Maple News reports that eight Canadian provinces are currently offering active and dedicated immigration pathways for international graduates seeking permanent residency (PR). Tailored under Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), these pathways enable graduates who have studied in specific provinces to transition into permanent residents—often with fewer barriers than other immigration streams.
The provinces offering open streams as of May 2025 include Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan. Each of these provinces has designed at least one immigration stream specifically for recent international graduates, while some provinces offer multiple programs aimed at both employment and entrepreneurship.
Eligibility requirements vary by province and stream. Most require applicants to have completed their post-secondary education within the province. Many also require a verifiable intent to remain in the province long-term and, in some cases, proof of settlement funds. Some streams mandate a job offer aligned with the applicant’s field of study, while others focus on entrepreneurial potential.
For instance, Alberta offers two entrepreneur-focused streams—the Graduate Entrepreneur Stream and the Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream—both of which do not require job offers but do need an Expression of Interest (EOI). In Ontario, international graduates without job offers can apply under the Master’s Graduate or PhD Graduate Streams, provided they submit an EOI and receive an invitation to apply.
Nova Scotia also operates two streams: the International Graduates in Demand Stream (which requires a job offer but no EOI) and the International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream (which requires no job offer but does require an EOI). Manitoba provides three streams, accommodating both job-holding graduates and those pursuing business ventures or internships.
Several of these programs use an EOI system, meaning prospective applicants must first submit a profile to the province’s immigration portal. If selected, they are invited to submit a complete application for provincial nomination. This process allows provinces to manage applications and prioritize candidates with the best fit for the local labor market and economic priorities.
For international students studying in Canada, these pathways present a valuable opportunity to build lasting careers and lives in the same provinces where they pursued their education. However, each stream has its own detailed criteria. Understanding and meeting those specific requirements—such as job offers, EOIs, or business plans—is critical to securing a nomination.
With a growing emphasis on retaining international talent, these provincial streams reflect Canada’s long-standing commitment to welcoming skilled and educated newcomers. Interested applicants are encouraged to explore specific provincial nomination streams to determine eligibility and prepare documentation in advance.
Maple News will continue to monitor updates to Canada’s PNP streams and provide timely guidance to international students planning their post-graduation immigration journey.