Canada Ending Post-graduation Work Permit "Flagpoling"

Effective June 21, 2024, post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications can no longer be made upon entry. This includes airports and border crossings. This change eliminates the ability for applicants to "flagpole," a process which involves leaving Canada and reentering for the sole purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit.

Impact on International Students

This change will impact individuals who do not obtain work authorization pending a decision on their PGWP application and those whose applications are rejected.

First, only applicants who meet certain requirements receive work authorization pending a decision on their PGWP. Previously, applicants who did not receive this letter would flagpole to receive their PGWP on the same day, rather than submitting the application online.

Second, applicants who were rejected or submitted incomplete applications could flagpole to continue working. Now, if a PGWP application is rejected and more than 90 days have passed since program completion, the applicant must apply for restoration and cannot work while their PGWP application is being processed.

A study permit expires 90 days after program completion, regardless of the expiry date on the permit. Currently, it takes 99 days to process a work permit application within Canada. If an application is rejected after 99 days, the applicant will be out of status, must stop working, and must apply for restoration. The applicant will not receive work authorization while awaiting a decision on the PGWP.

Effective June 21, 2024, post-graduation work permit (PGWP) applications can no longer be made upon entry. This includes airports and border crossings. This change eliminates the ability for applicants to flagpole, which involves leaving Canada and reentering for the sole purpose of obtaining an immigration benefit.

Why Did the Minister Make This Change?

This announcement reflects the ongoing trend of implementing restrictive policies to cap the number of incoming students and eliminating policies that are being applied in unintended ways. In addition, the announcement aligns with IRCC’s directive to enforce compliance and raise the overall standards and integrity of Canadian visa applications.

Under these new rules, students who do not meet the work authorization requirements, such as those who have worked more than 20 hours per week, will be penalized since they cannot flagpole anymore. This change aims to encourage students to comply with these requirements if they wish to work after completing their programs but before being issued their PGWP.

Previously, applicants could obtain their PGWP on the same day by flagpoling, a practice never intended to be widely used. It was mostly those who were unwilling to wait for processing that would flagpole, rather than those who were out of status or needed to flagpole for another reason.

The announcement aligns with IRCC’s directive to enforce compliance and raise the overall standards and integrity of Canadian visa applications

Political considerations also play a role in this change. Recently, the USA lobbied the Canadian government to prevent this practice due to increased processing demands on the US and resulting delays. Additionally, while the CBSA has the authority to process some immigration applications, they prefer to focus on enforcement, customs, duties, and other mandates rather than managing an immigration program.

The announcement aligns with IRCC’s directive to enforce compliance and raise the overall standards and integrity of Canadian visa applications.

Political considerations also play a role in this change. Recently, the USA lobbied the Canadian government to prevent this practice due to increased processing demands on the US and resulting delays. Additionally, while the CBSA has the authority to process some immigration applications, they prefer to focus on enforcement, customs, duties, and other mandates rather than managing an immigration program.

The platform's advanced features include measures to maintain the chain-of-trust and help ensure document authenticity, services to help students with living arrangements, and access to extensive support services including legal advice, employment guidance, and much more.

BorderPass Is Here To Help

BorderPass is committed to supporting international students through every step of their post-graduation work permit (PGWP) application process. Here's how we ensure a seamless and efficient experience for students and Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs):

• Personalized Notices: BorderPass sends personalized notices with step-by-step PGWP application instructions six months, three months, and one month before program completion, ensuring students can promptly submit applications and continue working without interruption.
• Document Preparation: BorderPass collaborates with DLIs to ensure applicants have all necessary documents, securely storing previous documentation to streamline the PGWP application process.
• Compliance Support: Throughout their study program, BorderPass helps students and DLIs ensure compliance, maintaining eligibility for the PGWP by monitoring full-time status and work authorization.
• Application Review and Filing: BorderPass assists in assessing eligibility and ensuring applications are complete and accurate, with all PGWP applications legally reviewed and filed by a Canadian Immigration Lawyer.

Get in Touch

We're dedicated to providing tools and transparency to enhance the Canadian educational landscape for international students, institutions, and the broader economy.

To learn more about how BorderPass supports international students with PGWP applications, talk to our team.

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