I am an international student in Canada. How can I become a permanent resident?
There are many immigration programs available to international students in Canada. While each program 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:
*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.
NOTE: Completing an Express Entry profile is the first step to immigrate to Canada permanently as a skilled worker. Completing an Express Entry profile does not guarantee that you will receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence. An Invitation to Apply for permanent residence will be sent based on your score and rank in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System.
There are several permanent resident categories that you may qualify in, including:
Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Many provinces offer Canadian immigration programs for foreign students in Canada via the provincial nominee programs they have in place. Generally, applicants must have graduated from a Canadian post secondary education program. Requirements can vary by province; sometimes work experience and a job offer is required.
International students who have completed a recognized program of study in Quebec, and who possess an intermediate level of proficiency in the French language may qualify under this Canadian immigration program. Canadian work experience is not required for this Quebec immigration program.
The Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience.
1. Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents.
You must :
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meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability,
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have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years before you apply—you can meet this in a few different ways: full-time at 1 job, equal amount of part-time work, full-time work at more than 1 job,
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have gained your work experience by working in Canada while under temporary resident status with authorization to work.
You can work as many part-time jobs as you need to meet this requirement.
You’re not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class if:
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you’re a refugee claimant in Canada,
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you’re working without authorization,
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your work experience was gained without temporary resident status in Canada.
According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:
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managerial jobs (skill level 0)
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professional jobs (skill type A)
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technical jobs and skilled trades (skill type B)
Your work experience can be in 1 or more NOC 0, A or B jobs.
Student work experience gained while you were studying and self-employed work doesn’t count towards the minimum requirements for the Canadian Experience Class.
You must show that you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Education
There is no education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class.
If you want to improve your rank in the Express Entry pool for immigration purposes, there are 2 ways you can do this.
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If you went to school in Canada, you can get points for a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
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secondary institution (high school) or
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post-secondary institution
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or
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If you have foreign education, you can get points for:
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a completed foreign credential, and
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an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for immigration purposes from a designated organization showing that your education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian:
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secondary institution (high school) or
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post-secondary institution
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Language ability
You must:
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meet the minimum language level of:
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Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or
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Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs
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take approved language tests
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describe the test results in your Express Entry profile
Your language tests are valid for 2 years after the date of the test result and must be valid on the day you apply for permanent residence.
2. The Federal Skilled Worker Program
This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
This program has minimum requirements for:
- skilled work experience
- language ability
- education
You must meet all the minimum requirements to be eligible.
If you meet all the minimum requirements, we’ll then assess your application based on:
- age
- education
- work experience
- whether you have a valid job offer
- English and/or French language skills
- adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle here)
These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. You earn points for how well you do in each of the 6 factors.
Skilled work experience means that you’ve worked in 1 of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) job groups:
- Managerial jobs (skill type 0)
- Professional jobs (skill level A)
- Technical jobs and skilled trades (skill level B)
You must show that while working in your primary occupation, you performed the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. This includes all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed.
Student work experience
Work experience gained while you were studying may count towards your minimum requirements if the work:
- was paid by wages or commissions
- was continuous (no gaps in employment), and
- meets all the other requirements of the Program
3. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Many provinces offer Canadian immigration programs for foreign students in Canada via the provincial nominee programs they have in place. Generally, applicants must have graduated from a Canadian post secondary education program. Requirements can vary by province; sometimes work experience and a job offer is required. PNPs are a popular Canadian immigration option, as applications for Canadian PR are typically processed faster compared to other immigration programs.
To apply as a provincial nominee, you must:
- meet the minimum requirements of one of the province or territory’s non-Express Entry streams
- be nominated under that stream
***Please note that if you qualify for the following categories, you do NOT need to register and can submit an application DIRECTLY:
-Health Authority
-International Post-Graduate category
4. Quebec Experience Class (QEC)
International students who have completed a recognized program of study in Quebec, and who possess an intermediate level of proficiency in the French language may qualify under this Canadian immigration program. Canadian work experience is not required for this Quebec immigration program.
There are two categories under the Quebec Experience Class:
- Foreign students
- Individuals with work experience in Quebec
Immigration to Quebec is a two-step process, in which an applicant first applies for a Quebec Selection Certificate ( CSQ) – a document that allows the holder to immigrate to Quebec. Once the applicant obtains a CSQ, the applicant must then submit an application to Immigration Canada for approval before the residency visa is issued.
Foreign Students
You will need to submit an application for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (Québec selection certificate – CSQ) under the Programme de l’expérience québécoise (Québec experience program – PEQ) or the Regular Skilled Worker Program.
You must follow a two-stage process:
- Applying for a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ – Québec selection certificate)
- Applying to the government of Canada for permanent residence
Foreign students in Quebec will be eligible to apply under this program if they meet the following requirements:
- The student must have obtained a degree or diploma from an educational institution recognized by the Quebec Ministry of Education within the past 36 months;
- The student must have studied in Quebec for at least 1,800 hours (two years);
- The student must show that he or she has successfully completed an advanced intermediate level French course at a Quebec educational institution, if his or her studies were not completed in French, or prove French ability by way of a standardized language test recognized by the government of Quebec.
5.Post- Graduate Work Permit
The Post-Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWP) allows students who have graduated from eligible Canadian designated learning institutions (DLIs) to obtain an open work permit to gain valuable Canadian work experience. Skilled Canadian work experience in National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill type 0 or skill level A or B that is gained through the PGWPP helps graduates qualify for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian experience class within Express Entry.
In closing, Canada is hoping to develop a new pathway to permanent residency for international students, hinted Immigration Minister Sean Fraser in an online interview with ApplyBoard.
The Ontario-based educational tech company was founded by Canadian immigrants in 2015 and spoke with Fraser earlier this month. During that interview, the immigration minister stressed the importance of immigration and the contributions of international students to the Canadian economy.
“Our message to international students and graduates is simple,” said Fraser. “We don’t just want you to study here. We’re hoping to create pathways that allow you to stay here and make a lasting contribution beyond your academic career.”
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