- ABC-IQ Programs Register, begin outside of country. Complete 50% of program and continue learning in country.
Government of Canada Restrictions
- You must complete at least 50% of your program in class inside Canada.
- The time spent studying outside of Canada will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
What doesn’t count toward the length of your PGWP
You can’t count the following time toward the length of a PGWP:
- time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024 New
- time spent studying before you applied for a study permit
Distance learning from inside Canada
If your courses were moved online due to the pandemic, the time you spend studying online from within Canada until August 31, 2024 New, still counts toward the length of your PGWP. However, it’s highly recommended that you attend in-class options when offered.
The temporary policy change for in-Canada students studying online ends on August 31, 2024 New.
If your passport expires before your PGWP
Make sure your passport is valid for the entire length of time your PGWP would be.
If your passport expires before your PGWP, we’ll
- issue you a PGWP that’s only valid until your passport expires
- tell you if you need to extend it to get the full validity of your PGWP
You can only extend a PGWP if we tell you that you can. If this happens, you have to apply on paper to extend your PGWP for it to be extended to its full length.
Special cases
If you’re in any of these groups, you may be eligible for a PGWP.
Accelerated programs
Distance learning
Distance learning from outside of Canada
You can complete up to 100% of your studies online from outside Canada between March 2020 and August 31, 2022, because of a temporary COVID-19 policy. This temporary policy was in place until August 31, 2022.
You’re eligible for this temporary policy if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You’re enrolled in a PGWP-eligible program.
- You were outside Canada and did not travel to Canada because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but were still able to take online courses.
- You began a program of study between from March 2020 and August 31, 2022, or your program was already in progress in March 2020.
- You have a study permit or approval for a study permit, or you have applied for a study permit for which you are eventually approved prior to starting your program.
- You can count the time you spent studying after you submitted your initial study permit application, even if it’s refused, as long as you submit another application that is eventually approved before you finish your study program.
- You meet all other PGWP eligibility criteria.
This temporary policy changed as of September 1, 2022.
To find out if these changes apply to you and how, check the date
- that you started your program of study
- on the study permit application receipt that we sent you
Whichever date comes first is the lock-in date that applies to you. Next, check the rules for distance learning for your lock-in date.
Lock-in date between September 1, 2022, and August 31, 2024 New
- You must complete at least 50% of your program inside Canada (online or in class).
- The time spent studying online from outside of Canada before August 31, 2024, will count toward the length of your PGWP as long as it constitutes less than 50% of your program of study.
Lock-in date on or after September 1, 2024 New
- You must complete at least 50% of your program in class inside Canada.
- The time spent studying outside of Canada will be deducted from the length of your PGWP.
What doesn’t count toward the length of your PGWP
You can’t count the following time toward the length of a PGWP:
- time spent studying online from outside Canada after August 31, 2024 New
- time spent studying before you applied for a study permit
Distance learning from inside Canada
If your courses were moved online due to the pandemic, the time you spend studying online from within Canada until August 31, 2024 New, still counts toward the length of your PGWP. However, it’s highly recommended that you attend in-class options when offered.
The temporary policy change for in-Canada students studying online ends on August 31, 2024 New.
Taking leave from your studies
Transfers between schools
Canadian study programs with an overseas component
Flight school graduates
Graduates of certain Quebec schools
Graduates of master’s degree programs
Document navigation Government of Canada
Kindly note ABC-IQ is a private institution. This is not an endorsement by the Government of Canada. Student legal legislation, National security compliance.