Settling in advanced countries is a dream of developing country citizens and more people are choosing to apply for Canada PR for obvious reasons. Canada is a stable country and offers an excellent standard of living. Canada is well known to be one of the top choices when it comes to immigration. It is a multicultural country with more than 250,000 people immigrating to the country every year. Canada is relatively safer and is warm and welcoming to the new people. High employment level and low annual inflation rate not only promise aspiring applicants plenty of job and growth opportunities but also a chance to experience a high quality of life. The country has something to offer to everyone who is considering living there as a permanent resident.
How to apply for Canada PR
Many pathways and programs lead to obtaining a PR in Canada. The two key programs for Canada immigration are the Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) Program and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) Program
Express Entry is for skilled immigrants who are willing to contribute to the Canadian economy and settle in Canada permanently. It is a point-based program which awards points to applicants on criteria established by the Federal government. The Federal Skilled Worker program has minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language ability and education, which prospective applicants must meet before they can apply. The applications are then assessed on the following criteria:
- age
- education
- language proficiency (English and/or French)
- adaptability
- work experience
- arranged employment.
These criteria form a part of a 100-point Federal Skilled Worker Grid, and candidates earn points for each factor. The current pass mark is 67, meaning, those applicants receiving 67 points can enter the Express Entry pool where a different Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is used to rank the applicant’s profile. The highest-ranking candidates (out of a possible 1,200 points) from this pool are selected and invited to apply for permanent residency. The most appealing factor of this program is its processing time – the whole process takes as less as six months, from application lodgement to visa grant.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows Canadian provinces to nominate international applicants with job offers for permanent residency. Applicants whose occupations appear on the National Occupation Classification (NOC) list of in-demand jobs may be exempt from the job offer requirement. Each province has its own set of criteria, and applicants need to check with the respective province about the requirements to apply.
The candidates can apply for the PNP program in two ways: the paper-based process or the online process through Express Entry. The type of application depends on the Provincial Nominee Program that candidates will apply to.
- The paper-based process involves:
- Applying to the province or territory for nomination under a non-Express Entry stream
- Meeting the eligibility requirements of the province that sends the nomination
- Submitting a paper application for permanent residency (PR) once the nomination is confirmed
- Undertaking and passing the medical exam and obtaining police check certificate
Application processing times are longer than through Express Entry
- Express Entry process involves:
- Either contacting the province or territory and applying for the nomination under Expressing Entry stream, and creating an Express Entry profile after the nomination is accepted: or
- Creating an Express Entry profile including the interested provinces or territories and applying to their Express Entry stream if the nomination is approved
- In both cases, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria and submit an Express Entry profile. After receiving an invitation to apply, candidates submit electronic applications to IRCC.
The standard application process under the Express Entry method is 4 – 6 months.
Federal Skilled Worker (Express Entry) Program vs Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The most frequently asked question is “which is a better program to apply for Canadian PR?”. The answer lies in a candidate’s ability to meet the criteria for each program. While Express Entry is a more popular program (given its fast processing times), candidates with low CRS score can apply for the PNP programs to get their permanent residence in Canada.
Documents Checklist for Canada PR Application
While the documents required may vary based on the different programs, the following is a general checklist:
- Language test result
- Passport
- Education credential assessment report
- Work experience letter (if available)
- Police certificates
- Medical report
- Proof of funds