Are you an international student or a recent graduate of a Canadian study program? We know that for many international students, studying in Canada is just the first step toward a larger goal of permanent immigration to Canada. Today, we’ll go over the next steps you’ll need to take to put yourself in the best position to qualify for permanent residence.
First Steps After Completing Your Studies
If you’re nearing the end of your study program, you’ll probably be thinking about the next steps to stay in Canada once your study permit expires. Many graduates choose to stay in Canada with a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP).
The PGWP is an open work permit, which means you can work for any employer in Canada. The requirements for the PGWP are:
- Must be at least 18 years old
- Must have completed a full-time study program that lasted eight months or more
- Must apply within 180 days of your graduation date
- Must have valid temporary residence status at the time of your application
Working in Canada on a work permit after graduating is a valuable step toward permanent residence. Many of Canada’s immigration programs value a Canadian education, and most economic immigration programs will require applicants to have Canadian work experience. Collecting that experience on this work permit will put you in a good position to apply for permanent residency.
Popular Pathways to Permanent Residency
Once you have collected your work experience, which is another qualification to add to your Canadian diploma or degree, you can look into pathways to permanent residence. Canada offers several different immigration streams, so it is important to find an option for which you have all the right qualifications. Below, we’ll go over some of the most popular ways that international students eventually become permanent residents of Canada.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an extremely popular immigration system in Canada. Applicants must be eligible for one of the following programs:
Many international students qualify for the Canadian Experience Class, which requires just one year of full-time work experience as a skilled worker within the last three years before applying. This work experience must be under NOC skill level 0 or A. With any program you are considering applying for, check all requirements for NOC codes and skill levels that qualify. Understanding NOC skill levels will help you plan accordingly to ensure you get the type of work experience and find the pathways that best fit you and your qualifications.
Express Entry candidates are selected based on their CRS score. Every couple of weeks, there is a draw, selecting individuals from a pool of Express Entry candidates. Your CRS score is calculated based on your qualifications, including work experience, education, language skills, and more. You can calculate your CRS score with our CRS Chatbot.
