Many provinces offer dedicated immigration streams for international student graduates, making it easier for foreign nationals who have studied in the province to transition to permanent resident status.

Currently, there are eight provinces that have at least one such stream.

This article will cover which provinces offer student-specific streams, as well as a high-level overview of the eligibility criteria and requirements necessary to qualify, as of the time of writing.

Discover if You Are Eligible to get PR through the PNP

Which streams are open for international graduates?

Below is a summary table featuring the provinces that currently have PNP streams dedicated to international student graduates.

For each stream, you can see whether

Each of these streams will be explored in more detail further down, outlining who qualifies and the requirements they must meet to be considered.

To qualify for these streams, you must demonstrate a verifiable intent to reside in the province, and in most cases, sufficient settlement funds.

For streams that require an EOI, to be considered you must first create a profile in the province’s expression of interest pool, and then receive an invitation to apply from the province before you can submit a complete application for provincial nomination.

Most PNP graduate streams require you to have graduated from a post-secondary institution within that province, but there are a few exceptions.

Province	Stream	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 and Labrador	International Graduate Category	Yes	Yes
	International Graduate Entrepreneur – Starting a New Business	No	Yes
	International Graduate Entrepreneur – Purchasing an Existing Business	No	Yes
Nova Scotia	International Graduates in Demand Stream	Yes	No
	International Graduate Entrepreneur	No	Yes
Ontario	Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream	Yes	Yes
	Master’s Graduate Stream	No	Yes
	PhD Graduate Stream	No	Yes
Prince Edward Island	International Graduates	Yes	Yes
Saskatchewan	Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience – Student Sub-category	Yes	No

For streams which require an EOI, you must first create a profile in the province’s expression of interest pool, and then receive an invitation to apply from the PNP before you can apply for nomination.

Note: None of the international graduate streams featured in this article are Express Entry-aligned.

Alberta

Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

Number of streams: two

Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Qualified International student graduates who have completed their studies in Alberta and are looking to start a new business or purchase an existing business (with a minimum 34% ownership).

Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: International student graduates (who completed their studies outside Canada) seeking to launch a start-up enterprise or business in the province (with a minimum 34% or 51% ownership depending on location), possessing relevant work experience and the ability to invest.

Non-job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Graduate Entrepreneur Stream	CLB 7 or higher in all language abilities.	No.	N/A.	Two years.	Yes.	-34% ownership of the business.
Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream	CLB 5 or higher in all language abilities.	6 months.	N/A.	Not specified.	No.	-Letter of recommendation from a designated agency. -Minimum ownership stake. -Minimum investment: 100k for urban area; 50k for rural area. -Business must be connected to 1 of 9 eligible sectors.

Manitoba 

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

Number of streams: three

Career Employment Pathway: Foreign post-secondary graduates (from a Manitoba-based program) currently living and working in the province, having received a full-time job offer from an eligible Manitoba employer in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 on the in-demand occupations list.

Graduate Internship Pathway: Foreign student graduates residing in the province who have recently completed a Manitoba-based master or doctoral degree program, and have completed a Mitacs Elevate or Accelerate internship with a qualifying industry and enterprise.

International Student Entrepreneur Pilot: Foreign student graduates who have completed a full-time Manitoba-based post-secondary program and want to pursue entrepreneurship instead of employment. To qualify, they must have a minimum of 51% ownership of the business equity and have at least six months of experience operating their business as a senior manager on a daily basis prior to nomination.

Job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Career Employment Pathway	CLB 7 or higher.	Must be working full-time in Manitoba.	Full-time job offer for at least 1 year, in a skilled, in-demand occupation related to your studies.	1 year, or 2 semesters.	No, but you must have a valid work permit.	N/A.

Non-job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Graduate Internship Pathway	CLB 7.	N/A.	N/A.	Any master’s or doctoral program.	No.	-Reside within the province at the time of application. -Settlement funds.
International Student Entrepreneur Pilot	CLB 7 or higher.	6 months.	Senior manager.	2 years.	No, but you must have a valid work permit when applying.	-Aged 21 to 35. -Have resided in the province since graduation. -51% ownership. -Settlement funds.

Discover if You Are Eligible to get PR through the PNP

New Brunswick

New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)

Number of streams: one

Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program: Recent international graduate students from eligible private career colleges (NB-based) with valid full-time job offers from NB employers that lead to careers in priority occupations. For those not eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).

Note: This pilot is set to close in the fall of 2025; no new nominations will be issued once it’s closed.

Job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program	CLB 5 or higher in all language abilities.	N/A.	Must be: -Related to your field of study; and – Fall under an eligible NOC code within a priority occupation, in one sectors listed below. ~Education and social development; ~Health; ~IT and cybersecurity; or ~Business administration; ~Supply chain and logistics.	10 months*	No, but a work and/or study permit is.	-Graduate from Eastern College or Oulton College. -Get a full-time job and apply for work permit within 90 days of graduation. -Employer support.

* Exception: Eastern College’s eight-month personal support worker program.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)

Number of streams: three

International Graduate Category: International student graduates who completed their studies in Canada, and either currently have a full-time job or have a job offer falling under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 (or a TEER 4 in-demand occupation). The job or job offer must be from an eligible Newfoundland and Labrador employer and be related to their field of study if their studies were completed outside the province.

International Graduate Entrepreneur – Starting a New Business Stream: International graduate entrepreneurs wanting to start a new business in the province, who graduated from either Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic and have at least one year of experience actively managing and owning the current business (minimum 33.3% ownership required). They must create at least one full-time job which meets prevailing provincial wage levels and is directly related to the business.

International Graduate Entrepreneur – Purchasing an Existing Business Stream: International graduate entrepreneurs wanting to purchase an existing NL business, who graduated from either Memorial University or College of the North Atlantic and possess a year of experience managing and owning the current business (33.3% minimum ownership). The business being purchased must have had the same owner for the past five years, offer similar terms and pay to new employee(s) as existing staff, and at least one full-time job must be created.

Job-offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
International Graduate Category	CLB 4 or higher for candidates with a TEER 4 (in-demand) occupation.	-None – for in-province graduates; or -1 year (for out-of-province graduates).	-Skilled occupations, or in-demand TEER 4 occupations. -Occupation must be related to your field of study.*	N/A**	Yes, with at least 4 months validity remaining.	– Demonstrate settlement funds

* Graduates from Memorial University (MU) or the College of the North Atlantic (CNA) need not have a directly related job offer if they meet certain criteria.

**No program length is specified, but to gain a PGWP your program must have been for at least eight months.

Non-job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
International Graduate Entrepreneur – Starting a New Business	CLB 7 or higher in all language abilities.	At least 1 year of continuous experience actively managing and owning the current business (33.3% minimum ownership).	N/A.	2 years of full-time, in person study at either MU or CNU within the past 2 years.	Yes.	Create at least 1 full-time job. -Must not be an ineligible business.
International Graduate Entrepreneur – Purchasing an Existing Business	CLB 7 or higher in all language abilities.	At least 1 year of continuous experience actively managing and owning the current business (33.3% minimum ownership).	N/A.	2 years of full-time, in person study at either MU or CNU within the past 2 years.	Yes.	-Create at least 1 full-time job. -Business must have been in continuous operation under the same owner for the past 5 years. -Employment offered to new employee(s) must have similar terms and conditions as existing staff have. -Must not be an ineligible business.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Number of streams: two

International Graduates in Demand Stream: Recent international student graduates from an eligible NS institution, holding a relevant full-time job offer from a NS employer in one of four NOC codes currently desired by the province.

International Graduate Entrepreneur Stream: Recent international graduate entrepreneurs (of an eligible NS learning institution) that have already established or purchased a NS-based business, which they have operated for at least one year (minimum 33.33% ownership required).

Job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
International Graduates in Demand Stream	CLB 5 or higher in all language abilities.	N/A.	The following: -Paramedic (NOC 32102); -Pharmacy technician (NOC 32124); -Nurse aide/orderly/patient service associate (33102); and -Early childhood educator/assistant (42202). Job offer must be related to your field of study.	-30 weeks, or 24 weeks for paramedics.	No, but a work permit is.	-Be licensed to practice in NS (for regulated occupations). -The employer must have been operating in NS for at least 2 years.

Non-job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
International Graduate Entrepreneur	CLB 7 in all language abilities.	Actively managing and owning your current business in NS for 1 continuous year (33.3% minimum ownership).	N/A.	2 years.	Yes.	-Create the equivalent of one full-time job. -If you are buying an existing business, the same owner must have operated it for the last 5 years, and you must offer new employees similar wages and conditions offered to current staff by the previous owner.

Ontario 

Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

Number of streams: three

Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream: Recent international students (meeting one of the education requirements) inside and outside Canada with a full-time job offer from an Ontario employer (falling under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3).

Master’s Graduate Stream: International student graduates (living within Ontario or outside Canada) with a master’s degree obtained from an eligible Ontario university, who have resided in the province for a minimum of one year in the past two years before applying.

PhD Graduate Stream: Recent international student graduates (living within or outside Canada) with a PhD degree obtained from an eligible Ontario university, who have lived in the province for at least one year within the last two years before applying.

Job-offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Employer Job Offer: International Student Stream	N/A.	N/A.	NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, 3 occupations.	If from an eligible Canadian institution: -Ontario institutions: 1-year certificate. -Non-Ontario institutions: 2-year undergraduate credential; or 1-year graduate credential.	No, but a work permit is.	Employer requirements: -At least 3 full-time employees; or, within the GTA, 5 full-time employees. -At least $500k annual revenue; or, within the GTA, $1 million annual revenue.

Non-job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program required	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Master’s Graduate Stream	CLB 7 in all language abilities.	N/A.	N/A.	1 year.	No, but a work permit is unless you have maintained status.	-Must apply within 2 years after completing Master’s. -Have resided in Ontario for at least 1 of the past 2 years. -Must be residing in Ontario, or outside Canada. -Cannot apply while enrolled as a student.*
PhD Graduate Stream	N/A.	N/A.	N/A.	N/A.	No, but a work permit is unless you have maintained status.	Must apply within 2 years of completing PhD.

*Exceptions: Your studies are required for Ontario occupational licensing (for example, regulated professions); or you’re working full-time in Ontario alongside studies.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)

Number of streams: one

International Graduates Stream: International graduates from a public PEI learning institution with a full-time job offer (of any TEER) from a PEI employer, which must offer either permanent or two-year employment.

Job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
International Graduates	-CLB 4 or higher in all abilities, for NOC TEER 4 or 5 occupations. -For skilled occupations, sufficient proficiency for the job.	N/A.	Any*	1 year.	Yes.	N/A.

*At the time of writing, PEI is prioritizing workers in the following high demand sectors: Health care, trades, and childcare. 

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Number of streams: one

Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience – Student Sub-category: International student graduates from designated learning institutes in Saskatchewan, with a full-time job offer from an approved Saskatchewan employer (NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 or in a designated trade) and at least six months of relevant work experience.

Job offer streams

Streams	Language proficiency	Work experience	Occupation(s)	Length of program	PGWP required?	Other key criteria
Worker with Saskatchewan Work Experience – Student Sub-category	CLB 4 if in a NOC TEER 4 or 5 designated trade occupation.	6 months.	-Must be a skilled occupation, or be in a designated trade. -Must be related to your field of study. -Cannot be in Accommodations and food services, retail, or trucking.	N/A.	A PGWP or an Open Work Permit issued under the CUAET temporary public policy.	You must have a valid Job Approval Letter.

British Columbia’s PNP previously included two streams tailored for international student graduates, but both streams were discontinued towards the end of 2024. The BC PNP had planned to launch three new replacement streams in 2025, but put the launch on hold on account of a decreased allocation of nominations from the federal government.

The Northwest territories and Yukon do not currently offer any streams dedicated to international student graduates.

How does getting PR through the PNP work?

To get permanent residency (PR) through the PNP, you must apply to two levels of government: the province or territory, and the federal government.

First, you must receive a provincial nomination. After receiving a nomination, you can submit a complete application for PR to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

For the EOI pool streams, you must first enter the province’s EOI pool as a candidate, and then receive an invitation to apply from the PNP before you can submit your application for nomination to the province.

The steps for each process are as follows.

No EOI required

1. Apply to the PNP for nomination.
2. Receive provincial nomination.
3. Apply for PR.

EOI required

1. Create an EOI.
2. Receive an invitation to apply from the PNP.
3. Apply to the PNP for nomination.
4. Receive provincial nomination.
5. Apply for PR.

As of the time of writing, the processing time for base applications through the PNP is 21 months. (From the time you submit your application to IRCC, to when they make their decision.)

Discover if You Are Eligible to get PR through the PNP