L R Canadian Immigration

Minister Mendicino launches plan to accelerate caregiver application processing - Canada.ca Caregivers from abroad play an important role in supporting Canadian families who are unable to find the care they need for a family member in...

Canada has announced new Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) rules for international students forced to study via distance learning because of restrictions to stop the spread of coronavirus.

The change announced on May 14, 2020, allows students unable to study in Canada to count time spent distance learning towards their PGWP eligibility.

Under the change, a foreign student's eligibility for the PGWP will not be affected if their fall 2020 courses are conducted online due to COVID-19.

Furthermore, international students are to be allowed to complete up to 50 percent of their program online if they are unable to travel to Canada.

Finally, the online portion of their studies, up until December 31, 2020, will not be deducted from their future PGWP.

Previously, the PGWP feature criteria to discourage distance learning programs. Time spent outside Canada was deducted from the length of work permit available.