As per many global surveys and reports, Canada is one of the best countries to live and work in.
Thanks to this, the country has been attracting a large number of expats in recent years who apply for Canadian Permanent Resident Visas.
With its welcoming attitude towards new immigrants, Canada has become home to a population that is 23 percent foreign-born, thereby making it one of the most multicultural societies globally.
This guide will provide you with the key information about permanent Canadian residency, such as how to obtain it and the many benefits you could enjoy, so read on!
Table of Contents
What Is a Canadian Permanent Resident?
A Canadian Permanent Resident is an immigrant who has been authorized by the Canadian government to live in Canada for an unlimited amount of time (permanently).
Over 400,000 immigrants from around the world are approved for permanent Canadian residency every year and allowed to live, study and work in Canada long-term, as well as receive other benefits such as free or subsidized public healthcare.
Most people who become a Canadian Permanent Resident are skilled foreign workers and their family members, but thousands of refugees and others also receive permanent Canadian residency each year, because Canada is a welcoming and compassionate country.
Although the majority of people are granted permanent Canadian residency while they are abroad in their home countries, a large number become Canadian Permanent Residents while living in Canada, such as international students and temporary foreign workers who possess skilled Canadian work experience.
People from every country are welcomed to become a Canadian Permanent Resident, however, Statistics Canada reported that the following 10 countries had the most citizens approved for permanent Canadian residency in 2021: India, Philippines, China, Syria, Nigeria, the United States, Pakistan, France, Iran and the United Kingdom.
Benefits of Becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident?
If you and your family are granted permanent Canadian residency, you can receive many benefits such as opportunities for:
- Living in Canada for an unlimited amount of time (permanently)
- Working in Canada legally
- Receiving free of subsidized public healthcare in Canada
- Accessing world-class Canadian education programs
- Traveling to and from Canada
- Sponsoring family for permanent Canadian residency
- Buying your own home in Canada
- Starting your own business in Canada
- Dwelling in one of the world’s most peaceful countries
- Enjoying freedom and equality in a country that embraces diversity
- Visiting beaches, forests, mountains, lakes and other beautiful locations
Applying to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada 3 out of 5 years
Becoming a Permanent Resident of Canada?
In order to become a Canadian Permanent Resident, you must satisfy all of the eligibility requirements for one of the many Canada visa programs that offers permanent Canadian residency.
These Canadian immigration programs all have general eligibility requirements and also specific criteria that are unique to each program.
General requirements for permanent Canadian residency usually include:
- Being in good health (a medical exam is required)
- Not having a criminal record (police certificates may be required)
- Proof of Funds (documents showing you can support yourself and family in Canada)
Most people who become a Canadian Permanent Resident are skilled foreign workers and their family members.
There are several Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers such as the:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program
These and the other Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers have specific criteria that are unique to their particular program, however, they usually require the main applicant to satisfy one or more of the following:
- Have a certain amount of work experience in an eligible occupation
- Receive a certain score on an English or French language evaluation exam
- Get an Invitation to Apply or a Nomination before applying for Canadian immigration
- Achieve at least a minimum point score based on age, education, English/French, relevant work experience, qualifying job offer in Canada, spouse/partner characteristics, etc.
The application process for many of the Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers generally start with filing an online preliminary application, such as an Express Entry profile, Expression of Interest or Provincial Nominee Program Application, and if an Invitation to Apply or a nomination is received, then the next major step is to file an application for permanent Canadian residency and pay the governmental fees with the federal immigration agency.
Applicants who are approved for permanent Canadian residency will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and must immigrate to Canada while their COPR is still valid.
Other Routes to a Canada Permanent Resident Visa
Besides the four Canadian immigration programs for skilled foreign workers mentioned earlier, there are many other routes to permanent Canadian residency including the:
- Canadian Experience Class Program
- Atlantic Immigration Program
- Family Sponsorship Program
- Start-Up Visa Program
- Self-Employed Program
- Caregiver Program
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program
- Economic Mobility Pathway Pilot
- Permanent Residence Pathway for Residents of Hong Kong
Canadian Visa Expert works with authorized immigration consultants who can provide you with an Eligibility Evaluation of your best option to become a Canadian Permanent Resident and they can guide you through the application process if you qualify.
Who Can Apply for Canadian Permanent Resident Status??
People from every country in the world are welcomed to apply for permanent Canadian residency.
You must be at least 18 years of age to file the application for permanent Canadian residency (parents who are at least 18 years old can apply on behalf of their minor children).
Generally, the main applicant, his or her spouse or common-law partner, and their dependent children (under 22 years of age without a spouse/partner) can apply to become a Canadian permanent resident (the main applicant will file the application on behalf of his or her family).
At a minimum, all family members applying to become a Canadian Permanent Resident must be in good health and not have a criminal record.
Additionally, the main applicant must provide Proof of Funds, which are documents showing the financial resources to support himself or herself and all accompanying family members (if relevant) while living in Canada.
One of the biggest challenges is determining which of the many Canadian immigration programs for permanent residency you are eligible to apply for.
To receive an Eligibility Evaluation of your Canadian immigration options, click here!
Canadian Permanent Resident Visa: How to Apply?
How you apply for a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa will depend on which Canadian immigration program you are applying for and its particular application procedure.
Most people who immigrate to Canada as permanent residents are skilled foreign workers or their family members and many of them are approved for permanent Canadian residency through the Express Entry system.
In general, to apply for permanent Canadian residency through the Express Entry system, you must qualify for one of the eligible immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class Program
There is also an option to apply for immigration to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program using the Express Entry system.
In the event that you qualify for one of the Canadian immigration programs that is eligible for Express Entry to Canada, you can file an online Express Entry profile for free on the Canadian immigration agency’s website which will contain details about you and your family, your education, work experience, English and/or French language evaluation test scores and other information.
A Canadian immigration agency official will review your profile and calculate your Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) in which 1200 points are possible for various factors.
If your profile indicates that you seem to qualify for one of the Canadian immigration programs that is eligible for Express Entry, your profile could be placed into the Express Entry pool of candidates for up to 12 months.
In order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent Canadian residency, you must have one of the highest CRS scores when the ITAs are being periodically given out or receive a qualifying offer of employment in Canada or get a nomination for a Provincial Nominee Program.
After you get an ITA, you will have 60 days to file your complete Canadian Permanent Residency Application and pay the governmental fees and, in most cases, a decision should be received in six months of less.
You will receive a Certificate of Permanent Residency (COPR) if approved for permanent Canadian residency and you may also have a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa placed inside your valid passport if one is needed for you to enter Canada (citizens of some countries only need an Electronic Travel Authorization or eTA).
Please note that this is an overview of one of several different procedures to apply for permanent Canadian residency and your particular process could be different, depending on which Canada visa you apply for.
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility to apply for permanent Canadian residency, explain the step-by-step process to you, and guide you carefully through the application process if you qualify.
Conclusion
Canada is one of the top immigration destinations and welcomes over 400,000 immigrants each year to become Canadian Permanent Residents.
There are several programs that offer permanent Canadian residency, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, Provincial Nominee Program and Quebec Regular Skilled Worker Program.
Each Canadian immigration program has its own eligibility requirements and application procedure.
When you become a Canadian Permanent Resident, you can live, study and work in Canada for an unlimited length of time; receive universal healthcare; attend quality education programs; sponsor family members for permanent Canadian residency; buy a home; start a business; enjoy beautiful scenery; experience equality and freedom; travel to and from Canada; dwell in one of the world’s most peaceful countries; and apply to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada for only 3 out of 5 years and satisfying other criteria.
Does this sound good to you?
If you would like to become a Canadian Permanent Resident, the first step of the process is to learn whether you satisfy the Canadian Permanent Residency requirements.
Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with authorized immigration consultants who can provide you with an Eligibility Evaluation of your best option for immigration to Canada and guide you through the application process if you qualify.
Are you and your family ready for a new life in Canada?
START YOUR PROCESS TODAY!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is permanent residence in Canada?
Permanent residence in Canada means that you have been authorized by the Canadian government to reside or live in Canada for an unlimited amount of time (permanently). Having permanent Canadian residency gives you many additional benefits including permission to legally work in Canada; access to world-class Canadian education programs; free or subsidized public healthcare; sponsoring family members to become Canadian Permanent Residents; traveling to and from Canada whenever you desire; the opportunity to buy a home and start a business in Canada; living in a beautiful country; enjoying equality and freedom in a country that embraces diversity; and the option to apply to become a Canadian citizen after living in Canada for 3 out of 5 years and meeting other criteria!
Is it easy to get Permanent Resident status in Canada?
The process to become a Canadian Permanent Resident is lengthy and complex, however, if you satisfy the Canadian Permanent Residency requirements, are determined and complete one step at a time, your chances of success are pretty good. Keep in mind that over 400,000 people from around the world are granted permanent Canadian residency every year, so it is definitely possible! You can apply for permanent Canadian residency by yourself, however, many people choose to receive the professional services of authorized immigration consultants, such as those who Canadian Visa Expert works with, in order to make the complex immigration process easier to understand and to complete correctly.
How long does it take to get a permanent resident visa in Canada?
The amount of time it takes to become a Canadian Permanent Resident depends on several factors, such as which Canadian immigration program you apply for; how long it takes you to do what is required; how long it takes the Canadian immigration agency to process your application; etc. In general, it takes about 8-12 months for a skilled foreign worker to become a Canadian Permanent Resident when applying through the Express Entry system. It may take more time to receive permanent Canadian residency when applying for other immigration programs, such as the Family Sponsorship Program.
How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada?
You will generally need several thousand Canadian Dollars (CAD) to immigrate to Canada for governmental fees and non-governmental expenses. The exact amount required will depend on the size of your family, which country you are traveling from, where you will live in Canada and other factors.
The governmental fees for skilled foreign workers include the Canadian Permanent Residency Application Fee ($850 CAD for the main applicant and $850 CAD for the spouse/partner); Right of Permanent Residence Fee ($515 CAD for the main applicant and $515 CAD for the spouse/partner); Dependent Child Fee ($230 CAD per child); Biometrics Fee ($85 CAD for 1 person or $170 CAD for a family of 2 or more people); and the Canadian Permanent Resident Card Fee ($50 CAD per person).
Non-governmental expenses may include the cost of the English or French language evaluation exam; fee for the Educational Credential Assessment (if relevant); costs of English or French translations of any required documents that are not written in one of those languages; medical exams; police certificates; travel expenses to Canada; shipping of possessions to Canada; and living expenses after arriving in Canada. The Canadian immigration agency recommends that you have at least the following amounts to pay for living in Canada after you arrive: $13,310 CAD for 1 person; $16,570 CAD for 2 people; $20,371 CAD for 3 people; $24,733 CAD for 4 people; $28,052 for 5 people; $31,638 CAD for 6 people; and $35,224 for 7 people. These are the minimum amounts for living in Canada and you may need more, depending on where you live in Canada, the size of your family, your needs and lifestyle.
Which English or French language tests are approved for Express Entry?
You must achieve at least a certain minimum score (the score depends on which Canadian immigration program you apply for) that was received within the past two years from an authorized language evaluation test such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training Exam or the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) Exam for English; or the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF Canada) or Test de connaissance du français (TCF Canada) for French.
Can I lose Permanent Residency in Canada?
Yes, there are certain circumstances in which you can lose your Canadian permanent residency status. When you become a Canadian Permanent Resident, it is assumed that you will live in Canada for a substantial amount of time. You are permitted to leave Canada for extended periods of time, however, you must live in Canada a minimum of 730 days total during a 5-year period to maintain your Canadian permanent residency status (the days do not have to be consecutive). Another way you could lose your Canadian permanent residency status is to renounce it or give it up. You can also lose your Canadian Permanent Resident status if you become inadmissible to Canada, such as by committing a serious crime in Canada. Thus, being a Permanent Resident of Canada means that you can live in Canada permanently or for an unlimited amount of time, as long as you comply with the rules regarding Canadian permanent residency status.
