International students have chosen to study in Canada for its excellent universities, diverse environment, and the opportunity to gain work experience in a new country. Here’s how can international students obtain Canadian PR. 

Well, getting a Canadian education and eligible work experience can also improve an applicant’s chance of getting permanent residency in Canada. This is because international students who graduate from a Designated Learning Institution obtain extra points in Canada’s Express Entry system, thus making them more competitive in the pool. 

Still, an education in Canada is not a guaranteed pathway toward permanent residency. While Canada offers multiple pathways to work and settle in the nation after graduation, these are based on factors including applicants’ skills, qualifications, and profession. 

Over the last few months, Canada has also been changing its immigration policies to be more in line with its labor market needs. This, along with the increasingly competitive pool of qualified applicants, can make it harder to transition from a study permit to permanent residency. 

For international students who would like to call Canada home one day, here are some things to maximize their points. 

Stay Up To Date With Changing Immigration Policy 

Immigration policies in Canada are subject to change depending on the nation’s economic needs. 

It can help an international student planning on applying for permanent status in the future to remain informed of the eligibility criteria of different programs. 

For instance, earlier this year, the government declared that international students who have enrolled in a study program with a curriculum licensing agreement will no longer be eligible for a PGWP, i.e., Post-Graduation Work Permit upon graduation. 

This is a study program offered by a private college which has been licensed to deliver the curriculum of an associated public college. These programs often have less oversight than those delivered by public colleges. 

If a student plans to get work experience in Canada with the help of a PGWP, they must research which study programs are eligible for PGWP upon graduation. 

Choose In-Demand Professions  

Another way of how can international students obtain Canadian PR is by choosing in-demand professions. 

In 2023, Canada launched category-specific Express Entry draws to focus on professions and proficiencies that are in demand. This includes the following:

  • Healthcare
  • STEM Professions
  • Trade
  • Transport
  • Agriculture and Agri-Food 

Students who are still undecided about their career path can pursue qualifications in one of the category-based draws if they are interested in that career path. 

For instance, students can pursue careers in STEM, such as architecture, engineering, data science, or web development, to increase their chances at the Express Entry draw. However, these categories are subject to change and do not guarantee permanent residency. 

Research Provincial Nominee Programs 

Every province and territory, with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, operates Provincial Nominee Programs to attract skilled workers to the province. 

If an international student feels that their Comprehensive Ranking System score isn’t high enough or that they do not qualify for a category-based draw, they can also consider whether they qualify for a provincial nomination. 

There are two different routes to emigrate under a PNP – one is via Express Entry, where provinces award applicants an additional 600 CRS points, helping them obtain PR under Express Entry. Another route is directly through a PNP stream. 

There are over 80 different provincial economic stream programs that students can explore, making this a valuable opportunity for those looking to gain permanent residency in Canada through education and employment. 

That said, PNP criteria might change depending on the province’s economic priorities. 

Improve Both Language Abilities 

Canada has two official languages – English and French – and being bilingual has many benefits in the PR procedure. 

One way for an international student to increase their CRS score is to maximize the number of points they can obtain in their primary language. They can do this by retaking language tests like IELTS or CELPIP if they don’t hit the highest score the first time. 

Moreover, learning a second language also adds valuable points to an applicant’s CRS score, which can help them get an Invitation to Apply (ITA). 

Apart from that, Canada also launched French language proficiency category-based draws, and there has been a huge focus on these draws in 2024 – a trend that is expected to continue in 2025 and 2026. In order to be eligible, applicants must have a minimum score of 7 in all four language abilities on the NCLC. 

Validate All Degrees 

The last way of how can international students obtain Canadian PR is to validate all degrees.  

Canada’s Express Entry system awards points for education. If a student has more than one degree but it is done outside Canada, they could get this validated by one of the designated organizations approved by the Canadian government. 

To improve their prospects, international students can also consider enrolling in an eligible degree or program within the country.   

If you seek information on how to begin your Canada immigration application process, you can talk to our NavaImmigration experts at 1800-918-8490, or you can drop us an email at [email protected].