Provincial Nominee Programs: A Guide for International Students in 2024

If you're considering studying in Canada with plans to obtain Permanent Residency afterward, this blog is tailored for you. Curious about the top provincial immigration programs for international students post-graduation? Explore our compiled list featuring provinces offering substantial immigration advantages.

We will go over some of the provinces that provide benefits to overseas students seeking to immigrate in this article. When choosing where to study when you first embark on your Canadian educational journey, you should take other considerations into account. Which educational institutions are the best? What courses can help you land the greatest job? Make sure you thoroughly investigate each province before choosing one!

Remaining in Canada following graduation

Many international students who study in Canada for a few years end up falling in love with the nation and wanting to live there permanently. Fortunately, Canada wants foreign students to remain as well! For this reason, there are several immigration choices available to foreign students.

The majority of PNPs aimed at overseas students necessitate that the student have a legitimate work visa after graduation.

After graduating from an accredited school with a study program lasting at least a year, students may apply for this work visa. But, after you graduate, you only have 90 days to apply for the post-graduation work permit, so you'll need to move quickly!

One major advantage is that you will be able to live and work anywhere in Canada after you receive your post-graduation work permit! Which provinces are most suitable for immigration for permanent residence now?

Which Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are the best for foreign students who have completed their studies in that province?

An immigration program run by the province is known as a Provincial Nominee Program, or PNP. A province may designate a foreign national for permanent residence in Canada through PNPs. An individual can file a formal application for permanent residence after receiving a nomination!

Given that the streams are customized to meet each province and territory's particular economic and demographic requirements, there are a few distinct PNPs in each. These are some of the provinces that offer PNPs specifically designed for foreign students who have finished their education there.

Career Employment Pathway in Manitoba

You may be qualified for an immigration pathway under Manitoba's Career Employment Pathway if you complete a post-secondary education program there. Your course of study had to be finished within the last three years and have a minimum duration of one year. An qualifying Manitoba business must have extended a full-time employment offer to a candidate in one of the in-demand professions in the province.

International Post-Graduate Division of BC

Upon completion of a master's or doctoral degree at a British Columbian institution that qualifies, you may apply immediately for a provincial nomination through this stream. This stream has the benefit of not requiring a job offer in order to apply.

Ontario Doctoral and Master's Graduates

Upon completion of a master's or doctoral degree at an Ontario-approved institution, you may use this path to petition for provincial nomination. Graduates who are interested in applying for a nomination can submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile to Ontario's pool of candidates.

The Atlantic Provinces

An additional option for international students wishing to convert to permanent status in Canada is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), even though it isn't officially categorized as a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). After beginning as a trial program, the program was recently extended permanently and now includes a stream dedicated specifically to overseas graduates who have completed their study in one of the four Atlantic provinces.

AIP is intended for recent graduates from one of the Atlantic provinces who have successfully finished a qualifying program lasting at least two years. A employment offer from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, or Newfoundland and Labrador is another requirement for qualifying grads. One advantage of this program is that there is no requirement for qualifying overseas graduates to fulfill the work experience criteria. This enables qualified individuals to apply as soon as they graduate, prior to beginning employment.

New study-to-stay initiatives are currently being implemented in all of the Atlantic provinces. These programs offer networking opportunities, career coaching, and training to overseas students while they study in Canada. Furthermore, in order to assist foreign graduates in obtaining permanent residency, the majority of these provinces have their own PNP streams!

Which Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are accessible to foreign students who completed their studies in Canada but did not attend the PNP host province?

Many overseas students may receive employment offers in one province after graduating from an institution there and then move to another province. Be at ease! Many PNPs have been developed specifically for this kind of circumstance. The PNPs that follow are intended for foreign graduates of any Canadian school.

Two things are necessary for all of these programs. Initially, you must have a valid work permit upon graduation. Secondly, you must be employed by a company in the province in which you are submitting your application. In order for you to stay on staff, the employer must also be prepared to extend an official offer of employment to you.

Graduate from Newfoundland and Labrador International

Through this program, you may be able to file for provincial nomination if you are employed in Newfoundland and Labrador and have finished a post-secondary degree of at least two years, anywhere in Canada! For graduates with a post-graduate work permit who have been employed in their province for a minimum of one year, Newfoundland and Labrador offers this program.

International Graduate of BC

This program can be an option for you if you have an offer of work from a company in British Columbia and you have completed a post-secondary degree anywhere in Canada. You also need to have two years of full-time work experience in a role that is similar to the one you are offering in order to be qualified.

International Students in Ontario

You may qualify for this PNP if you are a Canadian post-secondary program graduate with a legitimate work offer from an Ontario firm. Your education in Canada had to be for a minimum 2-year program, or a 1-year program that needed a prior degree as a requirement!

Other Alternatives

Remember that there are other options to become a permanent resident of Canada, PNPs being just one of them. Additionally, you want to review the requirements for the programs included in Canada's Express Entry system. You can be qualified for Express Entry's Canadian Experience Class after a full year of work experience in Canada!

Just fill out our free student assessment to find out if you can study in Canada and to find out more about the ideal study program for you. An Educational Counselor will get in touch with you to go over your possibilities.

Embarking on your journey to study in Canada can be daunting, but our expert team here at Pelican Migration Consultants is here to simplify the process and ensure your success.

Here's how we can assist you in obtaining your study visa to Canada:

1. Personalized Guidance: We provide tailored guidance based on your individual circumstances and academic aspirations.
2. Application Assistance: Our experts will assist you in completing and submitting your study visa application accurately and efficiently.
3. Document Preparation: We'll help you gather and organize the necessary documents, ensuring compliance with Canadian immigration requirements.
4. Ongoing Support: From application submission to visa approval, we're here to support you every step of the way, answering your questions and addressing any concerns promptly. With our dedicated assistance, you can embark on your educational journey in Canada with confidence and peace of mind.