On June 7, 2022, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced that they will implement a measure that will protect the international student programs in Quebec’s integrity.
Table of Contents
In this new measure, the Honourable Minister of IRCC, Sean Fraser, along with the Quebec Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Immigration, Francization and Integration, as well as the Minister Responsible for the Mauricie region, Jean Boulet, decided to restrict the post-graduate work permits (PGWPs) for graduates of unsubsidized private learning institutions in Quebec.
Quebec's Ministere de l'Enseignement supérieur recently conducted an investigation into certain unsubsidized private colleges that revealed gaps in the accreditation process, which led to this new measure.
With that, after September 1, 2023, the PGWP will only be available for graduates of subsidized study program and those international students who apply for a program that is not PGWP-eligible will not be eligible to apply.
Meanwhile, in other Canadian provinces, international students who graduate from an unsubsidized study program are not given access to this work permit. Through this, Quebec won’t be seen as a pathway for settling permanently in other Canadian provinces.
After the changes in PGWP, Quebec's private institutions will be brought closer to the norm, bringing them in line with those of other provinces, as well as protecting their deserved reputation as a destination for international students.
Program Requirements for Post-Graduate Work Permit
If you want to apply for a post-graduate work permit before September 1, 2023, you must make sure that your program is 8 months or a minimum of 900 hours, which is equivalent to one of the following:
diploma of vocational studies (DVS) in English
attestation of vocational specialization (AVS) in English
diploma of college studies (DCS) in English
attestation of collegial studies (ACS) in English
Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Quebec That Are PGWP-Eligible
Here is a list of some of the designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Quebec that offer PGWP-eligible programs. With that, even if you apply for these institutions on September 1, 2023 or onwards, you will still be eligible to apply for PGWP.
Want to Study in Canada After You Graduate from College or University?
You might want to consider working in Canada after you graduate from college or university. To know if you are eligible to apply for a post-graduate work permit, feel free to book a consultation with us or give us a call at +1-604-484-9474 and our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) will assess your profile according to your background, education, and experience.
A Cautionary Note: The foregoing provides only an overview and does not constitute legal advice. Readers are cautioned against making any decisions based on this material alone. Rather, specific legal advice should be obtained, and the readers are asked to refer to the government website for the most updated information.
