International students intend to remain in Canada after completing their study programs.As the number of international students keeps rising, Canada can retain as many students as possible.
Canadian employers tend to accept employees with experience in Canada, putting international students in a favorable situation. If you wish to permanently reside in Canada after your studies, there are a lot of immigration programs for you to opt in for.
Wait! If you want to know if it is possible to apply for both temporary (work and study) and permanent residence in Canada, it is; this is referred to as a dual intent.
Dual intent in this context is a situation where an international student applies for permanent residence, and at the same time applies for a temporary study permit.
By the way, you need to know that skilled work experience is required for many Canadian immigration programs, hence placing international students at an advantage.
The good thing is that you are eligible as an international student graduate to apply for a post-graduate work permit, which allows you to work after graduating and get some skilled work experience.
Immigration Programs For International Students
We have compiled some programs for international students who tend to remain in Canada after their study programs.
These programs proffer accelerated pathways for students to become permanent residents in Canada.
You need to know that the Canada Express Entry system powers most of these programs as it is the federal system for running and organizing permanent resident applications in Canada.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
If you wish to go through this process quickly without Canadian work experience, you should go for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program.
Unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), with the FSW program, you do not necessarily need to have Canadian work experience, making it a good fit for international student graduates with some skilled work experience abroad.
The FSW is operated through the Express Entry immigration system. It is attained through a merit-based immigration program that uses a points-based Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score that ranks candidates against one another automatically.
After checking the ranking score and meeting the eligibility requirements as an international student, I consider FSW a great pathway to becoming a permanent Canadian resident.
Note: Applicants may have to prove that they have held full-time, continuous, skilled work experience for a minimum period of 12 months in any country or a part-time experience equivalent to that.
If international students have never entered the workforce, they are advised to try other programs as this may not be for them.
Canadian Experience Class
International students who have studied a full-time course for two years in an accredited post-secondary school in Canada may qualify for this program.
Some requirements for this option include the following: the international student must have completed their program, obtained the educational credential, and have 12 months’ full-time work experience in a skilled position.
Note that unpaid internships or co-op placements do not count, and your work experience should be obtained after graduating from the program of study.
Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
To qualify for this option, you must get a full-time job offer in a skilled trade from up to 2 Canadian employers or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.
This stream is for tradespersons.
After FSTC, there are many opportunities for trade students and graduates in Canada to build connections.
Provincial Nominee Programs
In Canada, every province runs its immigration programs called Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Each PNP operates differently to meet the objectives of that specific province or territory, and there are different criteria for getting accepted in a provincial nominee program.
The PNPs are normally favorable to applicants who have a connection to the province, connections which include study completed within the province and work experience gained in the province.
This is a great way to permanently reside in Canada, as you may receive your Canada permanent residence quickly using this option.
Some provinces do not give preference to international student graduates and immigrants with worthy experience from their province.
Quebec Immigration Options
Like every other province, Quebec operates its immigration system with its requirements, procedures, and rules guiding it.
This might differ from other provinces but is similar to the rest of Canada.
According to Quebec’s immigration programs, international students are given high priority, making it easier for them to apply for permanent residence.
There are two permanent residence programs designed for international students in Quebec province:
Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): To apply through this stream, you may have to graduate from an institution in Quebec or within six months of completing your studies at any institution in Quebec.
To qualify for the PEQ, an international student must have a good knowledge of oral French.
Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW): To apply through this stream, you may have to graduate from an institution in Quebec or within six months of completing your studies at any institution in Quebec.
The QSW differs from the PEQ in that you do not necessarily need to have a good knowledge of oral French, as your eligibility greatly depends on your points assessment grid score on the program.
Post-Graduation Work Permits
This kind of work permit doesn’t offer a direct permanent residence.
Still, it allows international students who have graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) to stay back in Canada after they have concluded their studies and work with any Canadian employer.
What the Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) does is to qualify you for Canadian permanent residence through either the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or an employer-driven Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Not every program in the DLIs is eligible for a post-graduation work permit; hence, consider checking if your course of study and program are eligible before applying.
See more about the Post-Graduate Work Permit.
Canada is a great place to live, and it will be worth every effort you put into getting permanent residence here.
