Now that you have completed your educational journey in Canada and looking for work opportunities. Then, you will be glad to know there are many! International students can seek various immigration pathways to convert their study visa to PR like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Becoming a permanent resident in Canada comes with a lot of benefits such as higher living standards, freedom to live and work anywhere across Canada, and excellent healthcare. It also opens doors to more job opportunities that were limited till now.
Want to know more? Keep reading.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The bridge between study visa and PR involves PGWP. After you complete your educational program, you can apply for a work permit. This permit will allow you to work for at least one year and gain valuable work experience.
This work experience will help you gain points for Express Entry Canada requirements 2024 and you will be eligible to apply for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – a stream of Express Entry program.
However, there are some conditions to obtain this permit. You need to have completed studies in a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) on a valid study permit. Not all DLIs are eligible for this work permit. Talk to an immigration expert for more information on the same.
Convert Your Study Visa to PR through these immigration programs
-
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
As we already discussed, the first option to get PR in Canada is through Express Entry’s Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream. This is a point-based system, which considers your work experience, educational qualifications, adaptability, and language skills to assess if you qualify for the program or not.
You need to gain at least 12 months of work experience working for a Canadian employer in the last three years. The work should be full-time, continuous, and in a skilled occupation. Otherwise, you can have the same amount of work experience in a part-time job. The experience you gained as a full-time student in Canada is not counted in CEC.
-
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Another easy way to get permanent residency in Canada after completing education is through provincial nominee programs. If you apply through this route, you will need a nomination certificate, which can only be gained if you meet the unique eligibility requirements for PR set by each province.
Just pick the provinces you like to settle in and apply. The major requirements a province needs is previous education completed in Canada, or if you have worked for an employer in that specific province. This will help you accumulate points for eligibility and eventually, you will get an invitation to submit a complete application for PR in that province. Some popular streams under PNPs you can apply for are Manitoba Career Employment Pathway, Ontario Masters & PhD Graduates, and Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
-
Quebec Immigration
This province does not follow the criteria like other provinces. It handpicks the immigrants through its immigration streams for permanent residence. As a student who has completed their education in Canada and now is looking to settle in Quebec, you have two options.
First, the Quebec Experience Program (PEQ). This pathway is ideal if you have finished your education in Quebec or are about to complete it in the next six months. To get an invitation to apply for PR in Quebec through PEQ, you have to prove your language proficiency, which in this case will be French as Quebec is a French-speaking province.
Second, the Quebec Skilled Worker (QSW). The program is similar to the PEQ but the only difference is that French skills are mandatory for QSW. Though, you need to get the minimum required scores on the program’s point assessment grid.
Ready to apply?
This process of converting your study visa to PR seems easy but is a bit complicated. You need the assistance of the best visa consultants in Chandigarh who can guide you throughout the process and make it a reality. Nationwide Visas has more than 16 years of experience in assisting thousands of students. They can help you explore your options to gain permanent residency in Canada after completing study.
You must be logged in to post a comment.