Canada is the most welcoming country for a migrant. With 411,000 permanent resident visas to be granted in 2022, many are considering Canada to migrate overseas with their family.

Every year, many immigrate to Canada from the UAE. Expats in the UAE have 100+ immigration options to choose from. A majority of those who migrate to Canada from the UAE are expatriates.

Both Emirati citizens and foreign expats are considered equal when applying for Canada immigration from the UAE.

The UAE is among the top countries of residence for those applying for permanent residence in Canada through the Express Entry system.

The most sought-after Canada immigration route for those applying from Dubai – expats living in the UAE or Emirati citizens – is to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker.

If you wish to migrate to Canada, one of the options available for you 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 5 years which can later be renewed.

How to Apply for Canada Permanent Resident (PR) Visa

Permanent residence in Canada can be acquired through different pathways. The right Canada immigration programs will be based on your individual circumstances and background.

Canada offers different immigration programs, among these the most popular are:

• Express Entry system
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Business immigration
• Family class

Within a standard processing time of within 6 months, Canada Express Entry is the most popular way to move to Canada with family.

The federal Express Entry system comes under the purview of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Canada PR visa applications for the main economic immigration programs of Canada are managed through the Express Entry system.

67-points eligibility will have to be met for applying for permanent residence in Canada through IRCC Express Entry.

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 must get 67 points out of 100 in the eligibility calculation. Those scoring less than 67 points in the Express Entry selection factor point grid cannot apply under Canada Express Entry.

Once entered into the pool of candidates, the candidates are then ranked as per a 1,200 Comprehensive Ranking System matrix. The higher you score, the better your chances of your being invited to apply by IRCC.

It is the highest-ranked that are issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) in the federal draws held from time to time.

Steps to apply under the Express Entry program

STEP 1: Check eligibility

STEP 2: Get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) Report

If you have done your education outside Canada, you should get an ECA Report from an IRCC-designated organization. This is to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to those awarded by the Canadian educational system.

STEP 3: Appear for language tests, such as IELTS

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 4: Create your Canada Express Entry profile

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 Canada 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.

STEP 6: Apply for Canadian permanent residence

APPLICATION THROUGH THE PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (PNP) FOR PR VISA

Canadian PNP offer another route to Canada PR that goes through the provincial and territorial governments.

The PNP of Canada is for workers that intend to take up Canadian permanent residence, settling within a specific province or territory. Such individuals must possess the education, skills, and work experience to contribute to the economy of the province/territory nominating them.

There are around 80 immigration pathways or streams available under Canadian PNP.

Each of the PNP streams available for immigrate to Canada targets a specific class of immigrants. A PNP stream can be targeted at – skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, international students, and business people.

Quebec is not a part of PNP and has its own immigration programs as per the Canada-Quebec Accord.

Some of the PNP pathways are linked with Canada Express Entry. These are referred to as enhanced nomination and follow a completely online application process. Those not linked to Express Entry have a paper-based application process and are base nominations.

BUSINESS IMMIGRATION PROGRAM

Individuals interested in doing business in Canada can apply for a Canada PR visa through the Canada Business Immigration Program.
The Business Immigration 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

Other Canada PR pathways available include –

• For Entrepreneur/self-employed person
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot
• Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
• For family
• As an Investor

In all, foreign expats and Emiratis have more than 100 pathways available before them to immigrate to Canada. While Express Entry and Canadian PNP are among the most sought-after routes to Canadian permanent residence, other pathways are also there. The eligibility criteria and application process will differ from pathway to pathway.

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