Are you looking to immigrate to Canada? One way to do so is by obtaining a work permit. A Canada work permit issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allows foreign workers to temporarily work in Canada. However, it can also serve as a stepping stone toward permanent residency (PR) in Canada.
Going From A Temporary Foreign Worker to Permanent Resident in Canada
A Canada work permit is highly sought after because prospective immigrants know the benefits of working in Canada. However, the core benefit of clinching a Canada work permit is that it creates a pathway to becoming a permanent resident of Canada.
In a previous post, we explained the different kinds of work permits in Canada – you can read that post to get a better understanding of Canada work permits. You could get an open work permit or an employer-specific work permit. In either case, the temporary foreign worker is not just limited to working in Canada but can leverage his or her work permit to transition to Canada permanent residency.
From a Temporary Work Permit to a Permanent Resident (PR) Card
Under Canada immigration, if you are not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you are classified as a foreign. Therefore, a foreign national is a person who is not a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In other words, a foreign national has a limited time to stay in Canada and must leave Canada at the end of their authorized period of stay.
A work permit holder falls under the category of a foreign national and he or she must leave Canada at the end of their work permit validity except if it is extended. But the beauty of Canada immigration makes it possible for some categories of foreign nationals to apply for Canada permanent residency and remain in Canada indefinitely.
Such categories include work permit holders and study permit holders. The focus of this post is to explain how you can take advantage of your Canada work permit and transition to a PR holder. As a work permit holder, your stay in Canada is temporary but acquiring a Canada PR status gives you the right to remain in Canada permanently.
It doesn’t matter whether you hold an open work permit or an employer-specific work permit (closed work permit). As long as you have gained at least 1 year of work experience in Canada it makes you eligible to apply for permanent residence because most Canada PR programs including PNP pathways usually require that you must have gained Canadian work experience which is crucial for an immigrant.
Can a Work Permit Holder Apply for PR in Canada?
The answer is an absolute yes! Since you are already in Canada working, you can apply for PR through any of the pathways explained below. You do not need to return to your home country before you apply to transition from a work permit holder to a permanent resident.
But how can this happen? Below are some of the pathways you can take advantage of to acquire permanent residency status in Canada. These options are by no means exhaustive as there are many other options.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is one of three programs under the Canada Express Entry system. As the name implies, it is to the advantage of foreign nationals so they can apply for PR after having gained work experience in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a program designed for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who have Canadian work experience and wish to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
In order to be eligible to apply for Canada permanent residency status under the CEC, applicants must have at least one year of full-time (or an equivalent number of hours in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada within the three years before their application.
Furthermore, they must meet certain language (English or French) requirements, have a valid work permit at the time of application, and intend to live outside the province of Quebec.
The Express Entry system is not a pathway for you if you want to live in Quebec. Quebec has its own immigration system.
The CEC is considered a fast-track option for those who have already established themselves in the Canadian workforce and have demonstrated their ability to adapt to Canadian society.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Work Program (FSWP) is also a program under the Canada Express Entry system. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) allows individuals with certain skilled work experience to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
Requirements to apply for the FSWP are that individuals must have at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in the last 10 years. They must also meet certain language requirements, and attain a high score in the comprehensive ranking score system. The points assessment is based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability.
It is important to note that even if the FSWP attracts foreigners outside Canada who apply from outside Canada, it does not preclude such foreigners who are already in Canada on a work permit (whether an open work permit or employer-specific work permit) from applying for permanent residence. So, the fact that you are already in Canada does not disqualify you from applying for PR under the FSWP.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is a program administered under the Express Entry and it is designed for a specific set of skilled persons. Eligible experienced skilled tradespersons can apply for permanent residency in Canada.
To qualify for the FSTP, applicants must have at least two years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in a qualifying trade within the last five years, and meet language proficiency requirements.
Just like the FSWP, the FSTP points assessment is based on factors such as age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and adaptability.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Nomination
The IRCC website lists 11 provinces in Canada that have Provincial Nominee Programs popularly called PNP and they present a great opportunity for work permit holders to transition from Canada temporary residence to Canada permanent residence.
The three programs under the Canada Express Entry system – Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) may in some cases be difficult for the applicant if his or her individual profile does not make them qualify for any of the programs because of the high comprehensive ranking score which may be too competitive for some applicants to achieve.
The PNP is an alternative for those who do not meet the three programs under the Canada Express Entry requirements because it is linked to the Canada Express Entry system in the sense that a province could invite you to apply for nomination by the province. You can take advantage of the PNP by selecting some or all (to increase your chances) of the provinces when you create your Canada Express Entry profile.
The advantage is that if a province nominates you, it gives you 600 points, which will ultimately make your points very high and competitive.
It must be noted that not all PNP programs are linked to the Express Entry system; some PNP programs are not linked to the federal Express Entry program and they have specific requirements but they are also points-based.
Admittedly, some PNP programs require a job offer but since you are already in Canada on a work permit and working, you may be able to succeed through the PNP pathway based on the following factors:
Residence in Province
If you have resided in a province for a certain period, you may be able to earn points if it is a requirement for that particular PNP program.
Study in The Province
Studying in a province counts as an advantage because you could earn points from it for a PNP program.
Work Experience in The Province
If you are in Canada on a work permit working in a province, that could be a huge advantage for you because work experience in Canada is an invaluable catalyst to acquiring permanent residence. Every province makes an effort to retain foreign nationals who are already working in their province.
Consequently, provinces tend to create pathway programs that allow foreign nationals with work experience in Canada to apply for permanent residence.
Eligible Occupation/Occupation in Demand
Your opportunities for permanent residence are further enhanced if your occupation is in demand in that province. For example, health workers during the pandemic were given the opportunity to apply for PR based on the fact that they were essential workers in health care.
Family Ties
If you have family in a province and that province has a PNP program that awards points for having family ties, then you are at an advantage and would earn points for it.
So, these are the key pathways to transition from a work permit to Canada PR. There are some other pathways but these are the key pathways.
Let Canadex Help You Apply for Canada PR
Let Canadex Immigration help you apply for Canada Permanent Residency.
How to get work permit in Canada.
