The honest answer: most international students who land in Canada in September 2026 will become permanent residents between 2030 and 2032. The path runs: 2 years of eligible study → 1–3 year Post-Graduation Work Permit → 12+ months of skilled Canadian work → Express Entry profile → 6–18 months for IRCC processing. There is no shortcut, but timing each stage correctly saves 6–12 months overall.

Most "study to PR" guides skip past the actual delays: when does the PGWP clock start? How long until you have enough work to qualify for the Canadian Experience Class? When do Express Entry draws happen — and what if no one is invited at your score? This is the version we'd want to read on day one.

The Five-Stage Timeline

Stage 1 — Study Program (Months 1–24)

Your PGWP length is capped at the length of your study program, with a minimum of 8 months and a maximum of 3 years. So a 1-year master's earns a 3-year PGWP (special rule for graduate-level programs in 2025+); a 2-year college diploma earns a 2-year PGWP; an 8-month certificate earns no PGWP under the post-November 2024 rules unless field-aligned.

Use the PGWP Length Calculator to confirm exactly how long your work permit will be before you commit to a program.

What happens during studies

• Off-campus work: capped at 24 hours/week during academic terms (per the 2024 update — was 20 hrs, briefly uncapped, now 24)
• Time worked during full-time studies does not count toward CEC
• Stay enrolled full-time the entire program — part-time enrolment usually disqualifies you from PGWP

Stage 2 — PGWP Application (Months 24–28)

You have 180 days from the date you receive confirmation of program completion to apply for the PGWP. Apply online from inside Canada — paper-based and outside-Canada applications take significantly longer.

• Processing time: typically 60–120 days online
• You can work full-time while waiting if you apply before your study permit expires
• Required: language test score (this is the new 2024 requirement that catches many students off-guard)

Stage 3 — Building Canadian Work Experience (Months 28–40)

The Canadian Experience Class requires 12 months of full-time skilled work in NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 within the previous 3 years. Full-time means 30+ hours/week; equivalent part-time is 1,560 hours total over up to 36 months.

Confirm your job's NOC TEER level using the NOC Code Lookup. TEER 4 and 5 jobs (most retail, food service, and entry-level positions) don't count for CEC — even if you do them full-time on a PGWP.

While you're working, prepare in parallel

• Take IELTS or CELPIP early (CLB 7 minimum for CEC)
• If you studied in your home country before Canada, get an ECA from WES or equivalent
• Track your CRS score monthly — small wage increases or French testing can add 30–50 points

Stage 4 — Express Entry Profile + ITA (Months 40–48)

Submit your Express Entry profile as soon as you hit 12 months of skilled work. Your profile is valid for 12 months. IRCC runs draws every 2–4 weeks, alternating between general, CEC-only, French-language, and category-based selection (healthcare, STEM, trades, transport, agriculture, education).

Recent CEC draw scores in 2025–2026 have ranged from 510 to 555 — verify the latest on the Express Entry Tracker. If your score is below 500, plan a French test (CLB 7+ adds 50 points) or pursue a PNP nomination (+600 points).

Stage 5 — PR Application Processing (Months 48–56)

Once invited, you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application. IRCC's published service standard for Express Entry is 6 months, but real averages in 2026 have run 7–8 months for CEC files.

• Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit if your PGWP expires before COPR
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) issued before final PR landing
• Land at any port of entry, then activate your PR card

Budget for the full cost of the PR application — see our PR application cost breakdown for the complete fee list.

Three Realistic Scenarios

Fastest realistic (3.5 years): 1-year Master's graduate

• Year 1: complete 1-year master's program → 3-year PGWP
• Year 2: 12 months of skilled NOC 1 work + apply to Express Entry
• Year 3: receive ITA, submit PR application
• Year 3.5: COPR issued

Typical (5 years): 2-year college diploma graduate

• Years 1–2: complete diploma → 2-year PGWP
• Year 3: spend 4 months job-hunting, then 12 months working in NOC 2 role
• Year 4: submit profile, wait 6 months for ITA
• Year 5: PR application processed → COPR

Slow (6+ years): low CRS score, no French

• Years 1–2: complete diploma + PGWP
• Year 3: 12 months of work, but CRS only 470
• Years 4–5: pursue PNP nomination (often 12–18 months in itself), get +600 boost
• Year 6: ITA, application, COPR

What Speeds the Timeline

• French at CLB 7: +50 CRS points + access to French-language draws (sometimes lower CRS cut-offs)
• Provincial nomination: +600 CRS points — guarantees an ITA at the next round
• Job offer with LMIA-supported NOC TEER 0/1: +200 points
• Category-based selection eligibility: healthcare, STEM, trades, agriculture, transport, education — these often draw at lower CRS thresholds
• Continue working during PR processing: each additional year of Canadian experience adds CRS points if you reapply

What Slows the Timeline

• Working in NOC TEER 4–5 jobs (doesn't count for CEC)
• Letting your study permit lapse before applying for PGWP
• Taking part-time studies (disqualifies PGWP)
• Skipping the language test until the last minute (it's now mandatory for PGWP)
• Not tracking CRS movements — missing a high-cut-off CEC draw and waiting another 4 months

Tools That Help

Use the CRS Calculator, PGWP Length Calculator, and Express Entry Tracker together — they cover the three biggest unknowns in this timeline. Bookmark the Newcomer Hub for guides on banking, taxes, and benefits you'll need at every stage.

For the canonical rules, see IRCC's PGWP page and the Canadian Experience Class eligibility page.