How to stay in Canada permanently after studying
If you graduated from a university or college in Canada, you can become a permanent resident and then a citizen.
Entering a Canadian university or college is a popular and reliable way to permanent residency in Canada. There are several reasons for this:
- If you have studied and/or worked in Canada, you get extra points in many immigration programs, which increases your chances for permanent residency.
- While you are studying, your spouse or common-law partner can work in Canada on an open work permit and your children can attend public school. So the whole family can go to Canada together.
- Finding a job after graduation from a Canadian institution is much easier.
Many immigration programs are designed specifically for college and university graduates. Thus, in some cases, graduation is already sufficient to apply for immigration.
But often graduates opt for another way, namely get Canadian work experience first. For example, it makes you eligible to apply to the federal program for candidates with Canadian work experience. The advantage of this program is that applications are processed fast and applicants can apply no matter where in Canada they studied.
You can work in Canada on a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). It lasts from one to three years, depending on how long your program of study lasted. To get a PGWP, you must meet several criteria:
- complete a minimum 8-month program at one of the eligible institutions called Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs);
- obtain a degree, diploma, or certificate from that institution;
- stay in Canada as a student for the entire period of study.
After working in Canada for a certain amount of time, you can apply for permanent residency under one of the federal or provincial programs. The period of work can vary: 6 months, 9 months, 1 or 2 years. Most often, you need to work for a year.
Below are the requirements of some of the immigration programs used by graduates of Canadian institutions:
| Program | Work experience requirements | Language requirements | Study program requirements |
| Federal program for candidates with Canadian experience | 1 year of work experience in a skilled occupation | CLB 5 (intermediate) or CLB 7 (upper-intermediate) depending on the profession | No requirements |
| Atlantic program for graduates | Job offer in one of the Atlantic provinces, no experience required | CLB 4 (basic) for low-skilled occupations, CLB 5 for others | Completion of a 2-year program in one of the Atlantic provinces |
| Ontario stream for international students | Job offer in Ontario, no experience required | No requirements | Completion of a 1— or 2-year program in Ontario |
| Ontario streams for master and PhD graduates | No work experience or job offer required | CLB 7 for masters, no requirements for PhDs | Completion of 1-year master's program, or 2-year doctoral program |
| British Columbia stream for international graduates | Job offer in British Columbia in a skilled occupation, no experience required | CLB 4 for some professions | Completion of a 1-year program in British Columbia |
| Quebec program for graduates | 1 year of work experience in a skilled occupation | CLB 7 in French | Completion of a program of 1,800 hours or more |
This is not a complete list of programs. You can see graduate programs in other Canadian provinces on our website.
After 3 years of living in Canada as a permanent resident, you are eligible to apply for citizenship.
We help you with your admission to Canada and your permanent residency. Our team of licensed consultants will analyze your situation, select a college and program, apply for admission and for your student visa. Once you finish your studies, you can contact us again to apply for a work permit and then for permanent residency. Sign up for an initial consultation and we'll go over all the details.
