Can I apply for Canadian PR from abroad after getting my PGWP and CSQ?

[igoussam06]

Hi everyone,
I completed my studies in Canada in late October and have since obtained both my CSQ and a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Due to personal obligations, I’ve recently returned to my country and plan to stay here for around two years.


I would like to know:
Can I still apply for permanent residence (PR) from outside Canada, even if I’m not currently working in Canada?
How do immigration officers view long stays abroad after getting the CSQ and PGWP?
Will being outside Canada affect my eligibility or processing?


I’m aware that some questions like “Are you currently in Canada?” or “When do you plan to return?” might come up in the application. I’d greatly appreciate any feedback, experiences, or official clarifications.


Thank you very much in advance!

 

[scylla]

Hi everyone,
I completed my studies in Canada in late October and have since obtained both my CSQ and a 3-year Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). Due to personal obligations, I’ve recently returned to my country and plan to stay here for around two years.


I would like to know:
Can I still apply for permanent residence (PR) from outside Canada, even if I’m not currently working in Canada?
How do immigration officers view long stays abroad after getting the CSQ and PGWP?
Will being outside Canada affect my eligibility or processing?


I’m aware that some questions like “Are you currently in Canada?” or “When do you plan to return?” might come up in the application. I’d greatly appreciate any feedback, experiences, or official clarifications.


Thank you very much in advance!

There's nothing stopping you from applying from outside of Canada and this won't be held against you. Whether being outside of Canada impacts your eligibility and approval depends on which program you have applied under. Some programs require you to be actively working in Canada.

 

[igoussam06]

There's nothing stopping you from applying from outside of Canada and this won't be held against you. Whether being outside of Canada impacts your eligibility and approval depends on which program you have applied under. Some programs require you to be actively working in Canada.

Thank you for your response!

To clarify, I’ve never worked in Canada. However, I do hold a valid CSQ, which gives me the authorization to apply for permanent residence through the Quebec immigration stream.

I just wanted to make sure that being outside of Canada during the application process wouldn’t negatively affect my eligibility, since I’m applying under a Quebec-specific program and not through Express Entry or the Canadian Experience Class.

 

[scylla]

Thank you for your response!

To clarify, I’ve never worked in Canada. However, I do hold a valid CSQ, which gives me the authorization to apply for permanent residence through the Quebec immigration stream.

I just wanted to make sure that being outside of Canada during the application process wouldn’t negatively affect my eligibility, since I’m applying under a Quebec-specific program and not through Express Entry or the Canadian Experience Class.

If the program you have applied under doesn't require you to be living / working on Canada to qualify, then you are fine.