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Effective immediately, and for the first time, these international students would be able to obtain an open work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program, with no restrictions on the type of employment and no requirement for a job offer. In addition, the duration of the work permit has been extended to three years across the country. Previously, the program only allowed international students to work for one or two years, depending on location.

The idea behind it, is that the Government of Canada wants more foreign students to choose Canada and help them to succeed, said Minister Finley. Open and longer work permits provide international students with more opportunities for Canadian work experience and skills development. This would, in turn, help make Canada a destination of choice, and help keep international students already studying in Canada.

The increased flexibility offered by the expanded program would benefit graduates and employers alike as the program would help international students get important work experience while responding to Canada's labour market needs. Canada would benefit in the long run as the professional experience gained would help graduates meet the requirements to stay permanently in Canada.

As Canada moves towards the implementation of the Canadian Experience Class, these changes would create a pool of individuals who, with work experience, would find it easier to apply to immigrate to Canada, said Minister Finley. The Canadian ability to retain international graduates with Canadian qualifications, work experience and familiarity with Canadian society, would help increase Canadian competitiveness and benefit the country as a whole.

The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows students who have graduated from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Preliminary 2007 data indicates that 63,673 international students came to Canada that year, representing a 4.6 percent increase over the previous year.

Backgrounder - Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
The Post-Graduation Work Permit Program allows most international students who have graduated from an eligible program at a post-secondary institution to gain valuable Canadian work experience. A minimum of one year of work experience in managerial, professional or technical positions (i.e., at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification system) would be necessary to apply to stay permanently through the Canadian Experience Class.

The changes to the program include extending the duration of the work permit to three years across the country for those whose program of study is at least two years (previously, permits could be granted for only one or two years, depending on location); providing the flexibility for new graduates to work in any field and not just their field of study; and removing the requirement to have a job offer.
To be eligible for the program, international students:

• Must have studied full-time for the eight months preceding the completion of their program of studies and have graduated from:

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or College of General and Professional Education (CEGEP) (in Quebec); or

• a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions, and that receives at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify); or

• a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees.

• Must apply for a work permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation (for example, a transcript or an official letter) from the institution that they have met the requirements of the academic program.

• Must have completed and passed the program of study and received a notification that they are eligible to obtain their degree, diploma or certificate.

• Must have a valid study permit when they apply for the work permit.
Note that if the student's program of study is less than two years but at least eight months, the student would be eligible for a post-graduate work permit. However, the validity period of the work permit must not be longer than the period of study of the graduate at the particular post-secondary institution in Canada.
International students not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program include the following:

• Students participating in a Canadian Commonwealth Scholarship Program or a Government of Canada Awards Program funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade.

• Students receiving funding from the Canadian International Development Agency and participating in a distance learning program.

• Students who have previously been issued a post-graduation work permit after any other program of study. However, note that graduates who are already working with a work permit issued under the previous rules are eligible to apply for an extension.