Students coming to Canada for a Ph.D. or master’s degree may find it simpler to get permanent residence (PR) currently.
One of several modifications to Canada’s system for international students, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) policy was originally announced on January 22 and was enacted on February 15, 2024 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Under this regulation, international graduates of master’s degree programs at Canadian Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs), the only post-secondary educational establishments approved by the International Relations and Cultural Council (IRCC) to admit international students, can now apply for a three-year PGWP. This holds true even for students enrolled in two-year master’s degrees or shorter.
Note: Prior to February 15, there existed a clear correlation between the duration of a master’s program and the validity period of a PGWP.
How does this facilitate the Canadian PR process?
The benefit of a PGWP is that, after completing a program at a DLI that qualifies, it enables graduates of overseas schools to work in Canada.
Many of Canada’s immigration procedures either demand or reward job experience, therefore having work experience in the country is beneficial for individuals who eventually hope to pursue permanent residence.
For instance, candidates with a minimum of 80* additional CRS points for work experience gained in Canada prior to applying for PR are rewarded by Canada’s well-known Express Entry application management system, which gives priority to a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
*This point value is applicable to candidates for Express Entry under the Core/Human Capital Factors segment of the system who do not have a spouse or common-law partner. Candidates may obtain a variable number of CRS points depending on the circumstances, such as applying with their spouse or partner.
Therefore, because it gives them more time to get useful Canadian work experience that they can cite on their immigration application, this enlarged PGWP policy will make it easier for qualifying students to obtain PR.
Additional ways that IRCC facilitates master’s and PhD student immigration to Canada
The CRS system of Express Entry incentivizes greater education.
In addition to the value of a Ph.D. or master’s degree for immigration to Canada, the Express Entry CRS system favors higher education levels.
In particular, the Express Entry system rewards students with master’s and doctoral degrees with the two highest CRS ratings under “level of education.”
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: With the exception of Quebec and Nunavut, eleven of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories run PNPs.
This is due to the fact that several of the provinces that are the top destinations for newcomers to Canada, such as British Columbia and Ontario, offer specialized programs for their graduates. You can click on the links below to find out more details about a few of these PNP streams.
Ontario: Graduate Programs for Masters and Doctorates in Ontario
International Post-Graduate Category in British Columbia
Manitoba: Pathway for Graduate Internships
Here is more information about the PNPs in Canada.