Live, work and study in Canada

Study Permit in canada

You are in one of the most welcoming countries for Students from around the world. Living, working and studying in Canada is a dream for many people. However, you have already been able to make it happen and at this point,  you may already have fallen in love with the country.

As an International Student, you have gradually adapted to the lifestyle of Canada and the experience has been incredible. For instance, you might be considering the idea of extending your stay in Canada.

Don’t worry! Here we will tell you everything about living, working and studying in Canada, if you have already spent a season in the country. You will discover how to start a new study program, types of institutions and visas, as well as everything about working, living and even migrating to Canada. Shall we start?

How to continue studying in Canada

If you are close to completing the study program you came to take in Canada, you may be wondering how to continue studying in this country and what you may need to start a new course.

In the following lines we will share share the main keys to successfully carry out this process:

  • Set out the goals you want to achieve in Canada. It could be professional related, migrating permanently or just complimenting your knowledge.
  • Check deadlines and expiration dates of your visa, do not let it run late.
  • Decide which course you want and an accredited Institution by the Canadian government
  • Assess your level of English with an international test
  • Apply to the Institution and wait for your acceptance
  • Apply for a new study permit in Canada

In general, these are the requirements to continue studying in Canada if you are a foreigner. However, we recommend you have the guidance of educational experts, who provide you with all the information about courses and institutions in Canada.

What to study in Canada

Now, if you are still not clear about what you can study in Canada, you should know that this decision must be aligned with your objectives. Thus, you will be able to achieve the goals that you have set for yourself.

You may also be interested in learning about how study abroad programs in Canada work. In general, the types of programs in Canada fall into the following categories:

English courses

Is your main goal in Canada to improve your level of English? Perfect! You can take an English program according to your interests or knowledge of the language. You will find courses like:

General English

Focused on learning from any leve

English for academic purposes

If you want to enter an educational program taught in English.

Business English course

To give you a more work-oriented approach.

Preparation for official exams

If you plan to take a test such as TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge.

It is essential to remember that language courses in Canada do not give you a work permit as an international student.

Vocational programs

On the other hand, if your goal is to take a program that lasts between 6 months to 2 years, which allows you to stay a little longer in Canada, you can choose vocational programs. Here you will find:

Certificates

  • Advanced Certificates
  • Diplomas
  • Advanced Diplomas

Additionally, an important requirement is to have a good level of English.

These are focused on preparing you for work and acquiring technical knowledge that will complement your professional profile. They are quite popular programs among International Students interested in working in Canada or immigrating permanently.

University programs

In this category, the programs are oriented to those who want to start their professional career, but also those who already have a university education and seek to complement their academic knowledge.

Undergraduate or Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s degrees

PhDs

In any case, these types of programs are perfect to extend your stay in Canada for at least one year and highlight your resume.

CO-OP programs

Definitely, CO-OP programs in Canada are very popular with international students. In general, they are programs that combine work and study experience in Canada within their curriculum.

This means that you will have a period of theoretical training and then you will be able to do internships in Canadian companies. A great way to enter the job market as a professional!

You will find these courses available for all types of programs we have mentioned. In other words, you can take an Advanced Diploma or a Master’s degree with the modality of Co-op.

Institutions where you can study

Now that you know the different type of study programs in Canada, we want to show you the Institutions where you can apply:

Public Colleges

These are institutions managed through Province’s resources. Overall, they stand out for their high standard education and variety of programs.

Public colleges in Canada are the most suitable alternative if your purpose is to immigrate permanently or to obtain an open work permit.

Advantages of studying at a public college in Canada

  • Upon completion of a program lasting more than 8 months, you can apply to a Post-Graduation Work Permit that will authorize you to work 40 hours per week for the duration of your course.
  • Studying at these public institutions gives you points to apply for Canadian residency
  • If you have a partner, you can get an open work permit while you study in Canada.
  • In case you have minor children, they can study in excellent institutions in Canada.
list of public college in canada

Disadvantages of studying at a public college in Canada

  • They are generally more expensive than private institutions.
  • Payment for your course must be complete from the start
  • They often require a higher IELTS score to take any program, compared to private colleges.

Private Colleges

Private colleges are an excellent alternative for international students, both educationally and against other benefits.

You will find programs oriented to the main areas of work in Canada such as: technology, business, customer service, human resources, etc.

Advantages of studying at a private college in Canada

  • They offer financing alternatives that will facilitate the payment of your course
  • They have excellent alliances with companies from different sectors
  • They usually require a lower IELTS score, which gives you more possibilities to enter
  • They are generally cheaper for international students
requisitos para estudiar en un college privado en canada

Disadvantages of studying at a private college

  • Upon graduation you will not be able to apply for a post graduation work permit
  • Does not add points when applying to the Canadian residence

Universities

They are among the least popular alternatives among international students coming to Canada. However, if you are looking to grow at an academic and research level, they are the ideal place.

In addition, in case you want to start your training at a professional level with an undergraduate degree or complement your current degree with a master’s degree, you should know that Canadian universities have great prestige throughout the world.

Extend your Canadian visa

To study or work in Canada, you need to have the proper visa. Surely, you have come to the country with one of them. We tell you a little more about each one:

Tourist visa

The tourist visa in Canada not only allows you to get to know the country, it also authorizes you to take short courses of up to 3 months. Many people take advantage of it to take language courses.

On the other hand, you should keep in mind that, in case you want to extend your stay in Canada and pursue other study programs, you can apply for your student visa. However, it is recommended that you consult with an educational expert.

Student visa

If you came to the country with a student visa and now want to continue studying in Canada, you can extend your study permit. To do this, you will have to apply to a new program.

Additionally, you should know that if you study a vocational or university program, you can apply for a work permit in Canada. Thus, you can cover the expenses of your stay in the country.

Working Holiday Visa in Canada

This is a visa that you can only take advantage once. The Working Holiday Visa in Canada allows you to work for one year and study for a maximum of 6 months.

If you are interested in extending your time in Canada as a student, it will be best to start your process as soon as possible. Get advice from an educational expert!

Working in Canada

Many students and professionals come to Canada with the goal of working, others decide to take this alternative after a while. Regardless of your case, you should know what you need to work as a foreigner in this country.

Do you want to know how to get a job in this incredible country? Then you must know how to get a work permit in Canada.

Here are some jobs for students and professionals, because we know you would love to climb the job ladder in Canada. 

Working in Canada for International Students

In Canada, if you have a work permit, you can apply to different jobs for international students. However, your level of English will be key to achieving better opportunities.

Some of the student jobs that can help you cover your expenses are:

  • Kitchen Assistant
  • Dog Walker Dog
  • Waiter
  • Salesman
  • Barista
  • Tutor
  • Events and festivals

Remember that Canada’s minimum wage is CAD 14.00 per hour, and you can work 20 hours a week on your student visa. Many of these jobs can pay up to CAD 15. An excellent opportunity to cover your stay in Canada!

Jobs for foreign professionals

Furthermore, if your project is aimed at working in Canada as a professional. Surely you know that taking study programs is the best way to open the doors of Canadian companies. 

Now, do you know which are the most demanded professions in the labor market? Here we tell you: 

  • Finance
  • Business Administrators
  • Business Professionals
  • Software Engineers
  • Project Managers
  • Civil Engineers
  • Accountants 
  • Marketers
  • Chefs

Some of them are part of the highest paid jobs in Canada, so go ahead and trace the path to a job in your area!

Professional Salaries in Canada

To give you an idea of ​​how you could improve your income working in Canada as a professional, we will tell you more about salaries. 

From a very general perspective, we can say that a professional in Canada earns 25 CAD per hour. However, depending on profession, experience and studies, this may be much higher. 

For example, according to the province, A Business Administrator can earn CAD 28.72 per hour, which would be CAD 56,000 per year. For his part, a Financial Analyst in Canada could earn around CAD 72,500 a year.

Regarding the technological area, we can find that a Software Engineer has an income of around CAD 103,950 per year. Pretty good, right? 

Getting a work permit in Canada

Surely at this point, you’re already excited about the idea of ​​working in Canada. Therefore, we will tell you about work permits that can help you achieve this goal. 

Student Work Permit

Accessing an international student work permit is an excellent alternative. As you should already know, this authorizes you to work for 20 hours a week and in the holiday season, up to 40 hours.

This permission is only granted to those who take programs lasting more than 6 months (with the exception of language courses) in an institution accredited by the Government. It is essential that you know that you can only use your work permit from the beginning of your course.

Post Graduation Work Permit

A great benefit that you can get when studying in Canada. This is the Post-Graduation Work Permit, or post-graduation work permit. This authorizes you to work full time at the end of an academic program in Canada. 

The PGWP is one of the main alternatives to access professional jobs in Canada. Its duration is equivalent to the duration of the study program. 

To obtain it, you must successfully complete a program of between 8 months and 3 years in a Public College in Canada. So you can work for up to 3 years!

Other work permits in Canada

In general, work permits in Canada are divided into two categories and in each of them you can find all kinds of alternatives. 

  • Open work permit: allows you to work in any company full time, there are restricted and unrestricted permits in terms of occupation and location. 
  • Employer-specific work permit: The company that hires you must express that your work will be key in their activities. It is very common for academics as well as film or television productions. 

Living in Canada

If you have only been in Canada for a short time and want to make the most of this experience, you must know its culture, the costs of living and even the tourist places that you cannot miss out on.

It is usual that in your first days or months you really wonder what it is like to live and study in the main Canadian cities. Here we will tell you a little about it.

Cost of living in Canada

As an international student in Canada, one of your main challenges is controlling your expenses. A key to doing this is to have a clear understanding of the cost of living in Canada.

Below we will talk about the most important, however, you should take into account others such as meals away from home or leisure plans.

 Food 

In cities like Toronto and Vancouver, you will find markets of all kinds. You have to pay attention, because the price differences can be really significant

We recommend you check with people in the sector which is the most recommended place in terms of prices and quality. In general, if you cook at home, the cost of food in Canada is around CAD 300 – CAD 500 per month.

Accommodation 

This is one of the most important expenses for your budget. The alternatives are many: student residences, home share, apartments, rent of rooms and homestays. However, the last two are generally cheaper.   

These alternatives cost between CAD 900 and CAD 1,200. The variation will depend on the location and the extra benefits you can get. 

Transportation 

Our recommendation in this regard is that if you make frequent use of public transportation in Canada, buy a monthly ticket. 

This is an excellent way to save money, you can move as much as you need with a fixed cost per month. Depending on the city, this ticket will cost you around CAD 128.15 per month.

Cellular plan

We know that currently it is essential to be connected, therefore, you should consider the cost of a cellular plan. However, keep in mind that in many places you will have access to the Internet, so it is not necessary to pay an expensive plan.

Depending on the company and the type of plan you want, it can cost between CAD 40 and CAD 60. 

budget to live in canada

Canadian culture

During this time you have surely begun to identify some features of Canadian culture, which is key during your adaptation process. 

Canadians are generally characterized by their friendliness. Being a multicultural country, respect for difference is part of its most important values. On the other hand, many of its cultural features are of European influence, as well as of its indigenous peoples.

Now we want to show you some facts about the Canadian culture that will be of great help to you: 

  • Tipping is a very widespread custom, not only for waiters, but also for hairdressers, taxi drivers, valets, etc. 
  • If you have been invited to dinner, you should take a detail for the hosts
  • always on time to your commitments
  • keep clean parks and open spaces is very important for Canadian is essential
  • respect the order and personal space 

Interesting places to visit Canada

As you know, Canada is a destination of abundant natural beauty, but also, its cities stand out for their modernity. Therefore, there are so many tourist places to visit while you study and work in this country. 

To start,take the time to explore its cities and discover incredible places. In Toronto you cannot miss the CN Tower or the Royal Ontario Museum. In Vancouver you must enjoy Stanley Park and Vancouver Lookout. 

In addition there are other tourist places in Canada that are wonderful and you can not miss them for any reason: 

  • Niagara Falls, very close to Toronto
  • Banff National Park, where you can have postcard photos
  • The Butchart Gardens, which are a gift for the view
  • Capilano Suspension Bridge, to challenge yourself 

Is it possible to migrate to Canada?

If you’ve fallen in love with life in Canada, perhaps this question has crossed your mind on more than one occasion. And of course the answer is yes.

Now, how do you get Canadian residency? Well you’re in luck, because study programs are the most recommended way to migrate to Canada. If you trace the correct path and follow it fully, you can apply to the Canadian residence.

Obtain your residence in Canada

Many students, after a time in Canada, decide that this is the right place to build their future. About 200 thousand people obtain Canadian residency each year. And you can be one of them!

To start, you should know that to grant permanent residence,a point system has been established that evaluates applications in areas such as: education, age, work experience, language proficiency, concerted job offer and adaptability.

So, taking a study program in Canada will help you improve your application profile. Do you want to know how to do it? Here we explain it to you.

  • Take a study program, lasting between 8 months and 3 years, at a Public College in Canada. 
  • End the program and apply to a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
  • Use your permit to gain work experience in Canada. Work done with student permission will not be considered.
  • You will have perfected your command of the language, now it only remains to present a test such as the IELTS and obtain an excellent score.
  • By applying for residency, you will have already spent a good time in Canada, your good behavior will show that you have adapted to life here. 

As you can see, migrating to Canada is possible. And doing a study program in Canada will help you add the necessary score and you can achieve this goal.

Migrate to Canada as a family

You already know how studies can help you fulfill your dream of obtaining permanent residence in Canada. Now, we want to tell you how you could achieve it together with your family.

If you enroll in a study program in Canada (remember that it must be in a public college and for more than 8 months), you will have the possibility of bringing your family. This way they can have the following benefits:

  • You as a student will have a part-time work permit
  • Your partner will be able to work full time with an open permit
  • If they have minor children, they will be able to study for free in public institutions in Canada. High quality training.

As you can see, with the support of an educational expert, you can begin to draw this plan and take the next step to bring your family to Canada and live this experience with them.

Remember that it is important that you rely on certified immigration advisers to learn more about the steps you should take into account.

Conclusion

We hope that you have clarified many of your doubts about living, working and studying in Canada. So you can make the most of your stay in this incredible country.

Furthermore, we have talked about how to extend your time in Canada as an international student and even how you can stay permanently. You just have to trace the path! 

Remember that you are not alone, as educational experts, we are ready to help you solve all your doubts and accompany you in every step of your process. Dare to achieve your personal and professional goals in Canada. 

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