Recent data by the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals that one in three international students were successful in immigrating to Canada after completing their Canadian study programs. This emerging trend is good news for the Canadian immigration system as it tries to bounce back post-pandemic. The number of study permits issued in 2020 was more than 2019 by 519,800.
According to a report by Statistics Canada, international students who arrived in Canada after the year 2000 were successful in becoming Canadian permanent residents within 10 years of obtaining their first temporary study permit. This means that Canada retained 50% of all master’s degree students and 60% of doctoral students as highly-skilled foreign workers. The number of international students enrolling in Canada has increased steadily since 2000.
What Are the Main Source Countries for International Students in Canada?
The data indicates that the maximum number of international students who immigrate to Canada come from East India. Between 2010-2014, an estimated 46% of all new permanent residents were from East India. This number is closely followed by 30% from Nigeria and 21% from Vietnam.
The analysis of the data indicates that international students who successfully obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) are 60% more likely to immigrate to Canada. A PGWP is an open work permit that allows the holder to gain Canadian work experience by working with any Canadian employer and work anywhere across the country. Canadian work experience is an important factor in the eligibility criteria for many immigration pathways.
