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It should come as no surprise that Canada makes it to the top of list of study destinations around the world. With one of the best education systems in the world and universally recognized degrees, Canada has been international students’ country of choice for many years now.
Many international students apply for permanent residency (PR) in the country after they get their degrees. According to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) , the following number of graduates received PR after they successfully qualified for their degrees.
| Year | Number of New Permanent Residents |
|---|---|
| 2015 | 8540 |
| 2016 | 8250 |
| 2017 | 9415 |
A survey done by the Canadian Bureau of International Education (CBIE) discovered that nearly 60% of international students wanted to become citizens of Canada. To put it into perspective, 494,525 international students were in Canada in 2018, meaning 296,715 students will want to stay after they graduate. Not bad right? 95% of students would recommend Canada to others.
How to Qualify for Permanent Residency in Canada After Graduation
Canada has created a three step process for international students to become permanent residents of the country.
The first step is to apply for a Canadian degree that lasts at least eight months. You must be a full time student. This means that you must first apply to a Canadian university and get a letter of Acceptance before you apply for a Study Permit.
Second, you must graduate from an accepted Canadian education institution. Just so you know, work experience gained while studying, like working as an intern or volunteer, can sometimes not be counted towards work experience in certain visa programs so please be aware.
After your graduation, you can apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit. If you do not know what the requirements are, we discuss them below.
Requirements for a Post Graduation Work Permit |
|---|
| Have studied and completed a Canadian program that was at least eight months long; |
| Have graduated from a recognized high school; |
| Have handed in your application for a work permit within 90 days of your graduation; and |
| Have a valid study permit |
Visa Programs for International Graduates in Canada
The country has created numerous immigration programs for international graduates to help them stay in the country after they get their Bachelor's degrees, Masters or PhDs.
Canada has plans to accept one million new immigrants by the year 2021, of which a large percentage will be international graduates who have the right skills and work experience to help contribute to the economy.
Just some of the programs used by the Ontario are:
- The Employer Job Offer International Student Stream, for those who have received a job offer in Ontario;
- The Masters Graduate Stream for those who completed their Masters in the province; and
- The PhD Graduate Stream for international students who received their PhD and plan to live and work in the province
If you choose to immigrate through the Express Entry system, having a Canadian two year diploma can net you an additional 15 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), while a PhD and Masters can give you 30 CRS points.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is yet another visa option for international graduates. Under this system is a subcategory called the Atlantic International Graduate Program (AIGP) that allows applicants to apply for permanent residence if they have a job offer from a National Occupational Classification (NOC) 0, A or B level.
The Skills Immigration International Post-Graduate category in British Columbia is part of the nomination program. With it, you do not need a job offer to apply if you graduated under the following fields with a PhD:
- agriculture;
- biological and biomedical sciences;
- computer and information sciences and support services;
- engineering;
- engineering technology;
- health professions and related clinical sciences;
- mathematics and statistics;
- natural resources conservation and research; and
- physical sciences
Alberta also has its own Post-Graduate Worker Category so long as you plan to work and live in the province under NOC skill level 0, A, B or C. you can apply. Under this program, you must have completed a degree at an education institution that lasted at least one year. The category does take into account your language skills.
Three Reasons Why International Students Pick Canada
Canada is one of the top study destinations in the world for international students. Not surprising since it is also more affordable than other countries like the U.K, Australia and the U.S.A.
In 2017, the number of international students coming to Canada to further their studies rose by 22% according to the IRCC. Here are the reasons why people choose to apply to Canadian universities
Canada has high educational standards and has three of the top 50 universities in the world. As we mentioned earlier, a Canadian degree is universally recognized by other countries around the world. It is thus very valuable to help you impress future employers.
The number two reason people choose to study in Canada is the fact that Canadians are a friendly bunch. According to a recent study, 75% of all Canadians believe that immigrants help make the country a better place.
Thanks to this welcoming community, many students from different ethnicities, religions, cultures and beliefs see Canada as a great place to live and study.
Number three, is that Canada is a safe country. The country has been politically stable and secure for a generation, making it a great learning environment where you do not need to worry about your personal safety.
There are another 13 reasons to study in Canada. Want to find out what they are? Check them out if you are seriously looking to become an international student in Canada!
Learn How to Qualify for Permanent Residency in Canada
Think Canada may be the perfect place to help you start your new future? Do you want to apply for a Study Visa? We can help.
Complete this easy contact form to get started! Discover if you can qualify for permanent residency in Canada.
