Permanent Residency Pathways for International Graduates in Canada in 2025

Are you an international student who recently graduated from any Canadian institution? If you are one and looking for a PR status in Canada, then this update is for you. Many Canadian provinces are offering immigration pathways to students. These pathways are specifically designed to help international graduates become permanent residents.

These Provincial Nominee Program streams make it easier for foreign nationals to settle permanently in the province where they studied. Their main focus is to cut down the labour shortage and use the skills of international graduates effectively.

In 2025, eight Canadian provinces have active immigration streams dedicated to international graduates. Read till the end, to find out about those Provinces.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Provinces Offering PR Pathways for International Graduates
3. Summary of Requirements by Province
4. Detailed Provincial Breakdown
   • Alberta
   • Manitoba
   • New Brunswick
   • Newfoundland and Labrador
   • Nova Scotia
   • Ontario
   • Prince Edward Island
   • Saskatchewan
5. Conclusion
6. FAQs

Provinces Offering PR Pathways

The following provinces currently offer PNP streams for international student graduates:

Province	Stream Name	Job Offer Required?	EOI Required?
Alberta	Graduate Entrepreneur Stream	No	Yes
	Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream	No	Yes
Manitoba	Career Employment Pathway	Yes	Yes
	Graduate Internship Pathway	No	Yes
	International Student Entrepreneur Pilot	No	Yes
New Brunswick	Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program	Yes	Yes
Newfoundland & Labrador	International Graduate Category	Yes	Yes
	International Graduate Entrepreneur (Start or Buy)	No	Yes
Nova Scotia	International Graduates in Demand	Yes	No
	International Graduate Entrepreneur	No	Yes
Ontario	Employer Job Offer: International Student	Yes	Yes
	Master’s Graduate Stream	No	Yes
	PhD Graduate Stream	No	Yes
Prince Edward Island	International Graduates	Yes	Yes
Saskatchewan	Workers with SK Experience: Student Sub-category	Yes	No

Eligibility Requirements for International Graduates

General Eligibility Criteria for Students:

• Candidates must graduate from a recognized Canadian post-secondary institution. It’s best to have graduated from the same Province, from where you desire to be a PR.
• Interested candidates must show intent to stay in the province.
• In many cases, a valid job offer or prior work experience is required for PR.
• Language proficiency (CLB 5 to 7 depending on the program) certificate.
• For some programs, candidates need to submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) and receive an invitation from employers in the Province.

Detailed Breakdown of PR Pathways

Alberta: Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

• Streams: Graduate Entrepreneur, Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur
• No job offer needed
• EOI required
• Business ownership of at least 34%
• CLB 5 to 7 in language proficiency
• For Foreign Graduate: Letter of recommendation and minimum investment ($100K urban / $50K rural)

Manitoba: Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Career Employment Pathway

• Job offer required
• CLB 7 minimum
• Job must be in-demand and related to your studies

Graduate Internship Pathway

• Master’s or PhD graduates with internship experience (Mitacs)
• No job offer required
• Must live in Manitoba and have settlement funds

International Student Entrepreneur Pilot

• Business ownership of 51% required
• Must have lived in Manitoba since graduation
• Aged 21 to 35
• CLB 7 minimum

New Brunswick

Program: Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program

• Stream: 1
• For graduates from designated private career colleges in NB
• Must have a full-time job offer

Requirements:

• CLB 5 minimum
• Job in a priority occupation
• Must have completed an eligible 1-year diploma
• Settlement funds needed

Newfoundland and Labrador

Program: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program

• Number of Streams: 3

1. International Graduate Category

• For graduates with a job offer

2. Graduate Entrepreneur – Start a Business

• No job offer needed
• For those who want to launch a business

3. Graduate Entrepreneur – Buy a Business

• No job offer needed
• For those purchasing a business in the province

Quick Look:

Stream	Job Offer	EOI	Language	Ownership	Other Criteria
Graduate Category	Yes	Yes	CLB 5	N/A	PGWP, job in NOC TEER 0–4
Start a Business	No	Yes	CLB 7	33.3%	NL grad, active management
Buy a Business	No	Yes	CLB 7	33.3%	Business continuity, NL grad

Nova Scotia

Program: Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

• Number of Streams: 2

1. International Graduates in Demand Stream

• Job offer required
• Focused on healthcare and tech occupations

2. International Graduate Entrepreneur

• No job offer
• For graduates who have started a business

Quick Look:

Stream	Job Offer	EOI	Language	Ownership	Other Criteria
Graduates in Demand	Yes	No	CLB 5	N/A	In-demand field
Graduate Entrepreneur	No	Yes	CLB 7	100%	1-year business ops

Ontario

Program: Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

• Number of Streams: 3

1. Employer Job Offer: International Student

• Job offer required

2. Master’s Graduate Stream

• No job offer

3. PhD Graduate Stream

• No job offer

Quick Look:

Stream	Job Offer	EOI	Language	Education	Other Criteria
Employer Job Offer	Yes	Yes	CLB 7	Ontario diploma	Full-time, permanent job
Master’s Graduate	No	Yes	CLB 7	Master’s from Ontario	Lived in Ontario last 12 months
PhD Graduate	No	Yes	CLB 7	PhD from Ontario	At least 2 years completed

Prince Edward Island

Program: PEI PNP – International Graduate Stream

• Requires full-time job offer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
• Graduate from a publicly funded PEI institution

Requirements:

• CLB 4 minimum
• Must have legal status
• Job must align with studies
• Settlement funds

Saskatchewan

Program: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Stream: Student Sub-Category under Workers with Saskatchewan Work Experience

• Requires full-time job offer from a Saskatchewan employer
• Must have graduated from an eligible institution in Canada

Requirements:

• CLB 4 minimum
• Must have worked for at least 6 months in Saskatchewan
• PGWP required

Conclusion

As Canada continues to support international graduates through the various immigration streams in 2025, whether you want to work and start a business, various provinces offer various programs for international graduates. These streams help students to grow and support the Canadian economy by joining the workforce.

6. FAQs

Q1. Do all PNP graduate streams require a job offer?

Ans: No, the job offer isn't mandatory in all streams. Some streams require an Expression of Interest (EOI). It's based on the stream and what the province has asked from graduates.

Q2. Can I apply to a province where I didn’t study?

Ans: Usually no. Most streams require you to have graduated from an institution in the same province.

Q3. Is a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) always required?

Ans: Not always, but many streams expect you to have valid legal status in Canada and some relevant work experience.

Q4. Are these streams linked to Express Entry?

Ans: No, These graduate-specific PNP streams are not linked to Express Entry. But in some provinces they are linked with PNPs.

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