If you want to move to Canada, you're not alone. Canada offers a fantastic opportunity to improve your quality of life due to its booming job market, public healthcare system, multicultural population, and friendly, welcoming culture. Canada is hugely welcoming to immigrants, pledging to accept over 451,000 new permanent residents annually by 2024!
For most, the option of becoming a permanent resident in Canada is the best way to take advantage of the phenomenal opportunities Canada provides. However, knowing how to get your permanent residency in Canada can be confusing if you're new to immigration. There are many pathways to permanent residence, each with its unique ways to apply.
To help you out, we've compiled a list of the top 3 ways to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
The Canada Express Entry Program
This is the most popular pathway to permanent residency in Canada. This is because it's the fastest way to get Canada PR. It can take less than six months for an applicant. The Canadian government started the Canada Express Entry Program in 2015 to bring in skilled foreign workers to fill the job vacancies in Canada.
How Does It Work?
It works by creating an Express Entry profile on the Canadian government's website. In that profile, you enclose details like your age, marital status, occupation, work experience and level of education. These details are ranked via the Canadian Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and compiled into a CRS score. Your profile is then placed into the Express Entry pool. Every two weeks, an Express Entry draw takes place.
Applicants with the highest CRS scores are presented with an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for permanent residency from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Applying for an Express Entry program is relatively straightforward and can be broken down into six significant steps.
Step 1: Ensure You Meet The Requirements
This is the most crucial step of this process. If you don't fulfill the requirements of the Express Entry program you apply for, your application will be rejected. The Express Entry system has three programs, each with its requirements. They are as follows:
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
This program is specifically for skilled workers in an occupation that requires a degree or equivalent. Examples are jobs like a doctor, lawyer or accountant.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
This program is specifically for skilled workers in a trade occupation who have a Canadian job offer for a permanent job. The applicant must have a qualification in their trade, like a diploma or equivalent.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
This program is specifically for professional workers who have already been living in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months.
The Canadian government website has a full breakdown of the specific requirements for each program.
Step 2: Create An Express Entry Profile Online
Once you've decided which program you want to apply for, the next step is to create your Express Entry profile on the Canadian government website. This is where you will enter all necessary details to be calculated into your CRS score. You must ensure that the details you enter are one hundred percent accurate, as you will have to provide supporting documentation for all of them.
Step 3: Get Your CRS Score
Once you have completed your Canada Express Entry profile, your CRS score will be calculated out of 1200 points.
Step 4: Receive Your ITA
Once you get your score, you must keep up to date with every Express Entry draw. They happen every two weeks, and if your profile is chosen for an ITA, you will be alerted on your online profile. The score requirements change with every draw, so if your score isn't high enough for this draw, keep trying. On the other hand, your score may be enough for the next one. Once you receive your ITA, you will have 60 days to complete the final two steps.
Step 5: Assemble Your Supporting Documentation
To gain Canada PR through Express Entry, you must submit the documentation to support the details you entered when calculating your CRS score. The necessary documents are as follows:
- Passport
- National Occupation Classification (NOC)
- Education Credential Assessment (ECA) report
- Recent language tests to show where you rank on the Canadian Language Benchmark
- Proof of Funds showing you can support yourself and your family
- Police Certificates showing a clear background check
- Results of a medical exam from certified health professionals showing you're in good health
- Letters from previous employers validating past work experience
- Canadian job offer letter (if needed)
- Provincial Nomination (if applicable)
Once you have all of your documentation, it's time for your significant final step.
Step 6: Pay Your Processing Fees and Submit Your Application
Now the last thing to do is ensure all of the processing fees for your Express Entry application are paid. They are as follows:
For you:
| Application processing fee | CAD$850 |
| Right of permanent residence fee | CAD$515 |
For your partner:
| Application processing fee | CAD$850 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | CAD$515 |
For dependent children
| Per child | CAD$230 |
Once all of these fees are paid, it's time to submit. Again, it's essential that all of your data is accurate and validated by your documentation. If anything is missing or untrue, this could cause significant delays to the processing of your application, or your application could be rejected entirely.
Provincial Nominee Program
Suppose you know exactly where in Canada you want to move and are looking for ways to maximize your CRS score to guarantee Canadian PR. In that case, you could benefit significantly from a Provincial Nominee Program.
Canada is a massive country with 13 provinces with different environments, industries and needs. As a result, 11 out of Canada's 13 provinces offer Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) for skilled foreign workers looking to live and work in their specific province. Each province has their requirements, but it certainly helps to have a Canadian job offer in the province of your choice.
Each province has particular streams for different types of applicants, so it's worth your time to research your chosen province. A fantastic way to do this is to speak to a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant to ensure you select the perfect stream for you.
There are two primary ways to apply for a PNP:
Apply Directly To Your Chosen Province
This process requires you to submit a paper application via mail or courier and send it to the immigration office of your chosen province or territory. While this process is still available, it's highly unpopular as it can take applications up to 19 months to be processed, depending on your country.
Apply Through The Express Entry System
When you apply for Canada PR via Express Entry, you must include an Expression Of Interest (EOI). This allows your chosen province to select your profile directly from the Express Entry draw pool before you receive your ITA.
The Express Entry system and PNP tend to focus more on skilled workers. If you don't fit the Canadian government's definition of a skilled worker, don't worry. There are plenty of other ways to gain your Canadian PR.
Canada Family Sponsorship
The government of Canada understands how important it is to keep families together as they move from one country to another. As a result, they have created the Canada Family Sponsorship Visa programs. For example, suppose you have a close family member, spouse or conjugal partner living in Canada. In that case, they could sponsor you, giving you Canada PR.
Four primary Canada Family Sponsorship Programs can result in Permanent Residency. The requirements for your sponsor are the same for all four programs. The sponsor must be:
- a Canadian citizen or Permanent resident
- at least 18 years old
- living in Canada
If your potential sponsor fulfills these requirements, you apply for permanent residency through one of the following programs.
Spousal and Family Sponsorship
This program allows you to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent child's permanent residency. You and your sponsor must apply for this program at the same time and follow the four primary steps:
Step 1: Get the sponsorship application package
This includes the necessary application forms, document checklist and instruction guide for your application process.
Step 2: Pay your application fees
Your fees are as follows:
- for spouse: CA$1,080.
- for dependent child CA$150
- Biometrics: CA$85
Step 3: Submit Your Application
This is primarily done via mail or courier by the sponsor. The Canadian government will return your application if the information is missing or fees are unpaid.
Step 4: Send In Additional Information
During processing, you will need to submit your:
- Medical exams
- Police certificates
- Biometrics
Once this part of the process is done, all that's left is the actual processing. This can take up to 24 months.
While there are other visa programs for the sponsorship of parents and grandparents, as of October 4, 2021, applications are closed. The IRCC has not yet released a reopening date at the time of writing. If you wish to have your child or grandchild sponsor your move to Canada, you can apply for a Super Visa.
However, this is not a permanent residence program and only allows you to stay in Canada for two years. You can, however, apply for Canada PR during your stay in Canada via the CEC or one of the Canada PNP programs.
FAQs
Is it possible to lose your permanent residency?
Yes, you will lose your permanent status if you haven't been in Canada for more than 730 days out of the last five years. You can also lose it if you become a Canadian citizen, renounce your permanent residency or become inadmissible to Canada.
Are these the only ways to get PR in Canada?
No, there are several significant pilots for specific occupations, such as a Start-up visa for entrepreneurs, a caregiver visa or a Self-employed visa. These, however, are less popular and have far more requirements than the options mentioned above.
Can you stay in Canada during your permanent residency processing time?
Yes, but you will need a visa. Many visas will allow you to stay in Canada for years. However, it depends on your occupation, age and links to Canada. You can find a few examples of Visa programs here:
- Canadian Student Visas
- Temporary Foreign Workers Visa
Start Your Canadian Journey
With so many fantastic pathways for gaining Canadian permanent residency, the time to start your process is now. For more information on the best and easiest paths, look at our other blogs to ensure you have all your data.