CANADA PERMANENT RESIDENTIAL VISA
Why apply for Canada PR Visa?
1) 7th Happiest Country in the world
2) 4.4 lakh Canada PRs were issued in 2022
3) Inviting 1.5 million migrants by 2025
4) 1 Million jobs lying vacant for 100+ days
5) The easiest path to Canadian Citizenship
6) Earn 5 to 8 times your current salary
7) Access to Universal Healthcare System
8) FREE Education for your Children
9) Retirement Benefits
How to Get Canada Permanent Resident Visa?
Canada PR visa is a popular choice for those looking to migrate to Canada. The immigrant-friendly policies of Canada and the government’s encouragement of migrants to come and settle here have motivated many to try and migrate here.
Apart from this, settling down in Canada holds the promise of a comfortable lifestyle and the right living conditions. There are numerous job opportunities and the promise of personal freedom.
One of the options to migrate to Canada is to obtain a Permanent Resident (PR) visa. With a PR visa, you will be given permanent resident status. The validity of a PR visa is five years which can later be renewed.
The PR visa does not make you a citizen of Canada; you are still a citizen of your native country.
BENEFITS OF A CANADA PR VISA
As a PR visa holder, you can enjoy the following benefits:
1) Can apply for Canadian citizenship in the future
2) Can live, work and study anywhere in Canada
3) Eligible for healthcare and other social benefits enjoyed by Canadian citizens
4) Protection under Canadian law
5) You will have to exclusively apply for the PR visa if you are a student or a worker from a foreign country, it does not automatically make you a permanent resident of the country.
Refugees from another country do not automatically become permanent residents. Their status as a refugee must be approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Subsequent to this, they can apply for and obtain a PR status.
Apart from this, you can also go through the key highlights of Canada Immigration Level Plan 2023-2025, which include:
1) Country welcomes around 465,000 permanent residents in 2023
2) On the whole, admissions will account for 1.14% of the Canadian population by 2024.
3) Long-term focus on the country’s economic growth allows 60% of immigrants through Economic Class.
4) Special procedures for granting permanent residence to refugee claimants working in health care sectors, especially during the pandemic.
5) Support for global crises by providing a safe environment through humanitarian immigration
6) Talent acquisition of those already in Canada by granting permanent residency status to temporary residents migrated through the time-limited pathways for essential workers.
7) Recognizing the importance of family reunification helps maintain the 12-month processing standard for spouses and children.
How do I use the Express Entry system for a PR visa?
A candidate applying for the PR visa through the Express Entry program will have to go through a points-based selection system. The Express Entry System basically consists of three sub-categories:
1) Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
2) Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
3) Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
If you are a skilled worker, you can apply for a PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. This was initiated by the Canadian government in 2015 to encourage skilled workers to come and settle in the country. To qualify under this program, you should be able to get 67 points out of 100 in the eligibility factors given below:
- Age: Those between 18-35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years.
- Education: Under this category, your educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards.
- Work Experience: For minimum points, you should have at least one-year of 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).
- Language Ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS test and the score must be less than 2 years old. You get extra points if you are proficient in French.
- 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.
- Arranged Employment: You can gain a maximum of 10 points if you have a valid offer from a Canadian employer.
CANADA PR VISA THROUGH THE EXPRESS ENTRY PROGRAM..
If you are lucky enough to qualify for a PR visa through the Express Entry program, you can be selected from a pool of eligible candidates based on your Express Entry profile. You will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canada PR status. If you get your ITA you can start the documentation process for your PR visa.
The ITA is similar to a response sent by the IRCC to Express Entry applicants. It is sent to those who have the highest CRS score in a particular Express Entry draw which is usually held on a monthly basis.
Once you receive your ITA, you are given 90 days to submit documents that support the information you provided to create your Express Entry profile.
The ITA will let you know which program you have been selected to apply for your PR visa- CEC or any other Express Entry program. If you check the Express Entry portal, you will find a list of documents that is specific to the program you have applied for. You will also have to submit these documents with your application.
Here are some of the common documents you will be required to submit:
1) Documents supporting your English language test results
2) Civil status documents such as your birth certificate
3) Documents in proof of your education achievements
4) Documents in proof of your work experience
5) Medical certificate
6) Police clearance certificate
7) Proof of funds
8) Photos
- You will also have to provide a medical certificate from a doctor approved by the IRCC.
- The next step is to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photos). In case you have to give your biometrics, you can go to the nearest biometric collection center. After you have completed your medical tests, biometrics, and the required documents, you can submit your application.
- Processing times can differ, but approximately it will take six months for your PR visa to be processed.
- You may have to attend a short interview if the IRCC feels the need, before giving the final decision on your application.
- If your application is accepted, you will receive the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) by mail from IRCC. Approval means that as an applicant you and the family members accompanying you will get visas that will allow them to travel to a Canadian Port of Entry (POE) to obtain their official permanent resident documents.
PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
Canada offers nearly 80 different Provincial Nominee Programs 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. They should have either worked earlier in that province or studied there. Or they should have a job offer from an employer in the province for a job visa.
However, there are some PNPs that require no previous connection to the province you are applying for; you can apply directly to the PNP program of that province.
Some of the popular PNP programs are:
- Saskatchewan PNP
- Manitoba PNP
- Alberta PNP
- Ontario PNP
- New Brunswick PNP
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
- British Columbia
- Quebec Skilled Migrant
