Here is a short answer to that question: Many of Canada’s permanent residency immigration programs tend to favour applicants with connections to the country. These include ties to a specific province, Canadian work experience, or educational credentials from a Canadian institution. It’s why many international students take advantage of these benefits if they decide to pursue permanent residency.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), international students are allowed to apply for permanent resident status while studying, or after completing their studies, provided they meet all requirements of the immigration program under which they apply. There are several permanent resident categories that international students may fit into, some of which require eligible work experience in Canada. Therefore, the first step is often to be eligible to work in Canada during and after you complete your studies.
Scroll down for more information on pathways commonly pursued by international students interested in transitioning to immigration by using education as a means.
What are the Steps from Studying in Canada to Permanent Residency?
This is what thousands of international students in Canada want to know: How can I apply to become a permanent resident? First, let us look at what permanent residency means. Permanent Residence (PR) status is granted to individuals who have been living in Canada on a valid temporary visa for a certain time. This status gives them the right to live and work in Canada permanently. Students who have PR status do not need to apply for a new visa if they want to come back to Canada to study further. PR status also gives individuals an opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship, provided they complete living a certain number of days in Canada.
Permanent residence for students is a status granted to foreign nationals enrolled in an educational program in Canada, allowing these students to live and work in Canada in the long-term. Every international student in Canada is eligible to apply for PR, but there are rules in place to define whether they are eligible for a work permit, and what the length of that permit is. Students who have completed their study in Canada have several pathways to apply for PR:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This is for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who have already gained professional work experience in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): This allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals for permanent residency based on their skills and employment prospects.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): This is for skilled workers who have at least one year of full-time work experience in a designated occupation.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This is for skilled tradespeople with at least two years of full-time work experience in a designated trade.
Quebec Experience Class (QEC): This is for international students who have completed a recognized program of study in Quebec, and who possess an intermediate level of proficiency in the French language.
It's important to understand that every student’s pathway to permanent residency in Canada is different because the programs they choose must align with current immigration programs and meet field of study requirements. For more information on what you can study, how your program can offer you a Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), or how you can apply to a new program that aligns your educational journey with your immigration plans, see our section on studying to migrate.
Work Permits and Labour Market Needs in Canada
According to the 2024 annual report to Parliament on immigration from the IRCC, there is a discrepancy between credential recognition and labour market needs in certain regions and economic sectors. Canada is in the process of addressing these pressures by taking responsible measures to achieve stable growth, one of which involves better aligning immigration streams with the labour market. These changes have implications for international students and their academic choices.
In October 2024, the IRCC announced new rules governing post-graduation work permit (PGWP) eligibility, following additional restrictions introduced in September. It addressed a key question related to fields of study for college graduates leading to a PGWP and provided a detailed list of eligible academic programmes confined to five broad areas: agriculture and agri-food; healthcare; science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); skilled trade; and transportation.
Given these recommendations, it is now more important for international students to explore programs in high-demand sectors to enhance their career prospects, especially if they eventually intend to apply for permanent residency.
Do Programs Related to Fields of Study Make Immigration Easier?
As previous sections of this page show, international students who complete post-secondary education in Canada have many opportunities to extend their stay and transition to permanent residency. Many federal and provincial immigration programs value candidates with Canadian education and work experience. After completing an education in Canada, international students can gain Canadian work experience by obtaining a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) which, depending on the academic program, may enable them to work in Canada for up to three years.
Students who align their field of study with sectors facing labour shortages can increase their chances of securing employment, and their choices can also impact their applications for permanent residency. Choosing to study programs in high-demand sectors like healthcare, information technology, or skilled trades, for example, can help an applicant show how they meet labour shortages.
To find out more about in-demand sectors, and occupations that offer more immigration pathways to permanent residency, students can check out the National Occupation Classification (NOC), which is a list of all occupations in the Canadian labour market. It describes each job according to training, education, experience, and responsibilities (TEER) categories.
How to Choose the Right Program for Long-Term Success
Choosing the right National Occupation Classification (NOC) code to obtain work experience can have a significant impact on an immigration application, given that different NOC codes qualify for different immigration streams. International students often choose programs related to high-demand sectors.
Here is what the TEER categories look like:
TEER | Occupation types | Examples |
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TEER 0 | Management occupations | Advertising, marketing, and public relations managers Financial managers |
TEER 1 | Occupations that usually require a university degree | Financial advisors Software engineers |
TEER 2 | Occupations that usually require: a college diploma apprenticeship training of 2 or more years, or supervisory occupations | Computer network and web technicians Medical laboratory technologists |
TEER 3 | Occupations that usually require: a college diploma apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training | Bakers Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
TEER 4 | Occupations that usually require: a high school diploma, or several weeks of on-the-job training | Home childcare providers Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers |
TEER 5 | Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education | Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors |
Can IELTS IDP Canada Guide International Students with Pathways to Permanent Residency After Graduation?
No, IELTS IDP Canada helps you take the IELTS, a secure English-language test that is accepted by more than 12,000 organizations across the globe, from educational institutions to employers, as well as government and professional bodies. The IELTS is a critical component of the education and career goals of millions of people who choose to study or work in Canada, before transitioning to permanent residency.
For international students who have completed eligible programs at Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), the pathway to PR will often begin by applying for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Note: International students need to be aware that PGWPs are not guaranteed after graduation. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will not give every international student a PGWP simply because they have graduated. Applications may be refused for failure to meet eligibility criteria, which is why students are always urged to seek expert advice before choosing a program.
For international students who are eligible, the length of a PGWP depends on the level and duration of your study program, as well as the expiry date of your passport, whichever comes first. Choosing the right program is critical because it defines your academic and career path. The IRCC also offers a lot of information to help you find your path to permanent residency.
When it comes to making choices about your education, and how your choices can have an impact on any future decision related to PR, speaking to a respected education consultant can help you with advice on eligibility criteria, how to find and apply for scholarships, or how to renew your study permit, among a host of other services.
Can Education Lead to Immigration Pathways in Canada?
Thousands of international students in Canada choose to stay on every year, after completing a program or graduating. They do this by using pathways offered by the Canadian government. Many of Canada's federal and provincial immigration programs reward students with extra points and/or provide them with dedicated application streams. Here are some options that international students can consider while considering a transition to immigration:
Doing research online
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers a lot of useful information on how international students can extend their study permits, work while studying, or apply for permanent residency after they graduate. There are also a lot of online resources dedicated to helping students with all the information they need on how to transition from students to immigrants. The key is research, reading up on all options available, and identifying options that work best.
Work with an education counsellor
For students who want to live in Canada, studying here is one of the best pathways – and a qualified education counsellor can help you get started. No matter what stage you’re at – comparing schools, choosing a program or evaluating career options – trained counsellors at education consultancies like IDP Canada can help you find the best fit and coordinate your college or university application. IDP's counsellors can also help with study permits, work permits, and other support needed to extend your academic journey.
Work with an immigration consultant
Immigration rules and regulations change constantly, which is why many students choose to work with qualified immigration consultants and lawyers who can help them navigate IRCC requirements. IDP Canada works with accredited immigration partners who offer assistance with visas, as well as applications for immigration programs including the Canadian Experience Class, Provincial Nominee Program, and more.
Reach out to educational institutions
If you want to study, work, or live in Canada, you can get in touch with student services at your educational institution and ask about access to RCICs or RISIAs. Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) can help and support you with citizenship applications, family sponsorship applications, visitor visas, detention reviews, or study permits.
Students can also reach out to Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) for advice about study permits, temporary resident visas, or other permits currently available in Canadian immigration programs. Note: An RCIC must have an RCIC-IRB class of licence to represent you before the IRCC. Also, RISIAs are not authorized to represent you in an immigration or citizenship case or complete immigration forms for you.
Attend education fairs
Events like education fairs, both virtual and in-person, are among the best and most direct ways to get information on study options in Canada. This is because they regularly bring together representatives from schools across Canada who can answer any questions that students may have about their institution, studying further, or pathways that may lead to immigration and permanent residency.
In short, entering Canada as an international student can allow one to transition to permanent residency, provided one meets all eligibility requirements and follows all the steps involved. This involves getting a study permit, followed by a Post-Graduation Work Permit to gain work experience, which may then qualify an applicant for immigration via certain programs. This pathway is not guaranteed because it depends on multiple factors, which is why students often rely on the expertise of qualified education counsellors who can help them choose the right program, complete applications correctly, and make decisions about their academic goals that can boost their chances of applying for PR.
Keep in mind that education counsellors such as IDP have operations in 57 countries and ensure that students can connect to life-changing study opportunities.