Canada PR stands for Canada Permanent Residence. It is a status given by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to individuals who settle in Canada through various immigration pathways.
Overview
What is Canada PR?
A Canada Permanent Resident is an immigrant who settles in Canada by getting a PR visa through an immigration program such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, etc. Getting a PR status enables an immigrant to enjoy most of the social, economic, and health benefits of being a Canadian citizen.
You can become a Canadian PR through the following pathways.
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Selected Skilled Workers
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Caregivers
- Family Sponsorship
- Start-up visa
- Self-employed
- Permanent residence pathways for Hong Kong residents
Download the Free Immigration and PR Guide PDF
Benefits of Canada PR
Significant Canada PR visa benefits are:
- Getting a Social Insurance Number (SIN)
- A healthcare coverage
- Equal social benefits as Canadian citizens
- Protection under the Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom
- Freedom to live, work, and study anywhere throughout the country
- If you have a Canada PR, you become eligible to apply for Canadian Citizenship.
How to maintain the PR status?
To maintain a PR status, an individual must stay in Canada for at least 730 days in the last 5 years. The stay is not required to be consecutive.
You will not cease to be a Permanent Resident if your PR card expires. You will lose the status if:
- An officer declares that you are no longer a PR after the refusal of a PRTD appeal.
- You renounce the PR status voluntarily
- A removal order against you comes into force
- You become a Canadian citizen
What are the Limitations of PR?
Canadian Permanent Residency has very few limitations. An immigrant with a PR status cannot:
- Vote or run for any political office
- Work in any job that involves high-level security clearance
- If you are found guilty of committing any grave crime, you (or your family) can be deported from Canada
Canada PR Requirements
Before applying, make sure that you meet the following PR requirements.
- You are 18 years old or older.
- You are eligible to apply through any one of Canada’s immigration pathways. For example, if you are applying through the Express Entry pathway, you must get an ITA in the draws to be eligible to apply for PR. Similarly, you must get a provincial nomination before applying through the Provincial Nominee Program.
- You must have no criminal record and must be able to prove that you are not a legal, economic, security, or health liability to Canada.
- Sufficient proof of funds (if applicable)
- A successful Immigration Medical Exam (IME)
- Biometrics
Steps to Apply for Permanent Residency
Once you are eligible to apply for permanent residency, you can begin your application in the Canada PR portal. There are two phases in this process.
- The first phase involves the submission of documents and the Permanent Residency application.
- The second phase involves post-application steps.
Phase I How do I apply for Canada Permanent Residency?
STEP 1 – Create an Account
The very first step would be to create an account in the IRCC PR portal. Once you create an account, you can use it to start a new PR application and apply for the replacement or renewal of your PR card or PRTD.
STEP 2: Begin a new PR application and select your Immigration Program
Once you have an account, begin a new PR application and select the immigration pathway you will be applying through. If you have received an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the Express Entry draw, you will need to apply through a different IRCC portal.
STEP 3 Complete and submit your PR application
At this stage, you will be required to upload all the required documents. The set of documents varies according to the immigration pathway you have selected. For example, in case you are a provincial nominee, you will be required to upload a provincial nomination certificate and other related paperwork. On the other hand, if you are immigrating as an entrepreneur, the set of required documents will be different.
After uploading all mandatory documents and uploading the fee receipt, submit your application.
Phase II Application Decision, and COPR
The second phase begins after you submit a Canada PR application. This includes:
- Application Review: During this phase, a CIC officer will evaluate and review the PR application.
- IME request: While processing the IRCC would request an Immigration Medical Exam (IME). You will also be provided with the medical forms and instructions to conduct the medical assessment. The IME result will be valid for a year from the date of the exam.
- PR Decision: You will get an e-COPR or Confirmation of Permanent Residency if your PR application is successfully reviewed and approved by the IRCC. You will also be asked to submit your photographs for the PR card.
Landing in Canada
You do not become a Canadian Permanent Resident just by getting an eCOPR. When you land in Canada for the first time, you will still be a landed immigrant. At this stage, a landing interview at the Port of Entry (POE) will be conducted, and passports and documents will be reviewed. Keep the following documents ready at the time of your interview.
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
- Passport
- COPR – do not sign the COPR in advance
- Tickets
- ArriveCAN
- Custom Declaration Form
- List of accompanied goods
- All certificates such as birth certificates, academic certificates, etc
- Immunization certificate
- Medical prescriptions (if applicable)
- Proof of funds
- Job Offer
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Medical Acknowledgement
The landing interview might include questions about any possible change in your situation that must be reflected in the application, previous criminal records, and possible medical issues. You will also be required to provide a Canadian address. This is where the PR card will be delivered. Once the interview is completed, the officer will give you a copy of the signed COPR. This is the stage when you will be welcomed to Canada as a Permanent Resident.
Your PR card will be delivered to your address in 25. If you do not have a mailing address at the time of landing, you can provide the address of any reliable third party such as your friends and relatives.
Provision of a Canadian mailing address within 180 days is mandatory to get a PR card. If you are unable to provide it, you will need to apply for a PR card and pay a fee of $50 (CAD).
Getting Canada PR through Express Entry
Getting a Canada PR through Express Entry is one of the most popular and fastest ways to settle and work in the country. Applying for Permanent Residency through this pathway includes the following steps.
- Sign in and create an account through the GC-Key
- Create an Express Entry profile
- Be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Get a score from the Comprehensive Ranking System
- Get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the Express Entry draw
- Upload all the documents and apply for Canada PR within 60 days
Applying for PR through the Provincial Nominee Program
Canadian provinces and territories invite eligible foreign workers through the PNP pathway. Becoming a provincial nominee is the second most popular pathway to get a Canada PR. You can apply through the PNP pathways in two ways
- Provincial Nominee Program – Express Entry Process
- Provincial Nominee Program – Non-Express Entry
Canada PR through the PNP Express Entry Pathway
Apply through this pathway if:
- If you have a provincial nomination from any one of the provinces or territories
- You have an active Express Entry profile in the federal pool
If you satisfy all the conditions above, there will be two phases. The first will include the confirmation of your provincial nomination, and the second will be to update your nomination in your Express Entry profile.
Phase 1 – Confirm your Nomination
After a PNP program approves your application, you must accept their nomination within 30 days. Most PNP Express Entry pathways require the Express Entry profile number and job seeker validation code.
Phase 2 – Adding provincial nomination to Express Entry profile
- Login to your Express Entry profile
- Confirm your provincial nomination
- Select the province that has nominated you
- Get the additional 600 CRS score that almost ensures an ITA
- Apply for Canada PR through Express Entry as a provincial nominee.
Canada PR through non-Express Entry PNP pathway
Becoming a permanent resident through the non-Express Entry PNP pathway involves the following main steps.
- Apply to any one of the Provincial Nominee Programs
- Get a provincial nomination
- Apply for Canada PR through PNP
- Get a COPR after application approval.
Canada PR via Family Sponsorship
Family Sponsorship allows the residents and citizens to sponsor their spouses, partners, children, parents, and grandparents to immigrate and settle in Canada. The individual who sponsors you must be at least 18 years old or above. Both the sponsor as well as the sponsored must download, complete, and sign:
- The Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking form (IMM 1344) – This form includes the undertaking that the sponsor will financially support the principal applicant for basic needs.
- The Relationship Information and Sponsorship Evaluation Form (IMM 5532) – This form will include detailed information about both the sponsor as well as the sponsee or the principal applicant.
The principal applicant will:
- Login to the Canada PR portal
- Begin a new application
- Select the category they are being sponsored from
- Spouse
- Common-law in Canada
- Family Class
- Common-Law Partner
- Conjugal Partner
- Dependent Child
- Other Relative
- Adopted Child
- Orphan sibling, nephew, etc.
- Spouse
- Upload all the documents signed and completed by the sponsor
- Upload additional documents such as the PCC, IME, travel documents, birth certificates, proof of status, etc.
- Upload the fee payment receipt.
- Submit Canada PR through Family Sponsorship
Apply through the Quebec Selected Skilled Worker Program
Quebec Selected Skilled Worker (QSWP) enables eligible foreign workers to work and settle in Quebec. You must have a Quebec Selection Certificate (Certificat de sélection du Québec) to apply for Canada PR through the QSWP. The entire process involves the following steps.
- Be eligible for the Quebec Selected Skilled Worker Program
- Submit an Express of Interest (EOI) on Arrima
- Get an Invitation to Apply for Permanent Selection (within 60 days)
- Upload and submit all mandatory documents
- Pay application fee of $895
- Get a CSQ or Quebec Selection Certificate if the application is approved.
- Apply for Canada PR through the Quebec Selected Skilled Worker
Canada PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program
As a foreign worker, you can apply for Canada PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program if:
- You have a job offer from a designated employer in any one of the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.
- Work Experience of at least one year in the last 5 years.
As a foreign student, you are eligible if:
- Have a 2-year degree, diploma, or certificate from a recognized institution in one of the Atlantic provinces.
- Have acquired the degree on a valid study permit
- Have lived in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, or Prince Edward Island for at least 16 months in the last 2 years.
- The course was full-time.
If you meet all the eligibility requirements, you can apply for Canada PR through the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Canada PR for Caregivers
You can apply for Canada PR through the Caregivers pathway under three categories.
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot– Gaining Experience Category: A job offer in NOC 44100. This category is for applicants who do not have 12 months of work experience.
- Home Support Worker Pilot – Gaining Experience Category – A job offer in NOC 44101. You can apply through this pathway if you don’t have one year of work experience.
- Home Support Worker Pilot – Direct to permanent residence category: You must have one year of full-time work experience in NOC 44100 or NOC 44101. This work experience must be acquired within 3 years of applying to Canada PR.
Note: IRCC has announced that new pilot programs will soon take place of these programs. The new ones may also become permanent programs.
Currently, only the Home Support Worker Pilot is accepting applications. The rest of the Caregiver’s pathways have reached their limits for 2024.
How to Apply for Canada PR through the Agri-Food Pilot?
To be eligible for Agri-Food Pilot you must:
- Have one year of continuous, full-time, and paid work experience in the past three years
- Get a full-time, non-seasonal, and permanent job offer
Once you meet all the eligibility requirements for the Agri-Food Pilot:
- Sign in to the Canada PR application portal.
- Download, complete, and upload the following digital forms:
- IMM 0008 – Generic Application form for Canada
- IMM 5669- Background/Declaration
- IMM 5562- Supplementary Information
- IMM 0116- Document Checklist
- IMM 0114- Schedule 1 – Agri-Food Pilot
- IMM 0115- Offer of Employment to a Foreign National (this must be completed, signed by the employer and sent to you)
- Submit Canada PR application through the Agri-Food Pilot.
Canada PR processing time
The processing time for Canada PR depends on the immigration pathway you have applied from. The approximate PR processing time for each program is tabulated below.
| Immigration Pathway | Canada PR processing time |
|---|---|
| Economic Immigration | |
| Federal Skilled Worker Program | 5 months |
| Federal Skilled Trades Program | Not available |
| Canadian Experience Class | 5 months |
| Provincial Nominee Program | 6 to 12 months |
| Quebec Selected Skilled Worker | 9 months |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | 8 months |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | Not Available |
| Agri-Food Pilot | Not Available |
| Business Immigration pathways | |
| Start-up Visa | 40 months |
| Quebec entrepreneurs and investors | 49 months |
| Family Sponsorship | |
| Family Sponsorship of Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada | 13 months (for outside Quebec) 27 months (for inside Quebec) |
| Sponsoring Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada | 35 months (if sponsoring in Quebec) 10 months (if sponsoring outside Quebec) |
| Dependent Child (living in India) | 10 months |
| Parents or Grandparents | 48 months (in Quebec) 24 months (outside Quebec) |
| Caregivers | |
| Home Child Care Provider: Direct to permanent residence category | 21 months |
| Home Child Care Provider: Gaining experience category | 38 months |
| Home Support Worker: Direct to permanent residence category | 21 months |
| Home Support Worker: Gaining experience category | 19 months |
The processing time for Canada PR is subject to frequent changes. Moreover, it can also be impacted if:
- Your application requires additional information or supplementary documents
- The provided information is not easily verifiable
- You are not as prompt in communications
- IRCC already has a backlog in application processing
Documents Required for Permanent Residency
The complete list of documents for Canadian permanent residency varies according to the immigration pathway you are applying from. However, certain documents are mandatory for Canada PR.
- Travel Documents and Passports
- Proof of language proficiency (IELTS, CELPIP, and PTE test results for English proficiency. TEF and TCF for French language proficiency)
- Police Certificates and Clearances
- Photos
- Birth Certificates
- PR application fee payment receipt
- IMM 0008 – Generic Application Form for Canada
- IMM 5406 – Additional Family Information
- IMM 5669 – Schedule A: Background/Declaration
All your paperwork must either be in French or English. In case they are any other languages, upload the original documents along with their English/French translations
Fees for PR through all pathways
Canada PR fees for various immigration pathways are given in the table below.
| Canada PR Pathways | Canada PR fee |
|---|---|
| Express Entry | CAN $1,525 |
| Provincial Nominee Program | |
| Family Sponsorship | |
| Quebec Selected Skilled Workers | |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | |
| Agri-Food Pilot | |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | |
| Quebec entrepreneurs and investors | CAN $2,140 |
| Permanent residence pathway for Hong Kong residents: Canadian work experience | CAN $1,085 |
| Permanent residence pathway for Hong Kong residents: In-Canada graduates | |
| Home Child Care Provider: Direct to permanent residence category | |
| Home Child Care Provider: Gaining experience category | |
| Home Support Worker: Direct to permanent residence category | |
| Home Support Worker: Gaining experience category |
Note: Canada PR fee does not include the expenses of biometrics, medical exam, Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), language proficiency tests, and application processing fees of various PNP programs.
Choose Talent Connected Worldwide for Canada PR
Even though it is not mandatory to hire an immigration consultant, it is extremely necessary. Talent Connected Worldwide is an award-winning CICC-licensed consultant that:
- Explains the immigration process in a simplified way.
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- Helps you decide the best and the fastest way to get PR.
- Trains you for IELTS for free
- Prepares all the mandatory and supplementary documents so that your application is processed quickly and has little chance of rejection.
- Ensures that you get the highest score in the PR points calculator (CRS points calculator)
- Stays informed about all the Immigration updates and the probable changes that might impact your case.
