In consideration of the ongoing pandemic, International Students who complete their post-secondary program online will still be eligible for the three-year open work permit after graduation. Previously, online learning was not credited towards a PGWP application. New measures now apply for international students who were enrolled in any semester from Spring 2020 when Canada first went into lockdown.
Canada recognizes the value that international students bring to the economy. Based on 2019 numbers, more than 572,000 international students contributed $21 billion to the Canadian economy, supporting 170,000 jobs through tuition and spending. More than 58,000 international student graduates became Canadian permanent residents. The pandemic also affected Canada’s immigration numbers since travel restrictions made it difficult for international students to come to Canada to take their classes. Currently, international students can already travel to Canada if they are going to a DLI that has an approved COVID-19 readiness plan.
