Many international students decide they wish to stay in Canada after completing a couple of years of studying in Canada. Fortunately for such students who want to transition to Canadian permanent residence, there are several pathways available.
Immigration Program for International Students
There are many immigration programs available to international students. While each pathway operates differently and has requirements beyond completing Canadian studies, the programs listed below may provide international student graduates with accelerated pathways to becoming Canadian permanent residents.
- Canadian Experience class
- Federal skilled worker program
- Provincial nominee programs
- Quebec immigration options
Some of the programs are operated under Canada’s Express entry system, the federal system for managing permanent resident applications. Also, some of these categories require work experience. If you want to work in Canada after you graduate from your studies, you must apply for a work permit under the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program.
Before we continue with the immigration options first we need to know some basics about the Canadian PR system.
Courses can Lead to Permanent Residency
Your choice of course matters a lot, so if you are thinking of residing in Canada permanently then ensure your program eligibility.
You can check eligibility through the National Occupational Classification (NOC) which is a list of all available occupations in the Canadian labour market. The list has the details of available jobs according to skill type and skill level. So if you want to immigrate to Canada then you need to consider courses that lead to jobs that are on the NOC list:
- Skill type 0 > management
- Skill type A > jobs that generally require a university degree
- Skill type B > technical occupations that usually require a college diploma
- Skill type C > intermediate jobs which fall into the job-specific category and require a college diploma
- Skill level D > occupations that require on-the-job training
Now let’s break the pathways down to see the eligibility criteria of the immigration options.
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is operated through the Express Entry immigration system and is considered one of the fastest ways to obtain PR. It uses the Comprehensive Ranking System to rank interested candidates. Applicants who have scores above average are invited to apply for Canadian PR.
To be eligible for this immigration option a candidate must have at least 12 months of full-time ( or an equivalent amount of part-time), and skilled work experience must have been acquired within the previous three years from the date of the application. However, the work experience you have gained while studying in Canada will not be accepted in this immigration program. Other eligibility factors include:
- Candidate’s employment duties in Canada fall under the NOC Code Skill Level 0, A or B.
- Language: reach a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language text for NOC skill level 0 or A jobs
Provided that a candidate meets the requirements, they will be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile for the Canadian Experience Class immigration program.
Federal Skilled Worker
Federal Skilled Worker, like CEC, is managed through Express Entry. This immigration program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to get PR in Canada. Unlike CEC, Federal Skilled Worker doesn’t require Canadian work experience. Which makes it a good option for international students who have adequate years of experience abroad.
FSW is a merit-based immigration program which also uses a point-based CRS, and applicants with competitive profiles are invited to apply for permanent residency. Eligibility criteria include:
- Candidate’s employment duties in Canada fall under the NOC Code Skill Level 0, A or B.
- Have 67 points on a point-based assessment.
- English or French Language skills.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
PNPs are an immigration route for individuals who want to immigrate to a Canadian specific province or territory. Every year the Canadian Government increases the number of invitations for PNP candidates. These programs are one of the fastest-growing routes to economic immigration in Canada. Each province and territory in Canada has its own PNP that was created to fit the unique economic and demographic needs of the region. PNPs allow a province to nominate an international student with a Post-Graduation Work Permit for permanent residence in Canada. Once the individual has the nomination, they are eligible to apply for PR.
Quebec Immigration Options
Quebec has its own immigration system with requirements and procedures that are distinct from those used nationwide. However, they are created so that international students can benefit from the streams and apply for PR. Two permanent residency options are available for international students in Quebec.
- Quebec Experience Program (PEQ)
International students must have completed their study program at a Quebec university or be within six months of doing so in order to be eligible for Quebec Immigration. An international student must exhibit advanced intermediate oral French language proficiency to be eligible for PEQ.
- Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW)
International students in Quebec who have completed or are in the process of completing an educational credential in Quebec can apply to this stream. Unlike PEQ, this stream doesn’t require international students to have a mandatory French proficiency. However, they need to meet a minimum score on the program’s points requirement.
How long can I stay in Canada while waiting for permanent residency?
As long as you maintain your legal status, you are permitted to remain in Canada while you wait for permanent residency. You must make sure that your status as a temporary resident is still valid while you are in Canada because temporary resident status is only valid for a limited time.
Edvise Hub is a dynamic study abroad consultancy that not only will help you through every step of the process of becoming an international student in Canada but will also advise on possible PR pathways. Canada is full of great courses and universities, so it can get confusing to find the best one for yourself. A consultant of Edvise Hub will listen to your needs and goals and ensure that they find the perfect fit for you.
