While there are many pathways to permanent residence in Canada, most international students apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class pathway.
Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have Canadian work experience and want to become permanent residents. This pathway requires you to obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), have at least 1,560 hours of skilled work experience during the three years before you apply, and meet all language and admissibility requirements.
Visit the Canadian Experience Class page on the IRCC website to review all eligibility requirements and apply.
What is skilled work?
Skilled work can be defined as employment which requires some level of post-secondary education to perform.
IRCC uses the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) to categorize jobs by their duties and responsibilities. Positions which fall under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job categories qualify as skilled.
You can use the NOC when searching for jobs to see if a specific job qualifies as skilled work. You do not need to work in your field of study for the work to qualify as skilled.
Who can I speak to for help?
For personalized advice on permanent residency, consider speaking with an Authorized Representative. An Authorized Representative includes:
- Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC)
- Someone that is licensed to practice law by a provincial or territorial law society in Canada and has specific expertise with immigration law (e.g. a lawyer)
Have more questions?
To learn more about pathways to permanent residence in Canada, consult the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website.
IRCC hosts targeted permanent residence information sessions for international students regularly. You can visit their website to register for an upcoming session.
The immigration information on this page has been reviewed and endorsed by Regulated International Student Immigration Advisors (RISIAs) in compliance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations. However, this is not a legal document, and information may change without notice. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.