You cannot overestimate the benefits of becoming a permanent resident of your preferred country. Permanent Residency allows for a lot of benefits including:
- Family Stability
- Employment Stability
- Protection under the Law of your resident country
- Access to more social benefits including health care etc.
It’s no wonder students are so eager to obtain Permanent Residences (PR). In addition to having a positive attitude toward immigration, Canada ranks among the best countries for quality of life.
In 2021, Canada welcomed the most immigrants in a single year in its history, with nearly 406,000 permanent residents in the economic, family reunification, and refugee/humanitarian streams. Read more here.
According to the Government of Canada, Over 191,000 work and study permit holders transitioned from temporary to permanent resident status. Canada welcomed over 415,000 temporary work permit holders and over 445,000 study permit holders. Similarly, just over 1.3 million new immigrants settled permanently in Canada from 2016 to 2021, the highest number of recent immigrants recorded in a Canadian census.
There are various pathways to becoming a permanent resident of Canada. The easy route is dependent on you, your life circumstances, your choice, and how much money you are willing to invest in the process. You should consider your unique connection to the country as well when making this decision.
However, to become a permanent resident, it is better to first, become a temporary resident. According to Visa Place, one of the best ways to obtain permanent residency in Canada is via obtaining a student permit.
Let’s dive in deeper for context.
According to the Canadian Immigration Law Firm, the country, through its many permanent residency immigration programs favors immigrants who have got either Canadian work experience, Canadian educational credentials, or those who have ties with a specific province.
Unfortunately, to be eligible for permanent residency as a student, you have to have had the Canadian required level of skilled work experience. An experience that can only be granted to Post-graduate students. Post-graduate students are allowed to work in Canada while schooling which gives them a higher chance of being granted a permanent residency if they meet the other PR requirements.
There are many pathways to becoming a Permanent Resident in Canada. These pathways below are some of the ways by which international students can seek PR in Canada:
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Federal Skilled Worker Programs
Each of the above programs has unique eligibility requirements. Some of the eligibility factors for those seeking PR via the Canadian Express Class include age, English Language Proficiency, and at least 12 months of continuous full-time skilled work experience. It is important to understand that skilled work experience gained during a period of full-time academic year does not count as being eligible.
