Study & Work Permits

STUDY PERMITS

How To Leverage Extensions & Restoration of Status to Gain Residency

Foreign students are one of the largest groups targeted by IRCC for permanent residence programs. Why? Because they are already here, are integrated and familiar with Canadian society, have already gained some work experience, and there is no language barrier. For these reasons, they make prime candidates for becoming successful permanent residents!

Accordingly, if you are currently studying in Canada, you have options available to move from your temporary status to permanent residence. We suggest that, even while going to school in Canada, you start weaving a plan for how you will get to permanent residency—don't wait until the last minute. Be sure to stay in school, study full-time, do not take unauthorized breaks, graduate, and apply for the all-important post-graduate work permit.

We have experience with federal and SINP programs that cater to post-graduate work permit holders for you to use to make your journey to PR status as smooth as possible.

Eligibility Criteria

Apply for a study permit extension before your current study permit expires.

Check that your passport isn’t expiring soon—you will not be given a permit longer than your passport expiry date. We can help those whose study permits have expired and who still have time to apply to renew and restore their status.

If you apply after your study permit expires, you can stay in Canada, but you may not continue to study until your status has been restored and you have received a new study permit.

We can advise how best to restore your status so you can continue or resume studies, and we can discuss any possible consequences for your post-graduate work permit later.

FAQs

  • First, wait to receive your completion letter and transcript. Your application must be submitted within 180 days of receiving these items. You should know that if you have a valid study permit at the time of applying for the PGWP, you can start working full-time immediately after applying.

  • We receive several calls daily from recent graduates in other provinces who realize their options for getting permanent resident status are limited if they stay in that province, so they want to know their chances of getting PR status through the SINP. The three most common SINP categories we see targeted by these graduates who have applied for, or already received, their post-graduate work permits are:

    -SINP Student category

    -SINP Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot

    -SINP International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer