebec sought will strengthen the programme's legitimacy. This will bring Quebec's private institutions closer to those in other provinces, preserving the country's well-deserved reputation as a leading international student destination.

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Since 2018, unsubsidised private educational institutions have attracted a substantial number of international students. Between 2016 and 2018, around 4,900 international students were granted Canadian study visas at one of these institutions.

The number of overseas students who acquired a study permit for one of these universities increased to 11,500 between 2019 and 2021.

During the pandemic, when students were compelled to study and work from home, Canada enacted legislation that allowed international students to enrol in online courses.

Now, international students can apply for the PGWP by completing online courses between March 2020 and August 31, 2022. Graduates of a subsidised programme of study in Quebec, on the other hand, will continue to be eligible for the PGWP.

Source: CIC News