Path to permanent residency in Canada

Published date: 22 Oct 2017 Updated on: 12 Dec 2018

Canada is one of the world’s most educated countries, with over half of its residents being college graduates. The Canadian Government and industry support research in areas including telecommunications, medicine, agriculture, computer technology, and environmental science. Every year more than two hundred thousand international students troop into Canada, many with an intent to make Canada their home. What’s more – Canada welcomes international students to not only study, but also to stay back after their studies and contribute to the economy. If you dream to be one among these students, we at GyanDhan are here to provide you with a road map to do so:-

1. Start by getting an admit.

This is your first step onto the journey. Apply at the earliest possible date, as scholarships and admissions get more and more competitive closer to the deadline.

Appear for exams like TOEFL, IELTS, GRE (if required) etc. Draft your Statements of Purpose (SOPs), (Letters of Recommendation) LORs, and essays. Use various sources to collect information about the universities that you want to apply for – like their eligibility criteria, application procedure etc. Send in your application containing your official transcripts before the deadline and make sure that you have a valid passport.

2. Get a student visa.

In order to study in Canada after successfully getting an admit, you will need to obtain a Canadian study permit, which serves as a student visa for the duration of your stay. However, you do not need a Canadian study permit if your course or program lasts six months or less. 

To be eligible for a Canadian visa, you must;

• Have been accepted by a school, college, university or other Canadian educational institutions.

• Provide proof in the form of bank statements, receipts or certificates that you have enough money to pay for your Tuition and Living expenses.

• Not have a criminal record.

• Be in good health.

3. Grab an internship to increase your chances of full time employment.

While in Canada, you can also apply for internships through career development programs or student internship programs to increase your chances of job recruitment post the completion of your studies. These internships further enhance your skills as well as your overall profile. You can also undertake part time jobs to help support yourself while studying in Canada. While on the student visa, you can work on or off-campus for up to 20 hours during university semesters and full-time during breaks such as the winter or summer holidays, without the need for a work permit.

4. Get a work permit.

This is the next step in earning your stay in Canada. You get an additional 90 days to land yourself a job in Canada after you have completed your study program. Once you acquire a job, you need to get Post-Graduation Work Permit to stay and work. There is no minimum wage requirement for individuals. However the lowest salary you need to earn per annum in order to bring a dependent family member into this country is $24,600 dollars.

The validity period of the post-graduation work permit depends on the length of your study program. If your program was:

• less than eight months: You aren’t eligible for a PGWP

• more than eight months but less than two years: Your PGWP will be valid for up to the same length as your study program

• two years or more: a PGWP may be issued for three years

• more than one program: a PGWP may be valid for up to three years, for example, if you finished a diploma or degree from an eligible school in Canada, and within the next two years you get a one-year graduate degree or diploma from an eligible school in Canada.

Post-Graduation Employment Work Permits have a maximum validity of three years with no renewals.

5. Apply for permanent residency.

Canada welcomes permanent residency from foreign nationals. You can apply for a permanent residence if:

• you have a work experience of at least 12 months in Canada

• have lived here for two years in total (including your study period) – very important

• Have proficiency in English or French

There is also another common way students apply for and get selected for their permanent stay in Canada and that is the Dual Intent Permanent Residence Program.

Dual Intent Permanent Residence Program: Securing your stay!

You can also apply for this program stating two intents – one for temporary residence (for your studies) and one for permanent residence. Dual intent is present when a foreign national who has applied for permanent residence in Canada also applies to enter Canada for a temporary period as a visitor, worker or student.

Assessing dual intent 

As a student, you are eligible to apply for a dual intent visa if you have an admit for university education in Canada and you plan to settle here as well, later. In assessing your application for temporary residence an officer may also consider factors such as:

• the length of time you will be spending in Canada;

• the means of support;

• obligations and ties in the home country; and

• compliance with requirements applicable to temporary residents (visitors, students and workers).

Temporary residence status might be refused for several reasons, including:

• history of having contravened the conditions of admission on a previous stay in Canada;

• lack of or insufficient proof of adequate funds to support oneself while in Canada, and to affect one’s departure from Canada;

• medical issues;

• not satisfying the visa officer that you will leave Canada at the end of their period of authorized stay, in case the permanent residence is not granted

Refusal to being granted dual intent

Note that refusal to being granted the Dual Intent do not stem from having two intents. They stem from having a single bona fide intent (i.e., to become a permanent resident) and misrepresenting the second intent (i.e., to become a temporary resident) in order to achieve the first intent.

For example: an applicant for a work or study permit who indicates that they he or she has no intention of leaving Canada has demonstrated only a single intent – permanent residence. This is because the applicant has shown that they do not respect the terms and conditions of temporary residence, should they not qualify for a Permanent Resident stream.

6. Get a citizenship.

After securing a permanent residence, your next target lies in securing a Canadian citizenship. You can apply for a citizenship in Canada if you’ve lived there for at least the last 3 years, have knowledge of English or French, and are of good character, i.e, no criminal records etc.

Best of luck!