Pathways to Permanent Residency
For international students and post-graduate work permit holders
August 11, 2026
Kusina (Tagalog for “kitchen”) is a community kitchen that brings community members together for shared meals, legal education, information and referrals, and social support services. It creates a welcoming, trusted space where community members can access practical information, connect with resources, and build community.
The following resource is adapted from information presented during a past Kusina session and is accurate as of the above date.
Find out more about future Kusina events here.
Between school, work, immigration paperwork, rising costs of living, and uncertainty about the future, many international students and recent graduates carry a lot.
You don't have to figure it all out alone.
The following resource provides a simplified overview of some of the options available for international students looking to gain permanent residence in Canada. This is not a legal document and information on this page may change. Always refer to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for the most up-to-date information.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
In order to work in Canada after graduating, you need a work permit. Eligible international students may apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to help gain the work experience in Canada needed to qualify for Permanent Residency.
The PGWP is an open work permit, meaning you don’t need a job offer to qualify and you can work for most compliant employers in Canada.
At the time of writing, the PGWP has a fee of $255.
Key eligibility requirements include:
completed a program of study at a PGWP-eligible designated learning institution that was at least 8 months long
maintained full-time status as a student in Canada during each semester of your study program (you may study part-time during your final semester)
apply for your PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program of study
proof of English or French language skills (unless graduating from a flight school)
other requirements based on field of study may apply
Your PGWP will be valid for …
The same length as your study program
3 years
3 years
If your program was …
At least 8 months but less than 2 years
2 years or more
A Master’s program of at least 8 months
You can find more information about the PGWP, including full eligibility requirements and how to apply here.
If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for a PGWP, find out what other work permits you may be eligible for here.
What qualifies as skilled work?
Some graduates may be able to continue working while their PGWP application is being processed if they meet IRCC requirements. However, if you wait more than 90 days to apply after completing your study program, you will not be able to work while awaiting a decision on your application. If your application is denied, you must immediately stop working.
The type of work you do in Canada with your PGWP is an important factor in determining your eligibility for permanent residence.
The Government of Canada uses the National Occupational Classification (NOC) system to identify and categorize jobs based on the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) they require. Occupations are sorted according to their TEER category on a scale of zero to five.
| TEER | Occupation types | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| TEER 0 | Management occupations | Advertising, marketing and public relations managers Financial managers |
| TEER 1 | Occupations that usually require a university degree | Financial advisors Software engineers |
| TEER 2 | Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of 2 or more years, or supervisory occupations | Computer network and web technicians Medical laboratory technologists |
| TEER 3 | Occupations that usually require a college diploma, apprenticeship training of less than 2 years, or more than 6 months of on-the-job training | Bakers Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants |
| TEER 4 | Occupations that usually require a high school diploma, or several weeks of on-the-job training | Home child care providers Retail salespersons and visual merchandisers |
| TEER 5 | Occupations that usually need short-term work demonstration and no formal education |
Landscaping and grounds maintenance labourers Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors |
Many Express Entry pathways require at least one year of skilled work experience in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 occupations. Eligibility depends on the specific immigration program.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an online system used to manage immigration applications from skilled workers.
There are three immigration programs managed through Express Entry:
Canadian Experience Class: for skilled workers with eligible Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Worker Program: for skilled workers with eligible foreign OR Canadian work experience
Federal Skilled Trades Program: for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade
In order to immigrate through Express Entry, you must meet the eligibility requirements for at least one of these three programs.
Key eligibility criteria include:
Language skills - measured by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
Type of work experience - measured by training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) category
Amount of work experience - either inside or outside of Canada, depending on the program (work experience gained while studying does not count)
| Eligibility requirement | Canadian Experience Class |
Federal Skilled Worker Program |
Federal Skilled Trades Program |
|---|---|---|---|
| Language skills | CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations |
CLB 7 | CLB 5 for speaking and listening CLB 4 for reading and writing |
| Type of work experience | Canadian work experience in an occupation listed in 1 or more of these TEER Categories: TEER 0 TEER 1 TEER 2 TEER 3 |
Work experience in an occupation listed in 1 of these TEER Categories: TEER 0 TEER 1 TEER 2 TEER 3 |
Work experience in a skilled trade under key groups of TEER 2 or TEER 3 |
| Amount of work experience | 1 year in Canada in the last 3 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work) |
1 year continuous within the last 10 years (combination of part-time, full-time or more than 1 job in your primary occupation) |
2 years within the last 5 years (either combination of full-time or part-time work) |
Once your profile is accepted into the application pool, you are given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on criteria such as age, education, language skills, and work experience. Applicants can obtain additional points for studying in Canada and Canadian work experience.
The top scoring candidates in the pool are invited to apply for permanent residence in regular invitation rounds.
Creating an Express Entry profile is completely free and your profile remains valid for one year. If you do not receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency within one year, you must create a new profile to re-enter the application pool.
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
The BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is another pathway to permanent residency. Some BC PNP streams are connected to Express Entry, while others are not. If nominated, you’ll get extra points added to your CRS score.
It’s important to apply for the PNP program in the province in which you plan to live and work. Each province’s program has different objectives and may favour different skills or occupations, depending on labour market and economic development needs.
You can find more information on the BC PNP here.
Receiving your Invitation to Apply
Your CRS score will determine if and when you receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency. You can review recent minimum score requirements and draw history here.
If invited to apply for permanent residence, you'll get a message in your IRCC account telling you:
which program you've been invited to apply for
what to do next
Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days.
At the time of writing, Express Entry programs carry an application fee of $1,590. If you’re applying with your family, there’s an additional $1,590 for a spouse and $270 per dependent child.
Once you’ve submitted your application, uploaded all the required documents, and paid your application fees, it’s time to wait for your decision.
If your existing work permit is about to expire, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit. This permit can let you keep working while you wait for a final decision on your permanent residence application.
Additional Resources
Immigrant Services Society of BC
Additional Reading
Find a regulated immigration consultant or lawyer - University of British Columbia
I am an international student in Canada. How can I apply to become a permanent resident? - IRCC
National Occupational Classification (NOC) - Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Disclaimer: Immigration pathways and requirements change regularly. This explainer provides general information only and is not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a qualified immigration professional or legal advocate.
