Is study, work, and immigrate still a viable route to Canadian permanent residency?
Canada’s Express Entry pool has grown more competitive in 2024 and 2025, leading some to question whether studying in Canada is still a reliable pathway to permanent residency (PR).
In fact, having studied in Canada provides significant advantages when seeking PR.
Discover your options to study in Canada
The increased competition for Express Entry invitations and provincial nominations means that the advantages provided by studying in Canada are even more important.
Benefit of Canadian post-secondary educationHow it helps
Additional CRS Points for study in CanadaThe CRS awards up to 30 additional points to those who have completed their post-secondary education in Canada.
CRS points for skill transferabilityCanadian work experience is also recognized in the skill transferability section of the CRS, allowing international students to gain up to 100 CRS points.
Access to Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) and Bridging Open Work PermitAllows graduates to gain Canadian work experience, which helps them qualify for Canadian Experience Class draws.
Networking opportunities with employersStudying in Canada gives international students increased opportunity to network and connect with employers through job fairs, co-op programs, and local community organizations.
Ability to qualify for Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) international graduate streamsMany provinces have immigration streams specifically for international student graduates.
Increased value as job candidateSome employers value Canadian education and Canadian work experience, giving international students in Canada an edge in a competitive job market.
Maria’s study-to-immigrate journey
Let’s take the (fictional) example of Maria Hidalgo, who lives in the Philippines and has a year of experience working as an administrative assistant.
At age 21, she decides to immigrate to Canada.
She applies for psychology programs at Canadian universities and gets an offer to study at the University of Toronto for a four-year bachelor’s degree. She moves to Canada on a study permit in 2019.
During her time at university, she applies for a summer internship and gets a two-month placement in an NGO that provides mental health services to those in need.
She completes her four-year program in 2023 and applies for a PGWP, which is issued for three years.
On her PGWP, Maria accepts a full-time position from the NGO as a community service worker.
After a year of full-time work, Maria takes an approved immigration language test, and enters the Express Entry pool under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program.
Since Maria was working as a community service worker, she is eligible both for CEC draws and for the healthcare and social services category based selection draws.
In her third year of working for the NGO, Maria receives an invitation to apply for PR through an Express Entry draw. She responds by sending in her application for PR and receives an Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR).
While her PR application is being processed, Maria applies for a Bridging Open Work Permit, so she can remain legally authorized to work in Canada even if her PGWP expires before her PR application has been processed.
Here is Maria’s CRS score two years after having graduated:
CRS scoring factorMaria’s qualificationMaria’s score
Age26 years old110
EducationBachelor’s degree in arts120
Official language (English)CLB 9124
Canadian work experienceTwo years of Canadian work experience53
Skill Transferability section
Education (official language proficiency + education)CLB 9 + Bachelor’s degree50
(Canadian work experience + education)Three years of Canadian work experience + bachelor’s degree
Foreign work experience (official language proficiency + foreign work experience)CLB 9 + 1 year of foreign work experience50
(Canadian + foreign work experience)Three years of Canadian work experience + 1 year of foreign work experience
Additional points
Studied in CanadaFour-year bachelor’s degree30
Total points537
Maria could have qualified for the most recent healthcare and social service category based selection draw, which had a CRS cutoff of 470.
Her CRS Score is high enough that she also could have qualified for the majority of Canadian Experience Class draws throughout 2025, which have had cut-off scores randing from 518 to 547, as of the time of writing.
Why study, work, and immigrate can be a viable route to permanent residency (PR)
Additional CRS points
Canada ranks Express Entry candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and sends invitations to apply for PR to only the highest-ranking candidates.
The CRS awards up to 30 CRS points under the “additional points” section to candidates with Canadian post-secondary eduction: 15 points for a credential of one to two years, and 30 points for a credential of three years or longer.
For many candidates, the additional 15 or 30 points can make the difference between receiving an ITA versus not being invited.
Access to PGWP and to bridging open work permit (BOWP)
International student graduates can be eligible for the post-graduation work permit, which can be issued for up to three years in length (depending upon the length of the graduate’s program).
The PGWP is an open work permit, allowing holders to work for most employers in most industries in Canada.
With an open work permit, international student graduates can gain Canadian work experience, advancing their career as a professional in Canada while also gaining eligibility for the Canadian Experience Class pathway to permanent residence, and scoring CRS points for Canadian work experience.
After having applied for PR and having received their AOR, many can then apply for a bridging open work permit (BOWP) to provide work authorization for up to two years while their PR application is being processed.
Schedule a Free Post Graduation Work Permit Consultation with the Cohen Immigration Law Firm
Skill Transferability factors section
The CRS also has a Skill Transferability section that awards points based on how a candidate’s education and work experience combines with official language proficiency.
Having Canadian work experience (which can be gained while on a PGWP) and a post-secondary degree both can have a big impact on improving points in this section.
One can get a maximum of 100 points through the skill transferability section.
Access to Canadian employers
Students on valid study permits can usually work 24 hours a week off campus while classes are in session, and full-time during scheduled breaks.
This can give them access to Canadian employers.
Moreover, many higher education institutions also have job fairs, campus placements, and co-op programs, helping international students connect with employers and local organizations in Canada.
PNP international graduate streams
Provincial Nominee Programs allow provinces to nominate foreign nationals for permanent residence.
Many provinces offer streams specifically for international students who have completed their post-secondary education within the province.
For example, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has an Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream, which allows international students with a full-time, permanent job offer in a skilled occupation in Ontario to be nominated by the province for PR.
Employer preference for Canadian education and work experience
Many employers in Canada look for candidates who already have Canadian work experience and/or Canadian education, giving international student graduates a significant edge in a competitive job market.
Thinking about immigrating to Canada?
If you are planning to immigrate through Express Entry, it’s worth taking the time out to calculate your CRS score.
Based on the score, and the current CRS cut-off scores, you can get an idea whether or not your profile is likely to be competitive in the Express Entry pool.
If you find that your profile if not competitive enough, you could look at factors that could improve your chances of receiving an ITA for Canadian PR.
