Criteria for Canadian PR After Studying in Canada
Published on: 2026-02-02 17:18:38
Criteria for Canadian PR After Studying in Canada
1️⃣ Complete an Eligible Study Program
- Must complete a program from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI)
- Program length: Minimum 8 months
- Full-time study required
- Must be eligible for PGWP
2️⃣ Obtain Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
- Valid for up to 3 years (depends on course duration)
- Allows full-time work in Canada
- This work experience is crucial for PR
3️⃣ Gain Canadian Work Experience
- Minimum 1 year (12 months) of full-time skilled work experience
- Job must fall under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
- Experience must be gained after studies on PGWP
4️⃣ English or French Language Requirement
- Language test required for PR (even if waived for study)
- Accepted tests:
- IELTS General
- CELPIP (English)
- TEF / TCF (French)
- Minimum score depends on PR program (usually CLB 7 or higher)
5️⃣Other Important Factors
- Age below 35 gives higher CRS points
- Canadian education gives extra PR points
- Job offer increases PR chances
- Spouse’s education/language can add points
⏱️ How Long Does PR Take After Study?
- Typically 1–3 years after graduation
- Depends on:
- Job type
- Province
- CRS score
- Immigration pathway
🇨🇦1. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
After you finish your course in Canada, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) (up to 3 years). This lets you work in Canada and gain Canadian work experience — which is essential for most PR pathways. International Experience
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
- After completing a program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), international students can apply for a PGWP.
- This allows them to work full-time anywhere in Canada without needing a separate work permit.
- The duration of the PGWP depends on the length of their study program (up to 3 years).
- Canadian PR programs, like Express Entry (Canadian Experience Class - CEC), consider work experience gained legally in Canada.
- Work done under a PGWP counts as Canadian work experience.
Work permit requirement
- No separate work permit is needed if the student is already on a PGWP.
- They can legally work for any employer while accumulating work experience for PR.
🇨🇦 2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
This is one of the fastest federal PR routes:
- You must have at least 12 months of skilled Canadian work experience (under PGWP).
- Then you can create an Express Entry profile and apply for PR under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream.
- CEC doesn’t require a job offer. Canada+1
🇨🇦 3. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
Most provinces have special streams for international graduates and skilled workers. If you get a provincial nomination, it gives you a big boost (600 extra points) toward PR under Express Entry, making it much easier to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA). CIC News+1
Examples include:
- Ontario, British Columbia, Manitoba & others with graduate streams
(Some provinces may have language or job offer requirements.)
🇨🇦 4. Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
If you live, study, and work in one of the Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland & Labrador), you may qualify for PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program — often with different criteria than Express Entry. Pesa
🇨🇦 5. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
If you have skilled work experience (inside or outside Canada) and meet criteria like language scores, age, and education, you may be eligible for PR through Express Entry’s Federal Skilled Worker Program even without Canadian work experience — but you will need good language test scores and a competitive CRS score. Canada+1
📌 Important Notes
✅ PGWP experience is key
Getting 1–2 years of skilled Canadian work experience under the PGWP dramatically improves your PR chances. Canada
✅ Express Entry points matter
Higher education, language scores, and Canadian work experience increase your CRS score and your chances of getting an ITA. CIC News
✅ Quebec has its own system
Quebec’s provincial immigration rules are different from federal routes (and their former PEQ program is ending). The Economic Times
📌 Summary — Best PR Steps After the Course
- Complete your Canadian degree
- Apply for a PGWP (up to 3 years)
- Gain skilled Canadian work experience (12+ months)
- No additional work permit needed.
- Work experience must meet skilled NOC categories for Express Entry PR.
- Apply for PR via CEC or a Provincial Nominee Program
- (Optional) Consider other federal streams like FSWP based on your profile
- PGWP → full-time work anywhere legally → counts toward PR