Note: this discussion is about the specific 2023 PGWP Interim Work Authorization extension policy and its fees — check current IRCC guidance, as these details are time-bound and may no longer apply.A member laid out the 2023 PGWP extension choice: opt-in (free, extends work authorization to May 31, 2024 depending on profile) versus applying through the regular extension process (paid, but potentially longer — up to 18 months from approval if you wait until after Dec 31, 2023 to apply).
What the thread added:- The regular extension process had a processing fee, reported as roughly CAD 155 for applicants exempt from the Open Work Permit holder fee, or about CAD 255 for those not exempt — members flagged that IRCC hadn't clearly published which category most people fell into that year.
- Anyone applying after their PGWP had already expired needed to pay an additional restoration fee, cited as around CAD 200 on top of the regular fee.
- The opt-in option's fine print included accepting an 18-month extension to your existing work permit as part of opting in, per the option's own terms.
Takeaway: when a similar interim policy comes up in future years, compare the free opt-in path against the paid regular-extension path carefully — the paid path can grant a longer extension, but total costs (base fee + possible restoration fee) can add up, and terms/fees change year to year, so verify against the current IRCC policy in effect.