After completing their studies, international students in Canada have several pathways to obtain a work permit, settle, and potentially acquire citizenship. Here are the common routes:

1. Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP): International students who have completed a program of study at a designated learning institution in Canada may be eligible for a PGWP. The length of the work permit depends on the duration of the study program, with a maximum validity of three years. The PGWP allows graduates to gain Canadian work experience, which can be valuable for other immigration pathways.

2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Canadian provinces and territories have their own immigration programs known as PNPs. Some PNPs have dedicated streams for international graduates, allowing them to apply for a provincial nomination. If nominated, you can then apply for permanent residency through the federal government.

3. Express Entry: The Express Entry system is a federal immigration program that manages applications for three economic immigration categories: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program, and the Canadian Experience Class. International graduates can apply under the Canadian Experience Class category if they have obtained at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada.

4. Atlantic Immigration Pilot: This program is specific to the Atlantic provinces of Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador). It allows international graduates who have completed a program of study at a publicly funded institution in the Atlantic region to apply for permanent residency.

5. Start-up Visa Program: If you have an innovative business idea and the support of a designated organization, such as a business incubator, angel investor group, or venture capital fund, you may be eligible for the Start-up Visa Program. This program allows entrepreneurs to obtain permanent residency by establishing a qualifying business in Canada.

6. Canadian Experience Class: As mentioned earlier, the Canadian Experience Class is one of the immigration categories under the Express Entry system. International graduates with skilled work experience in Canada can apply under this category to obtain permanent residency.

7. Family Sponsorship: If you have a close family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be able to sponsor you for permanent residency in Canada. This applies to spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents.

8. Canadian Citizenship: After obtaining permanent residency in Canada, you can eventually apply for Canadian citizenship. The general requirements for citizenship include meeting residence requirements, passing a language proficiency test, passing a citizenship test, and demonstrating knowledge about Canada's history, values, and rights.