It is worth noting right away that this method of immigration is relevant for those who have no other options for immigration.

The main disadvantages:

• need money: 12,000 Canadian dollars - the average cost of a year of study. Also expenses for housing, food, etc;
• long process: at least 1 year of study + 1 year of work + 0.5-1 year of the immigration procedure itself;
• people from 30-35 years old have lower chances of getting a study permit, as it becomes more difficult to prove your need for it;
• additional financial costs and problems if you plan to bring your partner / husband and / or child with you for the period of study.

Otherwise, this method is almost guaranteed to be a success if you do well.

Why studying in Canada opens the door to immigration

Once you have successfully completed your studies, you can obtain a post-graduation work permit (PGWP).
This will allow you to find a Canadian employer and gain the coveted work experience in Canada.


After working for at least a year, you will receive the following bonuses:

• meeting the criteria of the federal program Canadian Experience Class;
• when immigrating through CEC you will not have to prove that you have money to settle in Canada;
• additional points in the CRS calculation, which will help you achieve a passing score and receive an invitation to immigrate;
• once you have proven yourself to your employer, you may be eligible for an extension of your work contract, which also provides additional CRS points;
• a number of provincial programs are aimed at those who have worked in their province or territory. Therefore, the chances of immigrating through one of them increase.

What does studying in Canada without subsequent employment provide for a permanent residence:

• the opportunity to immigrate through a number of provincial programs that are designed for graduates of their educational institutions;
• the opportunity to improve your language skills, which will have a big impact on your scores and, consequently, your chances of success;
• additional points for studying in Canada (2 years or more) when calculating eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker program;
• additional points for studying (1 year or more) if you qualify for the CRS program;
• the opportunity to officially work up to 20 hours per week;
• It is easier to find a Canadian employer and get a job offer when you are in Canada.

In addition, during your studies, your spouse is eligible to receive an Open Work Permit.
We think that everything is clear with the advantages. Of course, the main task is to study and get at least a year of work experience.

How to immigrate to Canada through study

Preparation

Studying in Canada is quite costly. As a rule, the price for a one-year course starts from 8-10 thousand Canadian dollars. Plus to this spending on household expenses, food, tickets.
This issue should be analyzed in advance, calculate the expected costs, prepare the necessary amount.
Most educational institutions require the results of the language test (IELTS Academic). And not just any results, they must show that your language level is suitable for study. Otherwise you will not be accepted.

Translated educational documents will also be required: certificate, diploma, etc.
It is best to request all this information by email from the university/college you are considering.

Assessing chances and selecting a program

First of all, you need to soberly assess your situation and choose a work program for immigration, as well as understand how many years you need to study/work in Canada to achieve a passing score.

1. Federal Skilled Worker.

After studying for a year in Canada, you can get 15 additional CRS points and improve your English language skills, which will have a positive impact on your scores.
Take this into account in your calculations, and if the passing score is achieved, you can apply for immigration immediately after receiving a Canadian education.
If the points are not enough, or you do not meet the selection criteria of this program (to check was the calculator above), then it is better to go to the second point.

2. Canadian Experience Class.

In the case of this program, you must obtain a work permit to work in Canada after training. Once approved, you must work for one year to meet the CEC selection criteria.
Then you need to calculate your CRS scores. If the passing score is achieved, then after a year of work we apply for immigration. It also indicates that a one-year training program is enough.
If the points are still not enough (although this is almost impossible), then you need to choose a training program from 2 years, and after working 2-3 years. And another option is to go to point number 3.

3. Provincial Programs.

There are programs that are designed for graduates of local universities. If none of the options above suits you, you should analyze the programs of provinces and territories and choose the one that will allow you to successfully emigrate from your country to Canada.
Then choose an institution in that province or territory.
At the moment we are working on the section with provincial programs, so the information will appear a little later.
The program selection stage is quite complex and demanding, so if you have questions or need help, please fill out the feedback form below.

Finding the right school and program of study

At this stage, you should consider the recommendations and requirements below.

1. Not all Canadian colleges/universities are suitable for us. We need those that are marked DLI and also offer the PGWP program we need. You can check them out on the official website.
Scroll down the page, select the desired province or territory, customize the sorting of the last column and get the result:

2. We recommend choosing a school in a province that has favorable immigration programs for graduates.
Although, if you are sure that your Express Entry scores are sufficient, you can turn a blind eye.

3. It is important to clarify in advance what course duration will be stated in the graduate diploma / certificate.

The fact is that a work permit is issued for as long as the training lasted. If your diploma states 8 months, which is quite realistic, you will only be able to work for 8 months. And there is a possibility that the required year will not be gained.
This situation is quite rare, but it is recommended to insure yourself and clarify this in advance.
The same applies to those who want to get a PGWP for 3 years. For this purpose, the duration of study should be equal to 2 years.

4. If you plan to work during your studies (some universities allow up to 20 hours per week), make sure that this is possible at the chosen institution. Explore their website or contact them by e-mail and ask the relevant question.

5. Choose a training program based on your current education.

• If you (or your child) have just finished school, it is advisable that the program lasts at least 2 years. The worse the education (depending on the number of years), the fewer points you will receive. It is worth taking this into account and calculating your chances in advance.
• In addition, 2 years of study in Canada will allow you to get a work permit for up to 3 years. Accordingly, you can get more experience = more points.
• If you already have a university degree, we recommend choosing a program related to your previous studies. Otherwise, the visa officer may be suspicious.

Applying for a study permit

Once you have selected your school, paid for your program, and received your acceptance letter, you can begin applying for a study permit.
This step is very important because if you are denied, your entire immigration plan will be ruined.
The main task is to convince the visa officer that you really need a Canadian education. That you cannot get the same in your home country. That you do not have double intentions (for example, study only for the sake of subsequent immigration).
We are engaged in processing visas to this state, so you can turn to us for help.

Study in Canada

You need to really study in Canada. It is unlikely that you will be able to get a diploma if you have been doing your own thing all year. And if you don't get a diploma, you can't count on extra points and a work permit.
In your free time, practice your language skills. When you finally get into a new rhythm of life, try to find a part-time job. This will make it possible to make up for some of the money spent on your studies and make professional acquaintances that may come in handy in the future.

In total, you must:

• study and obtain a certificate of education / diploma;
• improve your language if you are far from a passing grade;
• try to find an employer who will take you on full-time after your studies.

Finding a suitable job

You must have work experience that meets the requirements of the Canadian Experience Class program, which are:

• 1 year full-time, or the equivalent part-time;
• You must be legally employed, legally recognized, and paid properly and not in an "envelope";
• the occupation is at skill level 0, A or B in the Canadian Occupational Classification (NOC).

You do not have to look for a profession that matches your education.

Create an Express Entry profile

If you do not achieve a passing grade after graduation (i.e. without Canadian work experience), then go to the next step. And you should come back to this one when you have worked the required amount of time in Canada.

After creating and submitting your profile, you will have to wait for the next round of selection to receive the coveted invitation to immigrate. They usually take place twice a month.

Obtaining a work permit

This is usually the reason why people who want to get a permanent residence in Canada go there to study.
After receiving education at a suitable university, any graduate within 180 days has the right to apply for a work permit.
The peculiarity of post-graduation work permit is that your potential employer does not need to issue LMIA. This greatly simplifies the job search process.
Read more about the requirements, validity period, processing procedure, etc. in the article about post-graduation work permit.

Conclusion

Immigration to Canada through education is a great way with a high chance of success. But you should resort to it only when there are no other options left.
You should be prepared to invest a considerable amount of money and spend one and a half to three years on the entire immigration process.