If you have completed your studies in the country of Canada, you may have decided to migrate to Canada and become a permanent resident Canada and citizen of the country. The Government of Canada has introduced many pathways and programs to allow international students a chance to gain permanent residency in Canada. Many programs that grant permanent residence to immigrants also require those applying through these programs to have a certain amount of job experience. Those who have an existing connection to Canada, or work experience as a Canadian or even an educational qualification they have completed from Canada are many times at an advantage under many of these programs.
The programs have been designed in a way that these conditions place international students at an advantage if they wish to gain immigration and citizenship of Canada. They will have to make sure that they meet the eligibility criteria for their study permit to stay valid throughout their stay in Canada. If a student has violated the terms agreed to for their study permit, this can have a negative impact on all the future applications they submit for immigration to Canada.
The eligibility requirements for the post-graduate work permit can be fulfilled by almost all international students. This gives them a chance to immigrate to Canada and work there. This way, you as an international working student in Canada will be able to gain Canadian work experience that may be required to be eligible for another program.
Many programs and pathways have been introduced by the federal government of Canada for the benefit of international students. Each of these programs has different ways of operating and different eligibility criteria. Some of them may require additional conditions fulfilled apart from having an educational qualification from a Canadian educational institution. Listed below are some of the programs that international students can apply through based on what suits them best. In case of queries, you can approach your immigration consultant.
Canadian Experience Class
This stream is one of the programs that make up the Express Entry Program. This program is among the fastest ways you can gain permanent resident status in Canada. Some of the eligibility criteria for this program include your age, your language skills in French or English, your educational qualifications etc.
A requirement that distinguishes this program from the rest is that to be eligible to apply through this stream for permanent residence in Canada, you should have in the three years before the submission of your application completed one year of full-time skilled work. This experience must have been gained as a Canadian worker and should not have any breaks in the middle. You can also gain an equivalent of 12 months of full-time work experience as a part-timer.
An important thing to note here is that this work experience cannot be gained as a full-time student. If you studied in Canada with a study permit that also gave you the authorization to work as a student, that work experience should not be counted in this one-year full-time work experience.
If you are an international student with a graduation degree or equivalent educational qualification, you will become eligible for a post-graduation work permit. This permit will let you gain the work experience that you need to become eligible for this stream.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
This program is also a stream that makes up the Express Entry Program. If you are an international student, this program may be your chance to gain permanent residency in Canada. This program does not have a pre-requisite of having worked previously in Canada. If you have any work experience as a skilled worker in any country, this program is your way to obtain immigration and citizenship of Canada.
This immigration program is based on the merit of the candidates. The program utilizes a point system called the Comprehensive Ranking System. This system will give a score to each applicant that has submitted their application for this program. The best scores will be given a chance to further apply for permanent residence. If you are an international student and fulfill all the eligibility for this program, you must consult with your immigration consultant on how you can get a high CRS score. This will increase the probability of your application getting accepted for applying for permanent residency through this program.
If you are applying for permanent residency through this program as an international student, you are not required to provide proof of Canadian full-time skilled work experience. You do not have to have completed an equivalent of one year of full-time work as a part-time worker as well.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Every province in Canada, as well as the territories, have their own immigration programs. One Provincial Nominee Program differs from the other in many ways. This is because they are made by the provincial government to meet the immigration needs of individual provinces in Canada.
There are many streams under Provincial Nominee Programs where those applicants who have a previous connection with the province are preferred over the others. This could be in any form such as a previous work experience or the candidate could have studied in the province. If you are an international student who has completed an educational qualification in a Canadian province, you may be eligible for permanent residency in that province.
Ontario Immigration Nominee Program
International Student Stream
To qualify for this stream, you should be an international student and also have an employment offer from an employer in Canada who is qualified to do so. The work you are offered must fall under the skill type of 0, A or B. Through this stream, you can gain permanent residency in Ontario. You can apply for this program whether you are living inside or outside the country and can even get a job in Ontario.
The Master’s Graduate Stream
For this program, you must have an educational qualification that is the equivalent of having a Master’s degree in the province of Ontario. The application must be submitted online. If you qualify, this stream can give you the chance of gaining permanent residency in Canada as well as citizenship.
Ph.D. Graduate stream
You can apply through this stream of the Ontario PNP as an international student if you have the educational qualification that is the equivalent of having completed a Ph.D. in the province of Ontario.
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
Career Employment Pathway
This stream can help you gain permanent residency in the province of Manitoba if you are an international student and have completed your graduation from a designated education from an institution from Manitoba of post-secondary level. The graduation must have been completed within a time period of 3 years before you submit your application for this program. You will also be required to submit your language test results and have an employment offer ready from an employer in Manitoba.
Graduate Internship Pathway
You can apply to gain permanent residency through this pathway if you received your Master’s degree or Doctoral from an educational institution in Manitoba. This degree must have been received in the 3 years before applying for this program. You will require a CBL score of 7 on your language test as well as a certificate of competition for an internship program in an industry that is eligible in the Manitoba economy.
International Student Entrepreneur Pilot
You will be required to submit a business plan along with your application for this program. You should also have worked as a senior manager in Manitoba for a minimum of 6 months with a valid temporary work permit to be eligible for this stream.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
International Student Stream
This stream allows those international students who have completed an educational program in the province of Saskatchewan a chance to gain permanent residency in the province. This requires you to have completed your certification or graduation program from an approved and recognized institute in Saskatchewan. You must have a level of education qualification that is equivalent to having completed a post-secondary program in Canada.
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
The Post-Graduate Entrepreneurial Stream
This program can help you in gaining a permanent residence status in the province of New Brunswick. To be eligible, You will be required to have completed your education from an institution in this province. This stream will give you the authorization to stay in Canada for a time period of 2 years. You will have to qualify for the language test, have the required educational qualifications as well as be interested in becoming an owner of a business based in New Brunswick.
International Graduate Stream: Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
This pathway can help you gain permanent residency if you have received your degree or diploma from an educational institution in the province of Prince Edward Island. YOu should have worked with an employer from Prince Edward Island, have the required language skills and educational qualifications as well.
International Graduate Category: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
For this stream, you will be required to have completed your graduation. You must also have a valid work permit post-graduation or an employment opportunity from a Newfoundland and Labrador employer. You must have completed education that is equivalent to a degree or at least post-secondary level by Canadian standards. The job offer must be for work that falls under the sill types 0, A or B as per NOC. YOu will also have to qualify for the language test and have received job training in the time period of 5 years before you apply for permanent residency through this stream.
International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
For being eligible to apply for permanent residency under this stream you must have completed your education from an institute in this province. You will also be required to submit a business plan along with financial proofs as a part of the application process in this stream. You must be an active manager in a business, own a business in Newfoundland and Labrador or have a valid post-graduation work permit. You will also have to qualify for the language test and provide proof of the profit-making capabilities of your business.
Quebec Immigration Options
Quebec has its own immigration programs that are different from those of other provinces. The procedures that are followed in the immigration system of Quebec are different from those of the rest of the country. But there are programs where international students have the advantage and a higher chance of gaining permanent residence in Quebec. There are two main streams under the Quebec immigration programs that can be used by international students to gain permanent residency in Quebec.
Quebec Experience Program
If you are applying through this program as an international student, you should have completed your study program from Quebec or there should be a period of 6 months remaining in your study program for completion when you submit your application. Another criterion of eligibility for this program is that you must have an intermediate to advanced knowledge and understanding of spoken French.
Quebec Skilled Worker
If you are an international student who has completed a study program in Quebec or is in the process of completing a study program from the province of Quebec, this program is suitable for you. This program does not require you to have an intermediate to advanced knowledge of spoken French. But candidates are given a score on an assessment grid. You will have to get the minimum score that is required to get into bed to apply further.
Post-Graduation Work Permits
This permit does not come under a permanent residency program. It was introduced by the Canadian Federal Government to give allowance to the international students who have completed their graduation program from an educational institution that is designated for this permit. It allows the students to stay in Canada even after they have completed their study program. The student also has the authorization to gain employment from an employer in Canada. The work experience gained under this permit can be used to qualify for another program and apply for Canada permanent residency. Most people use the experience to apply through the Canadian Experience Class program or a provincial nominee program that is employer-driven. You can get a post-graduation work permit for any study program that you may take from a learning institution that is designated under this program.
