Canada is widely recognised as one of the most desirable places in the world to live, work, and study. It is also commended for its dedication to equal opportunity. The nation offers an exquisite standard of life combined with first-rate infrastructure, prestigious universities offering a wide range of academic programmes, and a plethora of professional opportunities. Furthermore, Canada is a popular location for students in particular because of its immigration-friendly rules. Canada is still a popular place to immigrate because of a number of reasons, including its strong economy, high level of life, and lenient immigration laws. 

The Canadian government offers a number of immigration initiatives that help students become permanent residents of Canada and allow them to immigrate there. This represents a benefit of pursuing education in Canada. Given the necessary qualifications and meeting the eligibility requirements for PR in Canada, international students have a higher possibility of becoming permanent residents. Students can ensure they meet all requirements for PR in Canada and handle the challenging application process by contacting one of the top immigration lawyers in Canada.

POST GRADUATION WORK PERMIT (PGWP)

International students may qualify for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) after completing their studies in Canada. With the help of this permit, they can obtain essential job experience in the Canadian workforce, which is essential for meeting the prerequisites for applications for permanent residence. Gaining job experience via a post-graduation work permit can greatly improve an international student's chances of being granted permanent residence. Companies in Canada frequently respect the knowledge and abilities that students acquire throughout their work experience, which can be a great advantage during the permanent residence application process.

HOW TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCY IN CANADA AFTER STUDY?

Many overseas students can apply for permanent residency after they have worked in Canada for a sufficient amount of time. The PR programs listed below are accessible to foreign students who require assistance in securing permanent status in Canada following their academic studies:

1. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Under the Express Entry system, the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to evaluate and rank individuals who meet the requirements for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). A request for an application for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) is made to those with competitive CRS scores. Students must have completed at least 12 months of full-time, skilled employment in the country in order to be eligible to apply for CECs. Interestingly, work experience obtained during the study term is not taken into account when applying for a CEC. Therefore, after completing their coursework and gaining sufficient work experience, students can apply for the CEC programme and pursue the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

2. Provincial Nominee Program

With the Provincial Nominee Programme or PNP, international students can choose to become permanent residents of a specific province or area. The student must obviously check the prerequisites for each province as the PNP qualifying standards vary by province or territory. Students are more likely to be granted permanent residence in Canada if they already have some sort of relationship with a province or territory. Because PNP applications for Canadian permanent residency are usually completed more quickly than those for other immigration programmes, PNPs are a popular choice for Canadian immigration.

3. Atlantic Immigration Program

International students can live and work in any of Canada's four Atlantic provinces—New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador—through this programme. You can take part in the programme if you recently graduated from an Atlantic Canadian designated post-secondary institution and obtained a job offer from an Atlantic Canadian designated employer.

4. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

An additional route to obtain permanent residency in Canada is the Federal Skilled Worker Programme. The express entry immigration system facilitates this program. Only the most eligible profiles are taken into account by the merit-based immigration program, which offers some overseas students studying in Canada the possibility to become permanent residents of Canada. The Federal Skilled Worker Programme has the amazing feature of not requiring prior job experience in Canada in order to be eligible for benefits.

5. Quebec Immigration Options

In contrast to the rest of the nation, the province of Quebec has its own immigration laws and procedures. International students do, however, have benefits when applying for permanent residency in Quebec since, like the rest of Canada, the province's immigration policies are structured accordingly. International students in Quebec can enrol in one of the two primary permanent residence programmes offered by Quebec:

  • Quebec Experience Program (PEQ): Students must be within six months of completing their studies at a Quebec institution, or they must have finished their programme of study, to qualify for this programme. An overseas student must exhibit advanced intermediate oral French proficiency in order to be eligible for PEQ.
  • Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW): For foreign students studying in Quebec who have obtained or are pursuing a Quebec educational certificate, this programme can be a possibility. Candidates for QSW must achieve a minimum score on the programme's points assessment grid, although there is no necessary French proficiency requirement, unlike PEQ.

6. Rural And Northern Immigration Pilot Program

This initiative, which is community-driven, aims to improve smaller towns' economic immigration. If you completed this programme and earned your credentials 18 months prior to applying for PR, you can apply for PR even if you have no work experience and have been a full-time student for more than two years and graduated with a master's degree or any other credential. For the duration of the study, the student must also reside in the community.

CONCLUSION

The possibility of settling in Canada permanently provides opportunities to a successful and promising future for overseas students who have fully immersed themselves into the country's academic and professional scene. Through the utilisation of their academic accomplishments, professional background, and social contributions, overseas students can start a fulfilling path to permanent residency in Canada. For individualised advice on courses, colleges, and other resources to facilitate the PR process, students can get in touch with immigration lawyers in Halifax.