Can You Get Canadian Citizenship Right After Graduation?

February 24, 2025

Ishita Soni

How Can you Work in Canada After Studying?

No, you can’t get Canadian citizenship immediately after finishing your studies. First, you need to get a work permit and work in Canada. After that, you can apply for Permanent Residency (PR), which is a step before citizenship. To apply for PR, you must graduate from a designated learning institute with a program that lasts at least 8 months.

How Can You Work in Canada?

To work in Canada, you need to apply for a work permit. Here’s what you need to do:

• Get a job offer or a contract from an employer in Canada.
• The work permit is valid for 1 to 2 years.

Canada also issued 84,874 invitations to apply through Express Entry in September 2024, which is 3.6% more than the previous year.

What Are the Requirements for a Work Permit?

Here’s what you need to apply for a work permit:

• Proof of payment and photographs.
• A copy of your passport and current immigration status.
• If applying for a post-graduation work permit, evidence of your study program.
• Proof of marriage (if applicable) and other forms like the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

Types of Work Permits in Canada

After completing your studies, here are the work permits you can apply for:

• Canada Post-Graduation Work Permit
• Temporary Foreign Worker Program
• International Experience Canada
• Open Work Permits

Work Permit to Permanent Residency (PR)

Once you get a work permit, you can eventually apply for Permanent Residency (PR). With PR, you can live, stay, and work in Canada for 5 years. The different pathways to PR include:

• Express Entry
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Quebec Immigration
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Canada Start-up Visa Program

How to Apply for PR?

To apply for Canada PR, you’ll need to go through Express Entry. Express Entry has three programs:

• Federal Skilled Workers Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

You’ll be selected based on points, and the basic requirements are:

• Be 18-35 years old.
• Have an education that’s equal to Canadian high school standards.
• Have 1 year of full-time work experience.
• Your occupation should be on the TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 list.
• A police verification certificate.
• A score of at least six bands in IELTS.

From PR to Canadian Citizenship

Once you have PR, here’s how you can become a Canadian citizen:

• Be a permanent resident for at least 5 years.
• Show you speak English or French.
• Pass the Canadian test.
• Have filed taxes for 3 years within the 5-year period.
• Have a clean criminal record.
• Provide two passport-size photos and proof of identity.

Get in touch with SPS Global

Receive professional advice on any of your questions regarding Canadian immigration. get in touch with us, experienced immigration consultants from SPS Canada. For additional information, contact support@spscanada.com (Canada) or support.amd@spscanada.com (Ahmedabad), or by phone at (1) 905-362-9393 (Canada) or +919586226232 (Ahmedabad).

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