Canada PR Visa

If you wish to migrate to Canada, one of your options is to apply for a Permanent Resident (PR) visa. With a Canada PR visa you will be given a permanent resident status. The validity of a PR visa is five years which can later be renewed.

With Canada permanent residency, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• You can live, work and study anywhere in Canada
• You are eligible for healthcare and other social benefits enjoyed by Canadian citizens
• You will get protection under Canadian law
• You can apply for Canadian citizenship in the future

Applying for Canada Permanent Resident (PR) visa

To apply for Canada PR visa, you will have to go through an application process where you should apply under any one of Canada’s immigration program to apply for a PR visa. Canada offers different immigration programs, among these the most popular are:

Express Entry Program

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Business Immigration Program

Family class Immigration

The most popular immigration program to obtain a Canada PR visa is the Express Entry program.

The Canada PR process under the Express Entry system includes three programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
3. Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

A candidate applying for the PR visa through the Express Entry program will have to go through a points-based selection system. To be able to apply under the Express Entry program, you should be able to get 67 points out of 100 in the eligibility factors given below:

1. Age: Those between 18-35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years.
2. Education: Under this category your educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards.
3. Work experience: For minimum points you should have at least one-year full-time work experience. More years of work experience means more points. Your occupation must be listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
4. Language ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS rest and the score must be less than 2 years old. You get extra points if you are proficient in French.
5. Adaptability: If your spouse or common law partner is willing to migrate with you to Canada, you are entitled to 10 extra points for adaptability.
6. Arranged employment: You can gain a maximum of 10 points if you have a valid offer from a Canadian employer.

Steps to apply under the Express Entry program

Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile

As a first step, you will have to create your online Express Entry profile. The profile should include credentials that include age, work experience, education, language skills, etc.

Step 2: Complete your ECA

If you have done your education outside Canada, you should complete an Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA. This is to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to those awarded by the Canadian educational system.

Step 3: Complete your language ability tests

As the next step in the Express Entry program, you should take the required English language proficiency tests. The recommendation is a score of 6 bands in IELTS. Your test score should be less than 2 years old at the time of application. 

You will gain extra points if you know French. To prove your proficiency in French, you can give a French language test like the Test de evaluation de Francians (TEF).

Step 5: Get your CRS score

The profiles in the Express Entry pool are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Based on the profile of applicants a CRS score is given which will help to provide a ranking in the Express Entry pool. The assessment fields for the score include:

• Skills
• Education
• Language ability
• Work experience
• Other factors

Your profile gets selected for the Express Entry draw if you have the required CRS score for that draw.

 Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)  

If your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool, provided you have the minimum score for the Express Entry draw. After this, you will get an ITA from the Canadian government after which you can start the documentation for your PR visa. 

Application through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for PR visa

Canada offers nearly 80 different Provincial Nominee Program or PNP which have their individual eligibility requirements. The PNP program allows provinces to meet their individual immigration needs by helping them fill jobs that are in demand and meet labor shortages in their province.

Most PNPs require applicants to have some connection to the province. However, there are some PNPs which require no previous connection to the province you are applying for, you can apply directly to the PNP program of that province.

If you opt for the PNP to apply for your PR visa, these are the steps:

• You must apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
• You could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa if your profile meets the eligibility criteria.
• You can apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.

The criteria for evaluating the PR application differs in each province but the eligibility requirements are similar to the Express Entry Program.

After you receive your provincial nomination, you can apply for a PR visa in that province.

Business Immigration Program

Individuals interested in doing business in Canada can apply for a PR visa through the Canada Business Immigration Program. This program was designed to encourage migrants who can invest or establish a business in Canada. The Canadian government has specified three categories of people for this type of visa.

• Investors
• Entrepreneurs
• Self Employed Persons

Family Class Immigration

Individuals who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada can sponsor their family members for PR status if they are 18 years or older. They are eligible to sponsor the following categories of family members:

• Spouse
• Conjugal partner
• Common-law partner
• Dependent or adopted children
• Parents
• Grandparents

Documents required for Canada PR application

• Valid passport
• Proof of age
• Identity proof
• Certificates to support your educational qualifications
• IELTS scorecard with the valid score
• Certificates to prove medical fitness
• Police clearance certificate