For Canadian immigration, 2023 was another historic year, with high immigration levels supporting the demographic and labor market needs of the country. Notably, numerous International Students attained PR status in 2023. 

Typically, the former International students who immigrate to study in Canada are one of the largest groups of new PRs the country admits yearly. These students are allowed to establish their eligibility for Canada’s permanent residence status.

Canada offers various opportunities for immigrants to immigrate to the country effortlessly. This is one of the primary reasons Canada continues to be one of the most favored immigration destinations for international students at present.

Read on to know the number of international students who attained Canada’s Permanent Residence in 2023. This will help you understand the prospect of settling in Canada permanently for international students. 

Overview of international students who attained Canada’s PR Status in 2023

Canada’s immigration department, called Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC, released data concerning International Students in November 2023. As per it, a total of 62,410 international students or international graduates attained Canada’s permanent resident status in 2023. This figure indicates a 9,670 rise over 52,740 international graduates who gained permanent residence in 2022.

It’s important to note that the numbers mentioned above consider the students who attained PR status by gaining eligibility under the pathway offering work experience post-graduation called Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Some international students also attained Canadian permanent residence directly after completing their graduation. This is possible under the specific streams for international graduates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

In this group, 23,150 international students attained Canada’s PR status in 2023. 

Most Common Pathways for International Students to Attain Canada’s Permanent Residence 

Canada offers specific pathways for international graduates to find work and other immigration opportunities after completing their studies. This is typically unavailable for international students in other famous immigration countries. 

It is the most common pathway for international students to attain Canada’s PR.

Through this pathway, 62,410 individuals obtained PR status last year.

Understanding Jay’s Case for Attaining Canadian Permanent Residence 

Let us take Jay’s example, a fictional case, to help you understand how international students attain Canadian PR status.  

An international student from India, Jay completed his two-year course in civil engineering from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). DLIs are the colleges in Canada with permission to admit international students. 

To qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), a candidate must study in a DLI and pursue an eligible educational course.

Since Jay satisfies both criteria, he is able to apply for a PGWP. 

After obtaining a PGWP, Jay is able to work for most employers in Canada and in most industries.  

As Jay completed a two-year study program, his PGWP will have a validity period of two years.

Note: PGWPs typically have a validity period for the same length of the candidate’s study period. It has a maximum validity period of three years.

As Jay can work in Canada, he’ll be able to establish eligibility for Canada’s PR. 

In Canada, the majority of economic immigration programs demand a minimum of one year of qualifying, full-time work experience. 

Suppose Jay is applying for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) pathway under the Express Entry ( a typical choice of many international graduates).

So, he’ll require one year of full-time work experience in any skilled job as he has a PGWP. 

Note that work experience gained as a student is not considered.

Jay’s work experience must be in the NOC Training Education Experience and Responsibilities (TEER) level. Also, it must be a total of 1,560 hours of work. This is comparable to 30 hours of full-time work per week within a year. In addition, Jay’s work position must be a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3-level job.

Once Jay attains the eligible work experience, he needs to appear for a language test before he submits his final profile in the Express Entry pool. 

Based on his job’s TEER level, he needs to score points comparable to the CLB of 7 or 5 in all four language skills, either in English or French. This includes writing, reading, listening, and speaking.

Now, Jay is able to submit his profile in the Express Entry pool if he attains an eligible score. If IRCC approves Jay’s profile, he’ll get an invitation to apply for Canadian PR.  

After this, Jay has 60 days after receiving an ITA to submit the additional documents required to support his PR application.

Let’s assume that he satisfies all the essential checks and is found eligible for PR. IRCC will process Jay’s application for the PR and will issue a confirmation or permanent residence (COPR or e-COPR) document to Jay, highlighting his new status in Canada. Now, he is authorized to settle in Canada permanently.