5 Permanent Residence Pathways For International Students In Canada
Canada is one of the top choices for overseas students for education and a bright future. A variety of options are available for students who want to transition from temporary student status to permanent residency.
Study permits are being actively marketed as a way of entering Canada and finally transitioning to permanent residence. International students often transition to an open work permit after completing their studies if they meet the criteria of graduating from a study program that is eligible for PGWP. Here are some other ways to obtain permanent residency in Canada for international students.
Read also: Trump Admin To Review Harvard University Grants Over ‘Antisemitism’
The Express Entry Program
Express Entry Program is a common path to permanent residency for qualified workers, including foreign graduates.
Candidates are evaluated using a point system that accounts for age, education, employment history, language skills, and flexibility.
Currently, Express Entry system focus on individuals with a high level of proficiency in the French language or skilled workers with at least 6 months of experience in one of the occupations specified by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
There are multiple pathways to international graduates under the Express Entry system, including Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP).
The Provincial Nominee Program
Under this, the Canadian provinces offer PNPs with designated tracks designed to accomodate foreign graduates. In the event that graduates achieve provincial requirements, these programs provide a route to permanent residency.
PNPs associated with Express Entry provide preference to foreign graduates. Every province and territory has its nominee programs, which further have multiple streams, including specific categories for international graduates.
- Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program (AAIP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Through PNPs, Canada aims to welcome 110,000 new permanent residents by 2025, as per the annual immigration level plan.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
AIP is a Canadian government immigration program created to assist firms in the Atlantic provinces of Canada in hiring qualified foreign workers and recent graduates to fill their labour shortages.
It seeks to draw in and keep a highly qualified labour force in the area, therefore promoting economic development.
The initiative is a joint endeavour of the four Atlantic provinces – New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador and the Canadian government.
AIP has been allocated an annual quota of 6,500 for 2024 and 8,500 for 2025, as per the official immigration levels plan.
Read also: Elon Musk Mocks Scrapping US Department Of Education; Draws Criticism
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
Recently, the Canadian government announced that make the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) a permanent program. Also, Canada is launching two new rural immigration pilots this year.
Currently, the purpose of the RNIP is to draw immigrants to Canada’s 11 smaller communities.
After completing their studies, international graduates can apply for permanent residency in certain of these towns through special procedures. Every participating community establishes its standards and prerequisites for eligibility.
Agriculture and agri-food pilot
The Agriculture and Agri-Food Pilot Program in Canada provides skilled, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations with a pathway to permanent residency, thereby tackling labour shortages in the agriculture sector.
The program targets workers in animal, greenhouse crop and the meat processing, aims to meet the sector’s labour demands and ensure long-term settlement.
