Many international students seeking quality education and a brighter future are choosing Canada as their destination for studying. Many of them will have the opportunity to stay and work in Canada after their graduation.

To better assist international students’ needs,  both the federal and the provincial immigration organizations offer immigration programs that are designed to help international student graduates transition to Canadian permanent residence.

You may be eligible for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) if you graduated from a designated learning institution (DLI) and want to stay in Canada temporarily to work.

In order to be eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), a foreign national must be at least 18 years old and have studied full-time in Canada in a program of at least 8 months. 

Eligible levels of study:

• a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, trade/technical institution, university or CEGEP (in Quebec)
• a private post-secondary institution in Quebec that operates under the same rules as public institutions in Quebec
• a private or public secondary or post-secondary institution (in Quebec) that offers qualifying programs of 900 hours or longer, that leads to a diploma of vocational studies (DVS), or an attestation of vocational specialization (AVS);
  • An AVS can be less than 900 hours if combined with a DVS.
• a Canadian private institution that is authorized to award degrees under provincial law (for example, an Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD degree), but only if you’re enrolled in a study program that leads to a degree as authorized by the province, which may not include all programs of study offered by the private institution.

Being an international graduate of Canada provides a unique advantage in applying for Canadian permanent residency. Having a Canadian educational degree gives you more options under different federal and provincial immigration categories. Also, the government gives incentives to students by either awarding more immigration points or providing specific expedited category of immigration program.

Federal Immigration Program Advantages for International Graduates

Canada’s Express Entry system provides a faster processing time for permanent residency applications. Under this system, applicants are ranked on a points-based system, with the highest-ranking candidates being invited to apply for permanent residency. One of the immigration programs under Express Entry is the Canadian Experience Class which allows temporary workers who have gained at least one year of Canada work experience to apply for permanent residency. For international graduates who have acquired sufficient work experience while on their post-graduation work-permit, this program serves as a faster and simple option to obtain permanent residency.

PNP Programs for International Graduates

International graduates of Canada may also be eligible for exclusive provincial immigration categories because different provinces have specific programs for their international graduates. Depending on where you obtained your degree, you may be eligible for one of the permanent residency programs below:

Alberta: Employer-Driven Stream: International Graduate Category, Strategic Recruitment Stream: International Graduate Category

British Columbia: International Graduate Category

New Foundland and Labrador: International Graduate Category

Ontario: International Student Category

Prince Edward Island: International Graduate Category

Quebec: PEQ – Student Category

Saskatchewan: Worker with Saskatchewan work experience – Students Category

To learn more about whether you qualify for any of the immigration programs for international graduates, you can take our free assessment today!

Work on campus

Foreign nationals coming to Canada as students are allowed to work on or on campus without a work permit if:

• you are a full-time student at:
  • a public post-secondary institution, such as a college or university, or a collège d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEP) in Quebec or
  • a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as a public institution, and receives at least 50 per cent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify) or
  • a Canadian private institution authorized by provincial statute to confer degrees and
• you have a valid study permit.

NOTE: You must stop working on-campus on the day you no longer meet the above eligibility requirements (e.g., if you are no longer a full-time student.)

Work off campus

Study permit holders in Canada may gain work experience by working off campus while completing their studies with an open work permit. As of June 1, 2014, you may qualify to work off campus without a work permit. This allows students to:

• work up to 20 hours per week during regular academic sessions and
• work full-time during scheduled breaks, such as the winter and summer holidays or spring break.

To qualify, you must:

• have a valid study permit,
• be a full-time student,
• be enrolled at a designated learning institution at the post-secondary level or, in Quebec, a vocational program at the secondary level, and
• be studying in an academic, vocational or professional training program that leads to a degree, diploma or certificate that is at least six months in duration.

NOTE: You must stop working on the day you no longer meet any of the above eligibility requirements session.