Canada, popularly known as the Land of the Maple Leaf is considered to be one of the premiere destinations for foreign students. The statistics by ICEF Monitor (a dedicated market intelligence resource for the international education industry) show that 572,415 international candidates were granted Canadian study permits in 2018. This marks an overall increase of 73% in the number of foreign students in Canada since 2014. Students who have completed their higher education from a Canadian institution might wish to become permanent residents of the country to further enhance their career prospects.
The following article seeks to provide you with the information you need to secure your PR permit after studying in Canada for a year. You will get to read all about the Canadian provinces that allow such a Permanent Residency alongwith their requirements. 
Key Factors of Permanent Residency in Canada
A Permanent Residency is different from a citizenship. Some key factors of Permanent Residents (PRs) in Canada are -
- Permanent residents are citizens of other countries who have immigrated to Canada but arent a citizen yet. A student or foreign worker who is in Canada for a short time cannot be considered a permanent resident.
- Permanent residents get most of the social benefits that are available to Canadian citizens like health care coverage.
- The permanent residence permit will allow you to live, work and study anywhere in Canada.
- Once you’re a permanent resident, you will be automatically issued a PR card. Having a PR card makes one eligible to apply for a Canadian citizenship eventually.
- PR permit holders are provided protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Note: There are only two things that Canadian citizens can do that permanent residents cant. A permanent residence permit does not allow you to vote in the elections or run for political office. Some jobs that need a high-level of security clearance will be wary of employing PR permit holders for the position.
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How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of study Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a way for Canadian provinces and territories to attract individuals to immigrate to these locations and settle down to contribute towards the economy and the culture of the province. Every province has their own set of eligibility criteria according to which prospective applicants are filtered. The following provinces in Canada provide PNPs which enable you to apply for a PR permit after completing one year of study:
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Ontario
Lets look into the details of the PNP programs offered by each one of the above mentioned provinces.
How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of Study British Columbia
British Columbia is the 3rd largest province in Canada and is four times the size of Great Britain. The provincial government of BC offers a comprehensive Provincial Nominee Program which aims to boost the economy of the region. They offer a category called Express Entry International Graduate within their PNP to international students to obtain a PR permit. The eligibility criteria for it is as follows:
- Should have completed a degree, diploma, or certificate course from an eligible post-secondary institute of higher education in Canada within the last 3 years.
- Must be eligible for one of the federal economic immigration programs, i.e. Federal Skilled Worker Class, Federal Skilled Trades Class, Canadian Experience Class
- Should have accepted a full-time permanent job offer at a skilled position according to National Occupational Classification. The employer must be located in BC and his/her job should fall under the O, A or B classification.
- Your wage offer should match the BC wage rate for the designated occupation
- Must be eligible for legal immigration status in Canada
- Must meet the minimum language requirements set by the federal immigration program
Note: Your degree does not have to be obtained from a BC based college or university. If youve studied in any other province of Canada, you may still be eligible for the BC PNP. 
How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of Study Manitoba
Manitoba is known as one of the prairie provinces of Canada and has an economy that is based on an abundance of natural resources and agriculture. It is one of the major contributors towards the growth of the Canadian economy and is also home to the Royal Canadian Mint that produces all of Canadas coins and currency for 60 governments around the world. The provincial government offers international students the International Education Stream (IES) program within the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) to allow them to live and work in the province with a PR permit. The IES or International Education Stream is divided further into separate pathways:
- Graduate Internship Pathway
This program is open to international students who have obtained a masters degree or doctoral degree from an institute of higher education in Manitoba. The eligibility criteria are listed below:
- Must have completed a masters or doctoral degree program in Manitoba within the past 3 years
- Should get a minimum score of 7 according to the CLB or Canadian Language Benchmarks
- Must have a job offer from a recognized company in Manitoba
- Should be able to demonstrate liquid funds to sustain independent financial resources for a 6-month period.
- Must be residing in Manitoba at the time of application
- Show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after the nomination which includes submitting a Career Employment plan to show opportunities available for your chosen career track in Manitoba.
- Career Employment Pathway
This route is designed for and prioritizes international graduates who have found a long-term employment option in Manitoba which is relevant to their educational qualifications and training. The eligibility criteria for this pathway are as follows:
- Must have graduated in the past 3 years from a recognized institute of higher education with a minimum of one year of full-time coursework.
- Should have a score of 7 in the CLB or Canadian Language Benchmarks
- Must have secured a full-time job offer in Manitoba from a legitimate employer with a minimum contract of 1-year. The job must be on the list of In-Demand Occupations list published by the government of Manitoba. At the time of your applications assessment, you must be working full-time.
- The applicant must demonstrate liquid funds for sustaining independent financial resources for 6 months.
- Must be residing in Manitoba at the time of application and show the intent to continue to reside in Manitoba after the nomination which includes submitting a Career Employment plan to show opportunities available for your chosen career track in Manitoba.
How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of Study Newfoundland and Labrador
The province of Newfoundland and Labrador are composed of the island of Newfoundland and the mainland part of Labrador. It is the easternmost province of Canada and has recently become a significant factor in the Canadian economic landscape with a boom in energy and natural resource industries. They offer a category called Newfoundland and Labrador International Graduate within their PNP program aimed at recently graduated international students who have a post-graduate work permit and a job offer from an employer in Newfoundland and Labrador. The minimum requirements to avail this program are listed below:
- Should have completed at least half of their studies in Canada and graduated from an eligible public Canadian college or university
- Should have completed at least a two year diploma or degree program with full-time study at the institute. One-year post graduate degree programs and certificate programs are also eligible if they require a previous degree or diploma as part of their admission requirements.
- Must have a full time job offer from a recognized employer located in Newfoundland and Labrador in their field of study
- Must hold a legal post-graduation work permit
- Must demonstrate the intention and ability to settle in the province
- Must demonstrate proof of funds that can sustain for six-months during the initial period of settling into the province.
Note: If you have completed your studies at a recognized institute of higher education outside of Newfoundland and Labrador, you may be asked to work in a job related to your field of study for a minimum of 1 year before you can submit your PNP application.
How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of study Ontario
Ontario is the second largest province in Canada and is home to the nations capital city of Ottawa. It has a varied landscape and a vibrant culture filled with diversity which make it a great choice for people looking to settle in Canada. It generates 37% of Canadas national GDP and is home to technology, financial services and other knowledge intensive industries. They offer international graduates (who hold a masters degree from Ontario) a chance to apply to permanently live and work in Ontario through their Masters Graduate Stream category under the Ontario Immigration Nominee program. The criteria for eligibility are listed below:
- Must have completed at least one year of full-time study while being enrolled in a degree program from an eligible university in Ontario
- You are not eligible if you are the recipient of a grant or a scholarship that requires you to return to your home country after the completion of your course.
- You must be able to demonstrate your proficiency in either English or French at the CLB level 7 or higher.
- You must have legally resided in Ontario for a year before you apply.
- You must show proof of funds that demonstrate your ability to support yourself in the country or have a job offer in Ontario.
- You will have to prove your intention to live and work in Ontario by either showing a job offer, volunteering, having an academic history in Ontario or leasing/owning property.
- You must submit your application within 2 years of completing your degree requirements, i.e. if your degree is dated July 2nd, 2018, you must apply to this stream before July 2nd, 2020.
For a more detailed breakdown of the costs and other requirements for this program, you can visit the official Ontario government website.
Note: You must apply online to be nominated by the Ontario government for permanent residence. If you are nominated, your next step is to apply to the federal government through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They make the final decision on who becomes a permanent resident.
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How to get PR in Canada after 1 year of study – FAQs
Q.What is the difference between permanent residence and citizenship?
A.Permanent residence refers to an individual who has moved to Canada and has been allowed to live and work in the country. They are considered to be citizens of their original country and getting a permanent residence permit is considered to be the first step towards securing your Canadian citizenship. As a permanent resident, you have access to the same social benefits as any Canadian citizen, the right to live and work anywhere in Canada, legal protection and the right to apply for a Canadian citizenship.
Q.What is a PNP?
A.The Provincial Nominee Program pulls in people to move to the provinces and territories of Canada and settle down to contribute towards the Canadian economy and the way of life. Each region has their own qualification criteria as per which imminent candidates are examined.
Q.Can I lose my PR status in Canada?
A.Yes, it is possible for you to lose your permanent residence status in Canada. The following are the reasons why people might lose their PR permit:
- Not being in Canada for at least 730 days during the 5 years of your PR permit
- Gaining a full Canadian citizenship
- Becoming legally inadmissible to Canada due to criminal or other causes.
Q.Can I get a Canadian passport while Im on a PR permit?
A.No, you will not be able to get a Canadian passport while on your PR permit. A passport is only provided to citizens of Canada. If permanent residents want to travel outside the country, they can do so on a valid PR card, or on a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD), and their passport from their country of citizenship.
