It may now be easier for students coming to Canada to obtain a master's or doctorate. program to obtain permanent residence (PR).

On February 15, 2024, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) adopted a Post-graduation work permit (PGWP) which was first announced on January 22 as one of many changes coming to Canada's international student system.

This policy now means that international students graduating from master's programs at Canadian universities Designated educational institutions (DLI) – the only post-secondary institutions authorized by IRCC to accept international students – are eligible for a three-year PTPD. This is true even for students studying in master's programs lasting two years or less.

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Note: Prior to February 15, the length of time a PTPD was valid for master's students was directly correlated to the length of the study program.

How does this make it easier to get PR in Canada?

The value of a PTPD is that it allows international graduate students to work in Canada once they have completed a PTPD-eligible program at a DLI.

This work experience in Canada is valuable for those who later intend to pursue public relations, as many immigration pathways to Canada require or reward such experience.

For example, the popular Canada Express Entry applicant management system, which prioritizes applicants Complete ranking system (CRS), rewards applicants with a minimum of 80* additional CRS points for work experience gained in Canada before applying for PR.

*This point value is for Express Entry candidates without a spouse or common-law partner in the Basic Factors/Human Capital section of the Express Entry system. Applicants in other circumstances, such as those applying alongside their spouse/partner, may receive a different number of CRS points.

Therefore, this expanded PGWP policy will make it easier for eligible students to obtain the PR, as it will allow them more time to gain valuable work experience in Canada, which they can then use in their immigration application.

Other ways IRCC facilitates the immigration of master's and doctoral students to Canada

The CRS Express Entry system rewards higher education

Besides the value of a master’s or Ph.D. For Canadian immigration, the CRS Express Entry system rewards higher levels of education.

Specifically, students with master’s and Ph.D. degrees are rewarded with the two highest CRS scores under “education level” by the Express Entry system.

• Master’s students: 126 points with a spouse/common-law partner; 135 points without
• doctoral students: 140 points with a spouse/common-law partner; 150 points without

Simply, more CRS points give applicants a better chance of receiving a Invitation to apply (ITA) for Canadian public relations.

Many provinces and territories have dedicated Provincial Nominee Program streams for master's and doctoral students.

Students who earn a master’s or Ph.D. degree in Canada are also open to various other Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Note: 11 of Canada's 13 provinces and territories, excluding Quebec and Nunavut, operate a PNP

This is because many of Canada's top destination provinces for newcomers, including Ontario and British Columbia, offer specific pathways for students graduating from these programs. More information on some of these PNP streams is available at the links below.

Ontario: Ontario Masters Graduate Stream duck Ontario Ph.D. Graduate Stream

British Columbia: International category of higher studies

Manitoba: Internship course for graduates

Further information on Canada's PNPs can be found here.

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