Sundiata Post – Canada has prohibited foreign nationals seeking a post-graduation work permit to apply at a port of entry which could be airport, land or marine border.
As of June 21, 2024, foreign nationals seeking a post-graduation work permit can no longer apply at a port of entry.
Border services officers have been instructed not to process post-graduation work permit applications made on entry to Canada.
One can apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) from inside Canada or from another country, as long as they are eligible.
However, from June 21,2024, one can no longer apply for a PGWP at a port of entry when entering Canada.
The foreign nationals can no longer apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) at the border, effective immediately, reads the Canadian government’s statement.
This measure will help reduce what is known as ‘flagpoling.’
Flagpoling occurs when temporary residents of Canada bypass the normal wait times involved in applying for a work or study permit online by leaving the country and then immediately re-entering to receive same-day immigration services.
Flagpoling uses significant resources at the border, taking officers away from enforcement activities, causing delays for travellers and slowing down the movement of goods.
From March1, 2023, to February 29, 2024, PGWP applicants represented about one fifth of the foreign nationals who attempted to flagpole.
The Government of Canada is taking measures to encourage applicants to apply in Canada rather than flagpole.
Study permits are generally issued for 90 days longer than the expected end date of the programme.
However, international students are provided 180 days from the completion of their studies to apply for a PGWP.
Applicants must maintain their status in Canada and their ability to apply from within Canada.
Applicants may apply for a PGWP from within Canada if their study permit is still valid (not expired) or if they meet one of the other requirements at the time they submit their application.
Applicants who apply for their work permit while their study permit remains valid may be authorized to work without a permit pending a decision on the work permit application.
However, if a foreign national has submitted an application to extend their study permit and they are studying does not apply to them, and they must wait until their new study permit is received in order to be eligible.
Applicants whose study permit becomes invalid or expires before they apply for a work permit may not be eligible to apply from in Canada because they would no longer meet the requirements, even if they have maintained their temporary resident status as a visitor.
In these cases, the applicant must submit their PGWP application for processing outside Canada.
However, if the applicant is eligible for restoration, they can restore their status as a temporary resident with authorization to study by applying for a study permit and then a work permit.
While the study permit application with restoration is being processed, if the study permit is approved and issued, then the requirement for the submission of the work permit application in Canada would be met at that moment. Therefore, the concurrent work permit application can be processed.
Outside Canada
Applicants who no longer have the ability to apply for a work permit in Canada, may submit their application electronically for processing outside of Canada.
They may remain in Canada as long as they maintain their temporary resident status, or they may leave Canada and wait for a decision on their PGWP application.
Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for the category and apply within the 180-day period.
Applicants may electronically submit an application (outside Canada) while they physically remain in Canada. They must maintain their status as a visitor until they receive the actual work permit.
However, they are not eligible to work while waiting for a decision on their PGWP application.
In addition, after receiving provisional approval, they will have to leave and re-enter Canada to be examined and issued any provisionally approved work permit.
