Canada Study Permit to PR: The Student Pathway
There is no single student PR application. One route has four steps: study in a program that leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit, get the PGWP, work at least 1 year in a skilled TEER 0 to 3 job, then apply through the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial nominee program. An IRCC officer decides every application.
$23,448
Living costs for one person outside Quebec, on top of first-year tuition and travel
180 days
To apply for the PGWP after confirmation that you completed your program
1,560 hours
Skilled TEER 0 to 3 work the CEC asks for, in the 3 years before you apply
+600
CRS points a provincial nomination adds
The living-costs figure applies to applications made on or after September 1, 2026. IRCC updates the amounts each year, and Quebec sets its own.
What are the steps from a study permit to PR?
Study at a DLI
Enrol at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) at the college or university level. Apply with the acceptance letter, a PAL/TAL (most applicants) and proof of funds. IRCC's published study permit processing time: 8 weeks from India, 12 weeks from China.
Finish a PGWP-eligible program
Your program, its length and whether the school offers it as PGWP-eligible decide your PGWP eligibility.
Apply for the PGWP
Apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. An officer decides the length of the permit.
Work 1 year in a TEER 0 to 3 job
Build at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of skilled work in Canada in the 3 years before you apply for the Canadian Experience Class.
Enter the Express Entry pool
Submit an Express Entry profile and receive a CRS score. An Invitation to Apply (ITA) comes through a CEC draw, a category draw or a provincial nomination.
+600 CRS points for a nomination
Apply for PR
You have 60 days to submit a complete PR application after you receive your ITA. IRCC’s service standard is 180 days for 80% of complete applications.
The rule
Going from a study permit to permanent residence is a sequence of separate steps.
Which study programs lead to a PGWP?
Graduating from a DLI does not by itself make you eligible for a PGWP. A PGWP requires a program of at least 8 months (900 hours for Quebec programs) at a PGWP-eligible DLI. IRCC’s DLI list shows which schools offer PGWP-eligible programs, and not all programs a DLI offers are eligible.
Programs delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement (public-private partnership college programs) are not PGWP-eligible in most cases. English or French as a second language programs are not eligible.
For study permit applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, graduates of any program other than a bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree must have studied in a field linked to jobs in long-term shortage. Eligible fields fall in six categories: agriculture and agri-food, healthcare and social services, STEM, trade, transport, and education. The program’s code must be on IRCC’s list when you submit either your study permit application or your PGWP application.
How long is the PGWP, and when do you apply?
The PGWP is an open work permit. For PGWP applications submitted on or after November 1, 2024, most applicants must also meet a minimum language level: CLB or NCLC 7 for university programs and CLB or NCLC 5 for college and other non-university programs. The PGWP is issued once, and the one extension IRCC describes is for a permit cut short by passport expiry.
| Program length | PGWP duration |
|---|---|
| 8 months to under 2 years (other than a master's degree) | Up to the length of the program |
| 2 years or more | 3 years |
| Master's degree of at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec) | 3 years |
| Multiple programs combined | Up to 3 years (specific rules apply) |
Apply within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. Your study permit must have been valid at some point in those 180 days. If you apply before it expires, you can work full time while you wait for a decision (IRPR s.186(w)). The PGWP guide covers the conditions and the options when a study permit expires first.
What work counts toward the Canadian Experience Class?
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) requires at least 1 year of full-time skilled work experience in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupations, or the same amount part time (1,560 hours in total), in the 3 years before applying. TEER 4 and 5 jobs do not count toward CEC.
IRCC also excludes work done as a full-time student.
How does Express Entry rank a graduate?
The CRS is how Express Entry ranks candidates. Canadian credentials and Canadian work experience both add points.
| Factor | CRS points |
|---|---|
| One year of skilled Canadian work | 40 |
| Canadian work of 5 years or more | 80 |
| 12 months or more in a high-wage occupation (since November 3, 2026) | 70, 40 or 20 more |
| Canadian post-secondary credential | 15 (one or two years) or 30 (three years or longer) |
| First language, four abilities (no spouse) | Up to 136 |
| Brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or PR | 15 |
| Provincial nomination | +600 |
| Job offer in a high-wage occupation (since November 3, 2026) | 100, 70 or 50 |
High-wage means an occupation on the IRCC high-wage list. A job offer outside the list earns 0 points. The CRS counts job offer points or your Canadian work experience points, whichever is greater, never both.
Where do provincial nominee programs fit?
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, and a nominee must settle in the province or territory that nominated them. In 2026, rounds for nominated candidates cut off between 697 and 805, through the round of October 26, 2026.
| Route | CRS requirement |
|---|---|
| CEC draw | 2026 CEC-only rounds: 507 to 523 |
| Category draw (French, healthcare, trades, etc.) | 2026 rounds: 382 to 477 |
Graduate streams by province, and the AIP:
- Ontario: the OINP International Student stream is closed. Ontario reports that all previous OINP streams are now closed. Amendments to Ontario Regulation 422/17 came into force on June 25, 2026, removing the 8 existing streams and introducing the Ontario Workforce Priority stream. The stream has launched and the expression of interest portal opened on August 4, 2026. It covers skilled workers with a qualifying job offer in any NOC occupation, plus self-employed physicians.
- BC: no International Graduate category. Skilled Worker and Health Authority both need a full-time, indeterminate job offer.
- Saskatchewan: the SINP Students sub-category needs a Saskatchewan credential and at least six months (780 hours) of paid work there related to your field of study.
- Atlantic provinces: the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is federal, not a PNP. It needs a job offer from a designated employer, and a recent graduate of a recognized Atlantic post-secondary institution may be exempt from its work experience requirement.
Provinces set and change their own streams. The PNP guide and the Express Entry guide cover each program.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- CRS CalculatorYour Express Entry points, factor by factor
- PNP DrawsProvincial rounds, province by province
- NOC FinderYour occupation code and TEER level
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
How do I go from a study permit to PR in Canada?
Through four separate steps, since there is no single student PR application. Study at a DLI in a program that leads to a Post-Graduation Work Permit. Apply for the PGWP within 180 days of confirmation that you completed your program. Work at least 1 year full-time (or the same amount part time) in a TEER 0 to 3 job. Then enter Express Entry through the Canadian Experience Class or seek a provincial nomination.
How long does it take to go from a study permit to PR?
There is no fixed total, and this guide quotes none. The clock covers your program, a year of skilled work on a PGWP, the wait for an Invitation to Apply, and processing: IRCC's service standard for Express Entry is 180 days for 80% of complete applications.
How much money do I need to show for a study permit in 2026?
For applications made on or after September 1, 2026, a single applicant outside Quebec must show CAD $23,448 for one year of living costs. That comes on top of first-year tuition and return travel. The amount rises when family members come with you, and Quebec sets its own amounts. A GIC is one accepted form of proof.
What documents do I need for a study permit in Canada?
The core documents are an acceptance letter from a Designated Learning Institution, a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter for most applicants, and proof of funds for tuition, living costs and travel. Students headed to Quebec use the CAQ instead of a standard PAL. Since January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students in a degree-granting program at a public DLI are again exempt from the PAL. Our Document Checklist builds the full list for your case.
Do I need a job offer to apply for the Canadian Experience Class?
No. The Canadian Experience Class asks for at least 1 year of skilled Canadian work (TEER 0 to 3) in the 3 years before you apply, plus language results. You then enter the Express Entry pool and wait for an Invitation to Apply. Since November 3, 2026, a job offer adds CRS points only in an occupation on IRCC's high-wage list, and some provincial nominee streams still ask for one. Our CRS Calculator scores your profile.
Can I work while studying, and does it count toward CEC?
You can generally work up to 24 hours a week off campus during classes and unlimited hours during scheduled breaks. That work does not count toward the Canadian Experience Class, because IRCC excludes work done as a full-time student. Your CEC year is usually built after graduation, on a PGWP, in a TEER 0 to 3 job.
Can I study at a private college and still get a PGWP?
Only if the school offers your program as PGWP-eligible. A PGWP needs a program of at least 8 months at a PGWP-eligible DLI, and IRCC's DLI list shows which schools offer PGWP-eligible programs. Programs delivered through a curriculum licensing agreement with a public college (public-private partnership programs) are not eligible in most cases, and English or French as a second language programs are not eligible. Check PGWP eligibility on canada.ca before you enrol.
What happens if my PGWP expires before I get PR?
You generally must stop working, and a PGWP is issued once (the one extension IRCC describes is for a permit cut short by passport expiry). A Bridging Open Work Permit becomes available to an Express Entry applicant only once a complete PR application has passed the completeness check, so timing matters. Plan your year of skilled work and your Express Entry profile early in the PGWP. Other options are limited and depend on your facts, so a licensed lawyer or CICC consultant can help. Our Work Permit Extension guide covers the BOWP.
Part of:Studying in Canada
- After Graduation: PGWP, CEC, PNP: Your Post-Study Pathways
- GIC for a Canada Study Permit
- How to Choose a DLI in Canada: What Students Need to Know
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.