How to Get a Permanent Residency & Employment in Canadian Airlines?

Canada has long been a favored destination for international students seeking high-quality flight training education and a multicultural environment. However, many of these flight students also wish to continue living and working in Canada, for the leading Canadian Airlines after completing their studies.

The good news is that the Canadian government encourages educated foreigners who have studied and worked in Canada, like the graduates of the flight training program,  to immigrate to Canada because these individuals are already integrated into the Canadian workforce and society, making them valuable contributors to the economy. By retaining these skilled professionals, Canada addresses labor market needs, enhances its global competitiveness, and ensures smoother cultural and social integration, ultimately supporting long-term economic growth and social cohesion. ​To facilitate this transition and retain the talent pool developed through its educational institutions, Canada introduced the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program. 

The CEC program is particularly attractive to the graduates of the integrated Canadian international flight training program, such as FPAP-C (for International students) or FPAP-IND (specifically for Indian students)  because it recognizes their Canadian pilot internship experience (the FPAP-C and FPAP-IND program graduates get up to three years of it on PGWP) which includes work experience gained on the post-graduation work permits. 

Who would benefit from applying for the Canadian PR?

Graduates from the flight training program who are targeting airlines which require at least 2000 hours of passenger category aircraft turbine time for employment, such as Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Fly Dubai, and so on, may benefit from gaining the valuable jet and turbo-prop flying experience by working in the regional airlines in Canada. Of course, to be eligible for employment with the Canadian airlines, a pilot needs to have a Canadian PR – a permanent residency permit. Such permit can be obtained by a foreign graduate of a flight training courses in Canada by taking advantage of the Canadian Experience Class program, after completion of two years of the initial Post-Graduate Work Permit internship as a flight instructor and a charter pilot. 

What are the eligibility criteria?

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program sets specific eligibility criteria for foreign students who want to stay in Canada after graduation. To qualify for the Canadian Experience Class program, candidates must meet the following requirements:

1. Work Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years before applying. This work experience can be gained through a post-graduation work permit or other eligible work permits. (Again, don’t forget that Aerocadet’s Canadian programs conditionally guarantee employment as a Flight Instructor to all graduates in order to start building the initial flight time on training piston airplanes, like Cessna CE-172 or Piper PA-28. After achieving at least 500-700 hours of total flight time, pilots can move on to flying for 703/704 charter and air taxi operations in order to build turbine flight time on such aircraft as Cessna 208 Caravan or King Air C90. More information about this here >>>)
2. Language Proficiency: Candidates must demonstrate adequate language skills in English or French. This typically involves taking a language test, such as IELTS for English or TEF for French, to prove proficiency.
3. Education: Applicants must have completed a program of study in Canada that lasted at least 12 months at a designated learning institution. This is a common requirement for international students, as most ab-initio (from zero) flight training programs meet this criterion. (The DLIs used in our FPAP-C and FPAP-IND programs fit this requirement).
4. Intention to Live Outside Quebec: Quebec has its immigration program, so candidates applying under the CEC program must plan to settle in any Canadian province or territory outside Quebec. This isn’t normally an issue to international students from countries like, for example, India, since Quebec is a French-speaking province, not English. 
5. Admissibility: Applicants must be admissible to Canada concerning health, security, and other requirements.

How many points are awarded for which skills?

As of the recent IRCC update, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program utilizes the Express Entry system for the selection of candidates and assigns Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points to assess their eligibility for permanent residency. The CRS points are based on various factors, including education, language proficiency, work experience, age, and other factors. Specifically, for CEC candidates, the following factors play a crucial role in determining their CRS score

1. Work Experience (Maximum 70 Points):
   • One year of Canadian work experience: 40 points
   • Two or more years of Canadian work experience: 70 points
   Points are awarded based on the number of years of full-time skilled work experience in Canada. The more work experience, the higher the CRS score. Remember – you will have at least two years of experience of working in Canada as a pilot intern, which means that you will be able to get the maximum score on your CEC application!
2. Language Proficiency (Maximum 30 Points):
   • First Official Language (English or French):
     • High proficiency (CLB/NCLC 9 or higher): 30 points
     • Moderate proficiency (CLB/NCLC 7 or 8): 20 points
     • Basic proficiency (CLB/NCLC 6): 10 points
   • Second Official Language (English or French):
     • High proficiency (CLB/NCLC 5 or higher): 0 points (additional points are only awarded if proficiency is in both languages)
   The level of proficiency in English or French is determined by language test results (e.g., IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF).
3. Education (Maximum 25 Points):
   • Canadian post-secondary degree (or equivalent): 15 points
   • Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees (or equivalent): 30 points
   Points are awarded based on the highest level of education completed in Canada. A post-secondary degree can be a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree.
4. Age (Maximum 12 Points):
   • Age at the time of application:
     • 18-35 years: 12 points
     • Each year over 35 deducts one point, with no points awarded after age 47.
5. Arranged Employment (Maximum 200 Points):
   • If an applicant has a valid job offer supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or an LMIA-exempt offer in a skilled occupation, they can earn additional CRS points. The points awarded depend on the specific job offer.
6. Adaptability (Maximum 10 Points):
   • Spouse’s or partner’s language skills, education, and Canadian work experience may contribute to the adaptability points.
7. Canadian Study Experience (Maximum 15 Points):
   • Candidates with previous study experience in Canada may earn up to 15 additional CRS points.
8. Sibling in Canada (Maximum 15 Points):
   • Having a sibling in Canada who is a citizen or permanent resident can provide additional CRS points.

How many points do I need to get in order to qualify for a PR?

The number of Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points required to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency (PR) in Canada through the Express Entry system, including the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) program, can vary with each Express Entry draw. The CRS score cutoff is not fixed and depends on several factors, including the number of candidates in the Express Entry pool and the specific priorities of the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for each draw.

To have a high chance of receiving an ITA for PR through the CEC program, candidates typically need to aim for a CRS score that is in the 300s, but they can fluctuate +/-50, depending on the immigration program demand. Candidates with higher CRS scores have a better chance of receiving an ITA. To increase your chances, you can work on improving your CRS score by enhancing factors like language proficiency, education, and work experience.

Does a degree play a big role in the application scoring?

No, not really. As you can see from the above list, only degrees earned in Canada have a minor impact on the immigration application, which is just 15 points. (Read an articles “Do I need an aviation degree to become an airline pilot” for more information on that subject).

What criteria has the most impact?

Again, from the list above, the most impactful criteria is the presence of permanent employment: 200 points. The CEC-qualifying employment offer can be obtained from the the very employer who offered you your internship on the Post-Graduate Work Permit. Alternatively, you can obtain employment offer from a Canadian airline or a charter company after qualifying for the Airline Transport Pilot License and earning over 1500 hours. (More details on how to get a full TCCA ATPL with 1500+ hours are available here >>>)

Another important criteria is the work experience in Canada: 70 points for two years. Since our FPAP-C and FPAP-IND program come with up to 3 years of PGWP, this criteria can be easily met by the program graduates. 

Can I get additional points for being a Pilot?

Yes. The Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) system may provide additional Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points for specific professions, including those under the NOC code 72600, which includes “Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors.” Although CRS primarily assesses candidates based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, work experience, and other factors like having a valid job offer, provincial nominations, or Canadian study experience, the NOC code itself may grant additional CRS points, providing the applicant is holding a job offer in a skilled occupation. So, having an aviation job offer supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or qualifying under a specific Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) may lead to additional CRS points.

Can you give an example?

Let’s say that you are a 25-year old graduate from India, who has just completed our FPAP-IND program. It took you 18 months of training and 24 months of internship to earn your full unrestricted ATPL and build over 1500 house of flight time. Because you have already spent over 3.5 years in Canada, your language proficiency is high. In addition, because you were an excellent intern, your aviation employer has extended you a permanent employment offer. You are adaptable, have a high school diploma, but you are working on your bachelors degree using an online university in Canada, while working/flying for a charter company. In total, you should be able to accrue 352 points, which will give you a high chance of PR application approval.  In addition, if, at the time of your application, the NOC code 72600 “Air pilots, flight engineers, and flying instructors” is supported by a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or qualifying under a specific Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – you may receive additional CRS points.

What is the overall CEC application approval rate?

The overall approval rate for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) has generally been high, reflecting the program’s focus on applicants who already have significant Canadian work experience and meet language proficiency requirements. In recent years, the approval rate for CEC applicants has been approximately 85% to 95%, depending on the specific year and policy changes (See official stats here) 

In 2024, the Canadian Experience Class remains one of the key pathways for skilled workers to gain permanent residency in Canada. The program is administered through the Express Entry system, and draws specifically targeting CEC candidates have been held regularly. For example, in recent draws, thousands of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) were issued to CEC candidates, with a high proportion of applicants successfully moving towards permanent residency.  

For the most up-to-date and precise statistics on approval rates, you might want to refer to official reports from Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)​  

How to proceed?

As you can see, most graduates from Aerocadet’s Full Professional Pilot Program for International Students in Canada (FPAP-C), Full Professional Pilot Program for Indian Students in Canada (FPAP-IND) have a high chance of qualifying for the Canadian PR if they do everything correctly. More and over, the Canadian PR is a sure pathway to building the jet flight time in the regional Canadian airlines, like Air Canada Jazz Aviation on CRJ-200/700/900 aircraft, which meet the MTOW and flight time requirements (2000 hours) for those graduates who target Emirates, Qatar and Etihad for their full-time airline pilot career employment in the Middle East. (See more details on what you need to become Emirates pilot here). 

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Questions? Comments? Send us an email to info@aerocadet.com or schedule a free consultation call with one of our airline pilot consultants here >>>

About the Author:

Russ Sherwood is a Captain and a LCP (line check pilot) at a major US airline flying the A320/321 fleet, with the military flying background on the F-16th as WSO. He has logged around 10,000 hours of flight hours and holds airline, commercial and flight instructor pilot licenses issued by the FAA (US), CAAC (China) and DGCA (Indonesia).  Russ is also an aviation career development mentor for Aerocadet