Great News! Canada Opens PR Pathway for Education Students

Highlights: Canada Opens New PR Pathway for Education Students

• Education diploma programs below the bachelor’s level are now eligible for a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
• Graduates with one year of Canadian work experience can qualify for permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class.
• Education professionals have an advantage in Express Entry, with category-based draws set at lower cut-offs of 479 CRS.
• Students in non-bachelor’s programs must achieve at least CLB 5 in English or French to apply for a PGWP.
• Early Childhood Educators and Assistants are directly targeted in Canada’s education-focused immigration draws.

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Study in Education, Work in Canada, and Transition to PR

Canada’s immigration updates now give international students in education a clear pathway from temporary study to permanent residency. By pursuing the right programs, gaining Canadian work experience, and using Express Entry’s new category-based selection, students can move step by step toward PR.

Stage 1: Choosing a Study Program

Students must enroll in a PGWP-eligible program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Even programs below a bachelor’s level, such as Early Childhood Education diplomas, now qualify. For regulated professions, like early childhood educators in Ontario, registration with the provincial authority is required to work legally and gain full eligibility under Express Entry.

Stage 2: Getting a PGWP

After graduation, students can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), valid for up to three years depending on the program length. Since June 25, 2025, education has been added as a PGWP-eligible field of study. Language requirements apply—CLB 5 for college-level programs and CLB 7 for university-level programs. The PGWP provides graduates with open work rights, allowing them to gain Canadian work experience needed for immigration.

Stage 3: Pursuing Permanent Residence

With at least one year of Canadian work experience, graduates become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and gain additional points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Education professionals also benefit from category-based Express Entry draws, where recent cut-offs were as low as 479 CRS, compared to 534 in general CEC draws.

Example: Candidates like Taima—an Early Childhood Education graduate with strong English proficiency and Canadian work experience—can achieve competitive CRS scores and secure an Invitation to Apply (ITA). A Bridging Open Work Permit can also be requested to maintain legal status while PR applications are processed.
 

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Canada Lowers CRS Scores for Education Graduates in Express Entry

One of the most important updates for international students in education is the advantage they now have in Express Entry draws. With education professionals included in Canada’s category-based selection, candidates in this field no longer need as high a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score as others to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

• Recent education-specific draws have seen cut-offs as low as 479 CRS points, compared to 534 points in general Canadian Experience Class rounds.
• This means education graduates with Canadian credentials and work experience can qualify for PR faster than many other applicants.
• The combination of a PGWP, Canadian work experience, and lower CRS thresholds makes education one of the most promising study-to-PR pathways.

For international students, especially from India, this policy shift opens up greater chances of permanent settlement while meeting Canada’s growing demand for skilled educators.
 

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