Get Canadian permanent residency as an international student

Many international students who graduate from Canadian schools choose to stay in Canada permanently. Luckily, there are many immigration programs that help them transition to permanent residency. There are many ways to get permanent residency in Canada, and this guide will help you learn about a few of them after you graduate.

Improve Your Chances of Permanent Residency in Canada

International students can improve their chances of getting permanent residency (PR) in Canada by preparing in advance. This includes learning about the PR process and taking the necessary steps, such as getting Canadian work experience in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level that corresponds with the skilled worker immigration pathways they are interested in applying to.

International students are also competitive in the PR process because they have many favorable qualities, such as motivation, multilingualism, global experience, and local education. Canadian employers recognize and value the local education and work experience that international students gain in Canada.

How to Immigrate to Canada as an International Student Graduate?

There are many ways for international students to immigrate to Canada. Each program has its own requirements, but all of them require that you have completed your studies in Canada.

The following programs can help international student graduates become Canadian permanent residents more quickly:

Many of these programs are part of Canada’s Express Entry system, which is the federal government’s way of managing permanent residency applications

Provincial Nominee Programs

Many provinces and territories offer the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), a popular pathway to permanent residency for international students. The PNP is open to skilled workers who want to live in a specific province or territory.

Many PNP streams prefer candidates with connections to the province, such as family ties, educational background, or work experience. For example, international students may be eligible to apply for the PNP in the province where they completed their studies.

Quebec, the French-speaking province of Canada, has its own immigration system that aims to attract skilled francophone workers. Quebec also gives points to candidates who have studied in the province and have local work experience.

Quebec Immigration

Quebec has its own immigration system with its own requirements. Despite this, international students still have advantages when applying for permanent residence in Quebec. Quebec has two main permanent residency programs with streams designed especially for international students:

Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)

To qualify for the PEQ program, international students in Quebec must have completed their studies or be within 6 months of completing their studies. They must also demonstrate an advanced intermediate knowledge of oral French.

Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW)

International students in Quebec who are completing or have already completed an educational program in Quebec can apply for permanent residency through the QSW program, even if they don’t speak French. However, they must score high enough on the QSW program’s points assessment grid. The PEQ program, on the other hand, requires French proficiency.

Post-Graduation Work Permits

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program allows international students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience. This work experience can help graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) within Express Entry.

To be eligible for a PGWP, you must:

Have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada
Have completed a program that was at least 8 months long
Have maintained full-time student status throughout your program
Have applied for the PGWP within 180 days of graduating

You can apply for a PGWP from inside Canada or from outside Canada. If you are applying from inside Canada, you must have valid immigration status at the time of your application. If you are applying from outside Canada, you must have been approved for a study permit and have completed your studies in Canada.

The length of your PGWP will depend on the length of your study program. If your program was less than 8 months, you will not be eligible for a PGWP. If your program was at least 8 months, but less than 2 years, you may be eligible for a PGWP that is valid for up to the same length as your study program.

For example, if you completed a 9-month program, you may be given a work permit for up to 9 months. If your program was 2 years or more, you may be given a PGWP that is valid for 3 years. If you completed more than 1 program, you may be able to get a PGWP that combines the length of each program.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program that allows international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada and have gained Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residency.

To be eligible for the CEC, you must:

Have at least 12 months of full-time (or the equivalent in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in one or more occupations that are listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC) 0, A, or B.
Have a valid language test result from a designated testing agency, such as the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP) or the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF).
Meet the minimum requirements for education, language, and work experience under the Express Entry system.

You can apply for the CEC through the Express Entry system. Express Entry is an online system that manages applications for permanent residence under three economic immigration programs: the Canadian Experience Class, the Federal Skilled Worker Program, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is one of the three immigration programs managed under Canada’s Express Entry system. It is designed to attract skilled workers with foreign work experience who can contribute to the Canadian economy.

To be eligible for the FSWP, international students must meet the following requirements:

Have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER level 0, 1, 2, or 3 in the past 10 years.
Have a valid language test result from a designated testing agency, such as the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index (CELPIP) or the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF).
Meet the minimum requirements for education, language, and work experience under the Express Entry system.

International students can apply for the FSWP through the Express Entry system. To create an Express Entry profile, international students will need to provide information about their education, work experience, language skills, and other factors. Their profile will be ranked against the profiles of other candidates in the Express Entry pool. The highest-ranked candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.

If an international student receives an ITA, they will have 60 days to submit a complete application for permanent residence. Their application will be processed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If their application is approved, they will be issued a visa to live and work permanently in Canada.

How Express Entry Can Help International Students Get Permanent Residency in Canada?

Express Entry is Canada’s main immigration system for skilled workers. It has been updated to give international students who have studied in Canada some advantages. The most significant change is that international students with a Canadian post-secondary educational credential can get up to 30 more points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

To be eligible for Express Entry, you must be eligible for one of three federal economic immigration programs and create a profile in the Express Entry pool. You will be assigned a CRS score, and the government will invite the highest-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence.

Express Entry is more likely to select young candidates with Canadian work and study experience and language skills. This means that students and graduates in Canada have a good chance of getting permanent residence.

Study Permit to Permanent Residency