Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced further relaxation of online study rules relating to post-graduation work permit (PTPD) eligibility. International students from Canadian universities who are currently studying at a distance can now count this time towards their PTPD duration, starting from their application date. This replaces the previous rule which only took into account the time spent studying online from the approval of the permit.

The IRCC statement reads: “If you apply for your study permit before starting your program, any time spent studying online from outside Canada since the spring of 2020 will now count towards the duration of your program. post-graduation work permit. You will not have any time deducted from the duration of your post-graduation work permit for studies that you complete outside of Canada before April 30, 2021.

In late August, Canada announced that international students applying for a work permit will not have their PTPD duration deducted even if they are studying online outside the country. This will take effect until April 30, 2021.

Time spent studying online outside of Canada now counts towards the duration of a post-graduation work permit from the time of applying for a study permit. Before, only the time spent studying online after being approved for a study permit mattered.

Learn more: https://t.co/I9S2YYys0Z

– IRCC (@CitImmCanada) September 17, 2020

What does this mean for online learners in Canada?

The new rule will allow more international students to become eligible for the PTPD even if they cannot travel to Canada soon. This includes anyone with a valid study permit, anyone whose study permit has been approved, or anyone who has applied for a study permit before a 2020 semester. Even those who will apply for a study permit. studies before starting a program in January 2021 are eligible.

You can start your program outside of Canada and complete it 100% online, while continuing to apply to the PTPD afterward. This has two conditions: first, the duration of the program is eight to 12 months, and it started between May and September 2020. Alternatively, you can complete 50% of your program online (until April 30, 2021) if you complete the other 50. % of your program in Canada.

If you have graduated from two different eligible study programs within two years of each other – where one of the programs started between May and September 2020; each program lasts at least eight months; and you complete at least 50% of the combined duration of the programs in Canada – you can complete up to 50% of your studies online (until April 30, 2021).

Before the pandemic, international students were not eligible for a Canadian work permit if they studied online and were not enrolled in a program full-time for at least eight months. The PGWP is highly coveted by international students as it allows them to stay in the country and gain valuable work experience in Canada after graduating from eligible Canadian Designated Educational Institutions (DLIs). Students can work full-time for up to three years, but the ultimate duration of the PTPD depends on how long the person has studied at a Canadian DLI.

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