Maple News reports that Canada has launched two temporary permanent residence (PR) programs aimed at international student graduates with in-demand skills, supporting the country’s post-pandemic economic recovery. These special immigration pathways will be available between May 6, 2021, and November 5, 2021, and candidates must intend to live outside the province of Quebec.
The first pathway is open to all recent international graduates from Canadian educational institutions. This stream has a cap of 40,000 applications, and submissions will close once the intake limit is reached or by November 5, whichever comes first. This initiative is designed to help retain global talent already trained in Canada’s institutions who are ready to enter the workforce.
The second stream specifically targets French-speaking international graduates. Unlike the first pathway, this stream does not have an intake cap, reflecting Canada’s ongoing efforts to attract more French-speaking talent to provinces and territories outside Quebec, where there is a notable shortage.
To be eligible for the English-speaking graduate stream, applicants must have completed a credential from a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) no earlier than January 2017. Acceptable credentials include diplomas, degrees, or certificates from Canadian universities, colleges, or other post-secondary institutions such as Quebec CEGEPs. The program of study must have lasted at least eight months, and combined credentials must total a minimum of 16 months.
Those who completed vocational training are also eligible if their program led to employment in certain skilled trades, including industrial, electrical, and construction jobs; maintenance and equipment operation; natural resources and agriculture; processing and manufacturing supervision; or roles such as chefs, cooks, butchers, and bakers. These occupations fall under specific National Occupational Classification (NOC) major and minor groups recognized for eligibility.
Applicants must be legally working in Canada at the time of their application with a valid status or authorization and demonstrate language proficiency in English or French at a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5.
Furthermore, candidates must be physically present in Canada during the application process and must meet admissibility requirements, meaning they should not have any criminal or medical issues that would make them ineligible for permanent residence.
These pathways not only offer a new opportunity for international graduates to gain long-term status in Canada, but also support the country’s goals of retaining skilled individuals essential to economic growth and diversity.
For international students already living and working in Canada, these streams represent a practical way to transition from temporary status to permanent residence.