International students who are unable to submit all the necessary documents for their study permit of Post-Graduate Work Permit requirements due to coronavirus disruptions need not worry,  as Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will not be refusing incomplete applications. 

Due to the pandemic forcing many application centers to cease or limit operations, some applicants have been unable to comply with three essential requirements for their application: 

• giving biometrics;
• medical examinations; and 
• submission of original travel documents

As such, IRCC will be keeping incomplete applications open, and will continue to request additional supporting documents and similar actions, until they have received the documents or are provided with proof that action has been taken. 

This measure also extends to applicants for the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) who are unable to request a letter of completion or final transcript from their Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

International students who apply for the PGWP prior to their study permit expiring but are unable to submit a complete application due to DLI closure will be able to begin working full time until a decision is made. 

However, applicants must submit a letter of explanation showcasing they are unable to submit the documents due to their school’s closure. Should the documents become available, they may submit them through the IRCC web form.

Applicants may also restore their status without a final transcript or letter of completion, though those restoring their statuses will not be allowed to work while their application is processing.

With health and social distancing measures in place, many post-secondary institutions may have had to close or cancel classes. International students affected by the cancellation of classes may have had to put their studies on hold or study part-time.

Students who have had to change their status to part-time due to changes in their DLI’s programs for the 2020 winter and summer semesters will still be eligible to apply for a PGWP.

This latest measure is one among many the Government of Canada has put into place in order to have the PGWP remain accessible to interested applicants otherwise affected by the coronavirus crisis.