PR in Canada - Check PR Process, How to Apply, Eligibility, Visa, Fees, Requirements

PR in Canada: For people and international students wishing to relocate to Canada, the Canada PR visa is a popular option. Many people have attempted to move to Canada because of the country's immigrant-friendly policies and the government's encouragement of migrants to come and establish themselves here.

Aside from that, attaining a PR in Canada and relocating to Canada promises a peaceful lifestyle and adequate living conditions. There are several professional prospects available, as well as the promise of personal freedom.

Obtaining a PR in Canada visa is one option for moving to Canada. A Canada PR visa will grant you permanent resident status and has a five-year validity period that can be renewed. In this extensive and detailed guide about PR in Canada, we will cover everything that you would need to know before applying for permanent resident status in Canada. 

Overview of PR in Canada

A Canadian PR visa is granted to those who have acquired citizenship of another country but wish to become permanent residents of Canada. A PR in Canada entitles one to access the majority of the social and healthcare benefits to which Canadian citizens are entitled. The PR visa also allows residents to work or study anywhere in Canada and provides them with legal protection under Canadian law. After spending a certain amount of time in Canada, a PR visa holder is eligible to seek Canadian citizenship.

Who is a Permanent Resident in Canada?

Before we dig deep into everything about PR in Canada, it is quite important to understand the meaning of ‘permanent resident’ or PR. A permanent resident is someone who has been granted permanent resident status after immigrating to Canada but is not a citizen of Canada. Permanent residents are foreign nationals. A temporary resident in Canada, such as a student or foreign worker, is not a permanent resident. 

Resettled refugees from other countries become permanent residents under the Government-Assisted Refugee Program or the Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program. When a person files a refugee claim in Canada, they do not become a permanent resident. To become one, their claim must first be approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. They must then apply for Canada PR.

What is a Canada PR Card?

Your PR card can be used to prove that you are a permanent resident of Canada. If you travel outside of Canada, you must display your card plus your passport while returning on a commercial vehicle such as a plane, boat, railway, or bus. PRs going outside of Canada who do not have or are not carrying a valid PR card must apply for a permanent resident travel document before returning to Canada by a commercial vehicle.

PR in Canada vs Citizenship in Canada 

The primary distinction between a permanent resident and a Canadian citizen is that an immigrant cannot become a citizen. They must first become permanent residents before applying for Canadian citizenship. 

A Canadian citizen can actively participate in Canadian politics and apply for a Canadian passport, while a permanent resident cannot. Another distinction between the two is that, whilst a permanent resident visa must be maintained or renewed, a Canadian citizen does not.

Benefits of Having a Canada Permanent Residency

The Canadian permanent residency status is one of the most sought-after immigration statuses because it grants the resident several legal rights as well as a slew of other benefits. Here are some of the advantages of having a PR in Canada:

• Individuals who obtain PR have the freedom to live and work in any territory of Canada. Not only that, but if you discover a job in another province of Canada, you have the liberty to leave, and there is no requirement that you stay with a single company.

• A Canada PR visa can provide you access to a lot of medical and health care treatment for free.

• A permanent resident can sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children to join them in Canada. If the applicant is relocating to Canada via the Express Entry system, they can include their family in the first application, eliminating the need to sponsor them later.

• The Canadian education system provides free education to permanent resident children until the 12th grade. Not only that, but the university education fee for such students is far lower than that of overseas students.

• Obtaining PR in Canada is the first step toward becoming a Canadian citizen. It is good for five years and can be renewed after that. You can apply for Canadian citizenship if you have lived in the nation for three of the last five years. When you become a citizen, you will be issued a passport, which is one of the most respected travel documents in the world.

What Can You Do and Not Do with a Canada PR Visa?

People who immigrate to Canada must obtain a Permanent Resident Card. It is mandatory for them to display their valid PR visa while travelling to Canada; otherwise, they would be unable to board an aircraft, train, or bus to Canada. The Canadian PR visa grants you any rights, including the following:

• You are eligible for most social benefits, such as health care coverage, which is provided to the majority of Canadians.

• You are free to live, study, or work wherever in Canada.

• The first step toward becoming a Canadian citizen is to obtain a Canadian PR visa. If you have a PR in Canada and have been in the country for more than two years, you can apply for Canadian citizenship.

• In Canada, having a permanent resident visa protects you under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian law.

• A permanent resident of Canada, on the other hand, does not have the right to vote or to apply for employment that requires a high-level security clearance.

Canada PR Eligibility

Permanent residency is one of the quickest legal ways to become a Canadian resident. It includes numerous perks such as free universal healthcare and free education for children. The following are the Canada PR eligibility that an applicant must meet in order to immigrate to the country:

Age Factor 

To apply for PR in Canada, you must be at least 18 years old. Points are assigned for the age factor until the age of 46, after which it decreases. People between the ages of 18 and 35 receive the most points.

Work Experience 

One of the most crucial requirements for Canadian PR is that you must have at least one year of job experience. However, in order to receive an invitation from IRCC to apply for PR in Canada, you must perform well on their point-based immigration system. A three-year work experience can help you earn top grades.

Language Proficiency Test

To come to Canada, you must demonstrate competence in either English or French, as these are the official languages of the country. As a result, individuals must submit the results of their language competence test administered by an accredited agency, such as IELTS for English proficiency.

Educational Credential Assessment

If you are a student or skilled worker from another nation who wishes to immigrate to Canada, you must submit an ECA. It will aid Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada in verifying your educational credentials.

Canada PR Requirements

The Canadian PR visa is a multiple entry visa for skilled workers to settle in Canada that is valid for five years. However, in order to be eligible, you must meet the following two Canada PR requirements:

• To be qualified for PR in Canada, the individual must receive at least 67 immigration points out of a possible 100.

• A candidate may be eligible for a Canada PR visa if they meet the CRS cutoff score for that year.

Planning a move to another country can be stressful and anxious, and there are a million details to consider. Having all of your formal documentation in order saves time and allows you to cross one major item off your list. We have estimated all of the paperwork you will need to apply for a Canada PR Visa:

• A valid passport

• Proof of funds in your name

• Education credential assessment 

• Letter of recommendation from previous employers

• Birth certificate

• Recent passport-sized photographs

• Provincial nomination certificate or territorial certificate of nomination

• Offer letter from a company in Canada

• Marriage certificates/divorce certificates (if applicable)

• Your personal reference code

• Police verification report

• Language test scores

• Job seeker validation code

• All your medical reports

How to Apply for PR in Canada?

To be able to apply for Canada PR from India, you must first grasp the various Immigration Programs available in the country. India is Canada's largest supplier of immigrants, and as the country's economy recovers from the pandemic's ravages, immigration is more crucial than ever. Here are some of the current immigration programs offered by Canada:

• Business Immigration

• Provincial Economic Class

• Business Immigration (that includes the Start-Up Visa Program)

• Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence transition

• Federal Economic Class

• Family Class Sponsorship

• Quebec Immigration

Permanent Resident Canada Programs

After earning a degree in Canada, many students choose to stay and work in the country, thereby obtaining Permanent Residence. There are numerous student pathways available to aid with the transition from a student visa holder to a PR in Canada visa holder. Students with a Canadian educational degree, employment experience, and ties to a certain province have an edge when seeking permanent residency. The fast pathway programs that assist international students in Canada in becoming permanent residents are listed below:

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

It is one of the quickest ways for international students to get PR in Canada. This program requires applicants to have a minimum of 12 months of full-time job experience in Canada or equivalent part-time experience within the last three years. 

Though this becomes one of the most viable possibilities for students with the necessary level of work experience, it has one drawback. Work experience gained during a full-time education period is not included in the 12-month requirement. International students, on the other hand, are entitled to get a post-graduation work visa after finishing their degrees in Canada, allowing them to gain the work experience required to qualify for the CEC.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

This curriculum is intended to fulfil the needs of students from a certain territory or province. Students having a degree or job experience in a specific province are given preference under the Provincial Nominee Program. As a result, overseas students who have graduated from a province are able to apply for a PNP in that province.

Post-Graduation Work Permits

After completing their studies in Canada, most overseas students apply for this work permit. Although this is not a direct residence program, it allows most overseas graduates to stay in Canada after finishing their studies at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) and working for a Canadian business.

After earning the necessary experience, students can apply for a Canada PR visa from India under the CEC or employee-driven PNP.

Business Immigration Program

Canada's federal and provincial/territorial governments welcome business individuals who want to immigrate to the nation under the Business Immigration Program. The initiative is intended to make it easier for immigrants to start a business and settle in Canada. Under the Business Immigration Program, firm owners and their families can obtain Canadian citizenship by investing in an existing business or creating one from scratch in Canada. The conditions that they must meet are as follows.

Family Class Immigration

The Family Class Immigration program aims to reunite citizens and permanent residents with their immediate family members. The program allows residents to sponsor their spouses or conjugal partners and children for a set period of time and provides for their basic requirements so that they do not have to rely on others after moving to the new nation.

Express Class Immigration

The immigration Canada Express Entry system manages three government programs, including the Canadian Express Class immigration program. It intends to offer permanent residency to talented employees who have accumulated at least one year of work experience in Canada while being temporary residents with work authorization.

Federal Skilled Worker Program 

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (also known as the Federal Skilled Worker Class) is Canada's flagship worker immigration program for PR in Canada, allowing the country to accept tens of thousands of newcomers each year based on their ability to establish themselves in the Canadian workforce. Professionals and talented professionals from all around the world who want to permanently move to Canada can do so under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Candidates may submit an application alongside their spouse/partner and dependent children.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is the only federal economic immigration program that prioritizes workers in trades occupations for immigration to Canada. It allows competent tradespeople from all around the world to permanently move to Canada.

Furthermore, due to labour shortages in many skilled trades occupations across Canada, the Government of Canada expedites Federal Skilled Trades Program applications through the immigration Canada Express Entry system, allowing for immigration within a few months. Qualified and experienced tradespeople from all over the world seeking to immigrate to Canada.

Immigration to Quebec

Quebec immigration is expected to increase significantly in 2022, with the mostly French-speaking province preparing to welcome over 70,000 new immigrants in a single year. These newcomers will include up to 52,500 under the current Quebec immigration plan, plus an additional 18,000 or so to compensate for a drop in newcomers during the Covid-19 pandemic. These figures do not include a large number of temporary workers and overseas students heading to Quebec. Thousands of authorised family class immigrants and refugees will also be admitted to Quebec.

Furthermore, immigration to Quebec is handled differently than the selection criteria used by the Government of Canada. Individuals and families who wish to live as economic permanent residents in the province of Quebec must go through the Quebec immigration system.

How to Get a PR in Canada Under the Provincial Nominee Program?

The PNP is for persons who desire to become permanent residents of Canada and have the necessary education and employment experience. As part of the application procedure for the PNP, you must pass a medical exam and have your background checked by the police. To begin, you will need someone from the province to nominate you to apply for a residency permit in the country. If you meet all of the requirements for the PNP, you can apply for permanent residence with Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada.

How to Get a PR in Canada Under the Business Immigration Program?

Here is an overview of the Business Immigration Program's process and eligibility for PR in Canada:

• A person who has the assets to invest in or create a specific business in Canada, as well as verified managerial expertise, is eligible to immigrate to Canada. Additionally, sufficient linguistic fluency in either English, French, or both is essential.

• An immigrant must submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and a business plan after determining which firm to purchase.

• Once the LMIA is authorised, the investor can apply for a temporary work permit for a period of 12 to 24 months. The LMIA application procedure takes approximately 2-3 months. A work permit takes about three months to obtain.

How to Get a PR in Canada Under the Family Class Immigration?

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor any of their relatives under the Family Class Immigration undertakings:

• Outside of Quebec, sponsors must submit a federal undertaking to the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

• Sponsors who live or want to live in Quebec must file a provincial undertaking with the Quebec Ministry of Diversity and Inclusion (MIDI).

How to Get a PR in Canada Under Express Class Immigration?

Here is an overview of the Express Class Immigration Program's process and eligibility for PR in Canada:

How to Apply for a PR in Canada After Graduation?

There are two routes for international students in Canada to get permanent residency after graduation: Express Entry and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). While AIP is a business-driven immigration scheme, Express Entry is a federal program for overseas students who have completed their secondary education. Let us shed some light on these two programs for a PR in Canada:

Express Entry System

Express Entry is the quickest path to attain PR in Canada. One of the first steps in the Canada PR process is to complete an Express Entry profile. After completing the profile, a score is assigned that ranks a candidate among the Express Entry pool of candidates. Every two weeks, Express Entry draws are held, and individuals who score highly are asked to apply for permanent residency. In the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), an international student with a Canadian education might earn an extra 30 points. 

Students must complete the application process within 60 days of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The processing time for completed applications is six months. The Canadian Experience Class program is administered through the immigration Canada Express Entry system, and it allows individuals to become permanent residents after graduating in the country.

Atlantic Immigration Program

It is one of the options offered to international students seeking permanent residency in Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Program. It allows candidates to become permanent residents in the Atlantic provinces of Canada, including Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

Express Entry Profile Requirements for PR in Canada

You will need three primary papers to submit your Express Entry profile. If you want to apply for Express Entry, you should start by compiling the following three documents:

Language Test

All Express Entry applicants must be fluent in either English or French. To submit your profile, you must have certified test results from an approved language test. The needed minimum score differs for the three Express Entry-aligned programs.

If you want to demonstrate your English competence, you can take the IELTS General Training exam or the CELPIP General exam. If you wish to demonstrate your ability in French, you have two options: the TEF exam or the TCF exam.

Passport

To submit an Express Entry profile, you must have a valid passport. When obtaining a passport is not possible, alternative identification documents may be approved in very rare instances. 

Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)

The ECA assesses non-Canadian education against Canadian norms. Notably, education is only a required criterion for the Federal Skilled Worker Program; nevertheless, it is advised that FST and CEC candidates also complete an ECA report, as education is an important component of the CRS score. It should be noted that an ECA is not necessary for educational programs completed in Canada.

You will be able to build your Express Entry profile after you have these three documents.

Note: If you are applying with your spouse or common-law partner, you should compare your qualifications ahead of time. One individual must be named as the primary applicant in the Express Entry profile, and the primary applicant's credentials will account for the great majority of the CRS score.

Processing Time & Fees Associated with the Express Entry System

To obtain PR in Canada using the Express Entry system, students must pay an application fee of CAD 1,325 (INR 81,720) and a biometric fee of CAD 85 (INR 5,242). The normal processing time under the Express Entry system for a student to acquire a PR after completing their education in Canada is six months.

Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) in Canada

Canadian graduates have 180 days to apply for a Post-Graduate Work Permit Visa or PGWP. When applying, they must affirm the program attended, including the name and duration. They can prove it by producing their certificate or degree, a transcript, or an official letter from their institution. If a student's study permission expires before they receive their results, they have up to 90 days to apply for the PGWP and regain their student status. The processing duration for a PGWP is 133 days online and 228 days on paper. Students must pay a CAD 255 application fee for PGWP as well as a CAD 350 charge to reinstate their student status.

Costs of Canada PR Visa

Although the Canadian government pre-determines the fees associated with the immigration procedure, the numbers vary owing to currency fluctuations. The following is a concise breakdown of the costs to be borne while applying for Canada PR from India:

So, if you want to travel to Canada alone, you will need to spend around INR 99,000; bringing your spouse will raise that figure to over INR 2,000,000. Aside from these costs, you must provide proof of money to the Canadian government based on the number of family members you desire to bring with you. Here is a rough estimate:

Note: Aside from these, you should consider the fees you would have to pay to private agencies if you seek their advice.

Processing Time of Canada PR Application

Once you have received the Invitation to Apply, it normally takes around 6 months for the Canadian PR visa to be processed from India. However, there is no guarantee as to when you will receive your ITA or how long it will take for you to obtain PR in Canada from India. You may take certain measures such as completing a comprehensive and entirely exact application to ensure the least delay. While the Express Entry Program processes your application in six months, other challenging categories may take up to a year.

Points Required for PR in Canada

The number of points needed to apply for a Permanent Resident Card in Canada is 67 out of 100. To apply for a PR visa, you must obtain a minimum of 67 points across all eligibility requirements. Furthermore, the CRS score will evaluate the candidate based on variables such as education, work experience, age, adaptability, and so on. 

If the candidate has the necessary CRS score, they will be eligible for the Express Entry draw, which is one of Canada's most popular and fastest immigration processes. Candidates in the Express Entry pool are assigned a total of 1200 points, and the one with the highest score is invited to apply for PR in Canada in the bi-weekly draw.

How to Calculate Canada PR Visa Points?

To calculate your Canada PR visa point, go to the IRCC website and use the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) tool. You will be able to obtain your CRS scores after answering a few questions about your education, language abilities, work experience, other talents, and adaptability. This score will assist you to achieve a ranking in the Express Entry pool, and on that basis, you will be invited to apply for PR in Canada.

Fact Check: A person may bring their parents, grandparents, spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child(ren) with them. Not only that, but they can also apply for Canada PR on behalf of parents or other family members.

Renewal Process of PR in Canada

A Canada PR visa is valid for five years. If it has expired or is due to expire in less than nine months, you can apply for a renewal. To renew your PR visa, mail your application to Case Processing Centre (CPC) Sydney, Nova Scotia, along with the following documents:

• A copy of your current Permanent Resident (PR) card.

• Two clear images for the application should adhere to the size standards (50mm*70mm). and be enclosed in an envelope with the application.

• A copy of the candidate's current driver's license for identification verification.

• Documents required to demonstrate that you have spent at least two years in Canada in the last five years.

Immigrating to a country like Canada will raise your standard of living and enhance your accomplishments. Its stable economy and a strong sense of ethics at work will help you move quickly toward your objectives. The country offers some of the top educational establishments and healthcare systems, making it quite appealing to families looking to relocate abroad. 

Canada is a peaceful country with one of the lowest crime and violence rates in the world, and its people are well-known for their welcoming attitude toward immigration. Overall, Canada offers a complete experience for individuals looking to relocate there, as seen by the country's massive demand for immigrants or permanent residents.

Still wondering how to kickstart your studying in Canada dream and attain a PR? Get in touch with our experts at abroad@collegedekho.com and seek expert guidance.