How to Change Your Study Permit to Permanent Residence in Canada

Are you an International student? Would you love to stay in Canada after your years of studying in Canada? Then you can change your study permit to a permanent resident card. A permanent residence visa gives more opportunities and chances to a foreign national than other types of Canadian visas. This can be achieved via many Canadian immigration programs like the Express Entry, provincial nominee program, and others. Those who have stayed for a few years in the country with the other types of visa can easily apply for a permanent residence card. One of the Canada visas you can change to a permanent resident card is your study permit.

Essential Criteria and Requirements

To change your study visa to a permanent residence card, some criteria and requirements must be met before your application is considered. These include:

General requirements

Age: You must be at least 18 years old to apply for permanent residence.
Education: The minimum requirement is to have at least a minimum of two years of study in any Canadian Institution (i.e, a post-secondary school institution)
Work experience: A minimum of one year of work experience in any profession is needed. The requirements for the years mostly depend on the program of application.
Language proficiency: You must be able to speak, understand, and write any of the Canada official languages i.e, English or French. The choice of language depends on the region of location.

Specific requirements for various Immigration programs

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program:

Skilled work experience: Must have at least a year of full-time work experience in any occupation listed in the NOC system (National Occupational Classification).
Education: You must hav a recognized education certificat,e likea Bachelor’s degree or an educational credential assessment report (ECA).
Financial capability: Must be able to sponsor your needs and have enough funds to settle down in Canada.

2. Federal skilled trades program

Skilled trades experience: Must have at least two years of experience in any skilled trade available in Canada. These skill trades include: electrical. Construction, maintenance, and industrial trades, etc/
Education: An Advanced education certificate is an addition to surplus; rather, a secondary or high school certificate is enough.
Financial capability: Must be able to cater to your needs and sponsor your bills. Guide on Canada visa in 2025: The Application process

3. Canada experience class

Canadian work experience: You must have at least 1 year of Canadian work experience on a paid full-time basis.
Language proficiency: You must be able to prove your language skills with a language test like CELPIP or TEF with an average score of CLB 7.
Skilled work experience: Your work experience in any of the professions must be on the list of eligible occupations in the NOC list.

4. Provincial nominee program

Age: Must be in the age bracket of 21-55 years to apply for any provincial nominee program.
Language proficiency: Depending on the regions in Canada, you must be able to display proficiency in English or French.
Valid job offer: Canada provinces require a valid job offer from a Canadian employer to process your application.

Province-specific requirements

British Columbia requirement: Must be financially capable with an initial fund of $10,000.
Quebec requirement: Only for French speakers and must have an initial fund of $3,000 for settlement in the province.
Alberta requirement: Must have an initial fund settlement of $10,000.
Ontario requirement: Must have a sum of $13,000 to settle in Canada.

Other Requirements

Medical exam certificate: You must have a recent medical exam certificate to prove that you are fully healthy and possess no medical conditions.
Police clearance report: You must have a police clearance certificate to ensure you have a zero criminal record.
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List of Documents for Changing Your Study permit to Permanent Residence Visa

A Valid ID Passport: You must possess a valid ID passport (must be 6 months away from expiration date) to apply for a permanent residence visa.
Education certificates: You must have your education documents like the diploma or secondary school certificate and transcripts in your possession.
Valid study permit: You must have a valid study permit to apply for a permanent residence visa.
Medical exam certificate: You must have a recent medical exam certificate from a recognized and certified hospital.
Language test results: You must provide language test results, such as IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF.
Police clearance certificates: You have to possess a police clearance certificate from your home country or any countries where you’ve stayed at least for 6 months ;
Work experience/recommendation documents: You may be asked to show a recommendation letter or document that shows your work experience in a particular firm, like reference letters and recommendation notes.

Step-by-step Guidelines to change your Study permit into a Permanent residence

You can change your study permit into permanent residency via the Canadian immigration programs. These immigration programs follow a common order for application, which includes:

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Step 1: Check your Eligibility and requirements

You can use the IRCC (Immigration, Refugee Citizenship Canada) website to check the requirements of each immigration program.
You can compare and review the requirements and criteria of each program.
Select the best suitable immigration that perfectly fits into your profile.

Step 2: Collate all required documents

You will need documents like your study permit, ID passport, language test results, police clearance certificate, etc.
Ensure your documents are valid and are at least six months away from their expiration date.
All these documents will earn you viable points in the Comprehensive ranking system

Step 3: Creating an Express Entry Profile

You will have to visit the IRCC website to create an Express Entry profile to begin your application.
During your registration, you will fill in all your details, including your details, work experience, education history, etc. Thus a

Step 4: Submitting an Application

When you have successfully created your account, you can begin your application by filling in your application form through the IRCC website.
You can also apply for the immigration program using the paper application by downloading the forms or visiting the Canadian embassy.
You must also pay the application processing fee, which will be used to process your application.
Ensure to review the application before final submission to avoid unnecessary delays or rejection.
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Step 5: The Interview

If requested, you may have to attend an interview with an officer.
Prepare all common interview questions and practice all constructed answers repeatedly to reach perfection.

Step 6:The processing time

The application processing time will take a few weeks and months
While you wait for your application approval, you can go for your medical exam if you have not yet done it. Submitting this document will increase your chance of success.

Step 7: Application approval

Even before you can apply for a permanent residence, you would have received an ITA (Invitation to apply)/to apply for immigration program.
If your application is successful, you will receive a notification to collect your permanent residence card.

The Benefits of a Permanent Resident Visa in Canada

As an International student, you can benefit a lot from being a holder of a Canadian permanent residence visa. These include:

Education Benefits

Access to free education: When you have a permanent resident visa as an International student in Canada, you will have full access to different Canadian scholarships, both for non-Canadian and Canadian citizens.
Affordable school fees: You will also get to enjoy affordable and low school fees with access to all facilities and amenities in the school and community.
Education advancement: You can also get to advance your education in Canada without the need for a study permit.

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Personal Benefits

Citizenship card: A permanent resident visa can earn you a citizenship card when you have met all the requirements and criteria.
Sense of belonging: When you have a Canadian permanent resident visa, you can rest assured to be part of the country’s responsibilities.
Family reunion: With a permanent resident visa in Canada, you can bring in your family members, spouse/relatives to reunite with them all.

Financial Benefits

Accessibility to Programs: You will have access to different government programs, which will be free for you.
Lower interest rates: With a Permanent resident visa, you will be eligible for lower interest rates on government loans and credit cards in Canada.

Travel Benefits

Easy Entry & Exit: A permanent resident visa will allow you to enter and exit Canada without any form of restriction or visa delays.
Travel benefits to developed countries: You will have access to travel to developed countries like the USA, the UK, very easily with no restrictions.

Career Benefits

Job opportunities: A permanent resident visa will give you more access to various exclusive job opportunities in Canada with no restrictions or delays on getting a license.
Work permit: As a permanent resident visa holder, you don’t need a work permit to work in Canada, commanding freedom and exclusive offers for you.
Career advancement: A permanent resident visa holder has a higher chance to grow and develop their professional career in Canada.Start Your Application For LMIA Approved Jobs in Canada 2024/25

Conclusion

When changing your study permit to become a permanent resident in Canada, you will have to be careful, plan your goals, and ensure that you are making the right choice. You will also have to understand the whole application process and follow all the steps involved very strictly. This will increase your chances of success and avoid all delays and rejections. A permanent resident card will provide you with more chances and opportunities to be successful in Canada.