Canada
Canada
Studying and working in Canada as an international student can be an enriching experience.
Choose a Program and Institution: Research Canadian universities and colleges to find programs that align with your academic and career goals. Consider factors such as location, reputation, program offerings, and cost of living.
Apply for Admission: Once you’ve chosen a program and institution, follow their application process for international students. Be sure to meet all the admission requirements and deadlines.
Obtain a Study Permit: Most international students require a study permit to study in Canada. You can apply for a study permit through the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website or through a Canadian visa office or application center in your home country. You’ll need a letter of acceptance from a Canadian institution, proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees and living expenses, and other supporting documents.
Work Opportunities: As an international student in Canada, you may be eligible to work part-time during your studies and full-time during scheduled breaks, such as summer holidays. Work opportunities can include on-campus jobs, off-campus jobs with a work permit, internships, and co-op programs related to your field of study.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): After completing your studies, you may be eligible for a PGWP, which allows you to work in Canada for up to three years. To qualify, you must have completed a program of study at a designated learning institution in Canada and meet other eligibility criteria.
Permanent Residence: Canada offers various pathways for international students to transition to permanent residence, such as the Express Entry system, provincial nominee programs (PNPs), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Gaining Canadian work experience through the PGWP or other work permits can enhance your eligibility for these programs.
Language Proficiency: English and French are the official languages of Canada. Depending on the province and institution, you may need to demonstrate proficiency in English (e.g., through the IELTS or TOEFL) or French (e.g., through the TEF or DELF) as part of the admission requirements.
Health Insurance: Most Canadian provinces require international students to have health insurance coverage. Some institutions offer health insurance plans for students, while others may require you to purchase coverage independently.
Settlement Services: Many Canadian institutions provide support services for international students, including orientation programs, academic advising, and assistance with accommodation and immigration matters. Take advantage of these resources to help you adjust to life in Canada.
Canada PR for International students -
It may now be easier for students who come to Canada for a master’s or Ph.D. program to obtain permanent residence (PR).
On February 15, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) enacted a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy that was first announced on January 22 as one of many changes coming to Canada’s international student system.
This policy now means that international student graduates of master’s degree programs at Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) – the only post-secondary institutions authorized by IRCC to accept international students – are eligible for a three-year PGWP. This is true even for students studying in master’s programs that are two years or less in length.
Note: Before February 15, the validity period of a PGWP for master’s students was directly correlated to the length of the program of study.
How does this make it easier to obtain PR in Canada?
The value of a PGWP lies in that it allows international student graduates to work in Canada once they complete a PGWP-eligible program at a DLI.
This Canadian work experience is valuable to those who later intend to pursue PR because many of Canada’s immigration pathways either require or reward such experience.
For example, Canada’s popular Express Entry application management system, which prioritizes a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, rewards candidates with a minimum of 80* additional CRS points for work experience acquired in Canada before they apply for PR.
*This point value is for Express Entry candidates without a spouse or common-law partner under the Core/Human Capital Factors section of the Express Entry system. Candidates in other circumstances, such as those applying alongside their spouse/partner, may receive a different number of CRS points.
Therefore, this expanded PGWP policy will make it easier for eligible students to obtain PR because it allows them more time to acquire valuable Canadian work experience, which they can then use on their immigration application.
Other ways IRCC makes it easier for master’s and PhD students to immigrate to Canada
Express Entry’s CRS system rewards higher education
Further to the value of a master’s or Ph.D. for Canadian immigration, the Express Entry CRS system rewards higher levels of education.
Specifically, students with master’s and Ph.D. degrees are rewarded with the two highest CRS scores under “level of education” by the Express Entry system.
- Master’s students: 126 points with a spouse/common-law partner; 135 points without
- Ph.D. students: 140 points with a spouse/common-law partner; 150 points without
Simply, more CRS points gives candidates a better chance of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian PR.
Many provinces/territories have dedicated Provincial Nominee Program streams for Masters/PhD students
Students who obtain either a master’s or Ph.D. degree in Canada also open themselves up to various additional Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams.
Note: 11 of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, operate a PNP.
This is because many of Canada’s top newcomer destination provinces, including Ontario and British Columbia, operate specific streams for students who graduate from these programs. More information on some of these PNP streams is available at the links below.
Ontario: Ontario Masters Graduate Stream and Ontario Ph.D. Graduate Stream
British Columbia: International Post-Graduate Category
Manitoba: Graduate Internship Pathway
Immigration
Immigrating to Canada is a significant decision, and there are several pathways you can explore:
Express Entry: This is the main pathway for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently. It manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. To qualify, you’ll need to meet eligibility requirements, including language proficiency, education, work experience, and other factors. Express Entry operates on a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Canada’s provinces and territories have their own immigration programs designed to meet their specific labor market needs. These programs allow provinces and territories to nominate individuals who have the skills, education, and work experience to contribute to their economies. Each PNP has its own eligibility criteria and application process.
Family Sponsorship: If you have a close relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be able to sponsor you for immigration to Canada. Family sponsorship programs allow eligible sponsors to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, parents, and grandparents for permanent residence.
Start-up Visa Program: This program is for entrepreneurs who have an innovative business idea and the support of a designated organization in Canada. To qualify, you’ll need to meet certain eligibility criteria, including obtaining a letter of support from a designated organization and meeting language proficiency and settlement funds requirements.
Caregiver Program: Canada offers pathways for caregivers who provide care for children, elderly persons, or people with high medical needs. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot allow caregivers to come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents after gaining work experience.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot: This program is designed to address labor market needs in Canada’s Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island. Employers in these provinces can hire foreign workers for designated occupations and support them in applying for permanent residence.
Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement: Canada has a proud tradition of providing protection to refugees and asylum seekers who are fleeing persecution, war, or violence. The Government of Canada offers resettlement programs for refugees referred by the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and other designated organizations.