United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Germany
Ireland
Australia
Russia
Georgia
Philippines
Kyrgyzstan
Kazakhstan
Study Abroad, Then Migrate
A study visa is not a PR pathway on its own. We explain the actual immigration routes, in Canada, Australia, and the UK, that graduates use to move from a study or work visa toward permanent residency.
A Study Visa Is Not a PR Pathway
Every country below requires a separate application, with its own points system or qualifying period, after your studies or work permit. We walk you through what actually gets assessed, not just what a course brochure implies.
Express Entry & the Provincial Nominee Program
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores candidates on age, education, language ability, and work experience.
IRCC invites top-ranked candidates from the pool in regular rounds, documented publicly on canada.ca.
A nomination from a province or territory adds 600 points to your CRS score, close to guaranteeing an invitation.
- Job offer points removedAs of 25 March 2025, IRCC removed job offer points from the CRS for current and future candidates, per canada.ca.
- Category-based drawsIntroduced in 2023 and expanded since, these rounds target specific occupations or French-language ability rather than a single general score.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)Each province sets its own eligibility rules based on local labour needs, often the most realistic route if your Express Entry score is below the general cut-off.
Further CRS reform proposed
IRCC has opened 2026 consultations on economic priorities for category-based selection, meaning the scoring formula may continue to evolve. We track these consultations and update our guidance as changes are confirmed.
Skilled Migration: Subclass 189, 190 & 491
The pass mark for all three General Skilled Migration visas, per the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilled Independent visa. Your occupation must be on the Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL).
Requires nomination by a state or territory government, which adds points and requires you to live there.
Skilled Worker Visa to Settlement (ILR)
Continuous lawful residence on a Skilled Worker visa currently required before applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain.
Or the going rate for your occupation code, whichever is higher, at the time of your settlement application.
Per person, effective 8 April 2026, plus the Life in the UK test and B1 English requirement.
10-year "earned settlement" reform under consultation
The UK Government's May 2025 White Paper proposed extending the ILR qualifying period from 5 to 10 years for most routes, with possible faster paths for high earners or priority occupations like healthcare. A public consultation closed in February 2026. As of now, the 5-year route remains in force under the current Immigration Rules, but this is worth watching closely if you are early in your UK career planning.
Thinking Past Your Study Visa?
We'll walk you through which PR pathway actually fits your profile, country by country.
