During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Canadian government implemented distance learning measures, allowing international students to continue studying online from outside the country while remaining eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
These exceptions were key for international students completing their program online through the pandemic. It enabled them to still pursue work and study in Canada and start their careers after graduation.
Good news: now, affected students will have an additional year to transition back to in-person learning in Canada.
Distance Learning Transition Period
On August 25, 2022, as part of the country’s return to pre-pandemic requirements, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a year-long transition period for international students studying online from overseas.
Distance learning measures have been officially extended to August 31, 2023 for those studying online from abroad. Students who submit their study permit application by August 31, 2022 can still complete up to 100% of their program online without their PGWP eligibility being affected.
However, no matter when their studies begin, any time spent studying abroad on or after September 1, 2023 will shorten the length of a student’s PGWP eligibility. This is because, after the end of the transition period, time spent studying online from overseas doesn’t count toward PGWP as study in Canada.
In addition, to remain eligible for a PGWP, no more than 50% of credits earned can be completed outside of Canada.
International students starting a Canadian program after September 1, 2022 should keep these rules in mind, and consider travelling to Canada to resume their studies in person at their earliest opportunity.
Need to submit your study permit application in a hurry? Read our frequently asked questions guide to set yourself up for success.
Quotes from Industry Leaders
ApplyBoard’s leadership and partners had positive things to say about the announcement.
“During the pandemic Canada has been able to quickly offer immigration solutions to international students,” said Antonio Aragón, Director of Partner Sales at ApplyBoard. “This latest IRCC update is meant to facilitate the transition into face-to-face learning, which is the ultimate goal. Students pending study permit decisions shouldn’t delay their studies and take the best advantage of this unprecedented opportunity.”
Rajnish Sharma, ApplyBoard’s Director of Sales in South Asia, said: “This latest measure from IRCC extends amazing flexibility and opportunity to a great number of students, who want to realize their dreams of starting Canadian education in 2022/2023. At ApplyBoard, we are very excited and positive about this recent update.”
Many of ApplyBoard’s partner institutions also provided their perspective.
Bhanu Vashishth, the Associate Vice President of Business Development at Conestoga College, gave the following comment: “Canada continues to be the destination of choice for students globally. We welcome this decision by IRCC, as it allows students more flexibility. Conestoga remains committed to student success, with a list of programs that students can study online if their visa decision is not out yet. International students can start their studies at Conestoga College with peace of mind knowing that even on an online teaching platform, our student to teacher ratio is the same as in-class, and so are the learning outcomes.”
Brent Krmpotich, Director of Recruitment and Strategic Enrolment at Algoma University, also weighed in: “This announcement is another example of Canada’s willingness to find solutions that work for international students. We are excited to work with ApplyBoard to help international students transition to in-person learning as soon as possible.”
The Director of Student Recruitment at Brock University, Matthew Melnyk, said: “At Brock University, we commend the IRCC’s decision to extend the distance learning period. The flexibility and relief these measures provides is excellent news for our international students, and therefore for Brock as well.”
Canada Remains a Top Destination for International Students
The creation of this transition period underlines Canada’s continued leadership in the international education space and the country’s ongoing support for international students who choose to study and work in Canada.
Earlier this year, the IRCC issued new work permits for those with expiring PGWPs, extending their stay in Canada by up to 18 months.
Although Canada has experienced an immigration processing backlog due to the volatile events of the last few years, the IRCC has been working diligently to catch up. The IRCC finalized a record number of study permit applications in 2021 (nearly 560,000), and is further outpacing that number in 2022.
Thanks to key benefits like the PGWP and these continued measures, international students continue to be well-served by choosing to study in Canada—even when studying online from abroad.
As always, visit the IRCC newsroom website for more details and the most up-to-date information on work permit eligibility.
Looking for help with your own study abroad journey? Find your perfect program on the ApplyBoard Platform!
