Canada PR (Permanent Residency) grants non-Canadian citizens the right to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, with access to social benefits and protection under Canadian law. It is a step toward gaining full Canadian citizenship, though it does not grant the right to vote in Canadian elections.
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A Canada Permanent Resident Visa is a gateway to permanent resident status in Canada. It is valid for 5 years, and candidates with a Canada PR card can live, study, and work in Canada freely. Based on their eligibility, they can apply for Canadian citizenship.
| Dos | Don’ts |
| Canada PRs get most of the social benefits to which Canadian citizens are entitled. These include healthcare coverage. | Canada PRs can’t vote or run for any political office. |
| Canada PRs can live, study, or work anywhere in Canada. | Canada PRs can’t hold certain government jobs requiring high-level security clearance. |
| Canada PRs can apply for Canadian citizenship | |
| Canada PRs will be protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian law. |
Yes, Indians can become permanent residents of Canada and are eligible to apply for a Canada PR Visa from India if they meet the eligibility criteria. Individuals who have Canada PR gain the right to live, study, and work anywhere in Canada through a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa.
Candidates with permanent resident status in Canada can enjoy many of the rights of Canadian citizens, although they remain citizens of their home countries unless they apply for and are granted Canadian citizenship. The visa is valid for five years and can be renewed.
*Check your eligibility to become a Permanent Resident of Canada with the Oswal Abroad – CRS Points Calculator, instantly for FREE.
| Feature | Canada PR | Canada Citizenship |
| Status | Permanent resident status | Full citizenship status |
| Passport | Requires passport from country of origin | Eligible for a Canadian passport |
| Residency Obligation | Must live in Canada for at least 730 days in 5 yearsn | No residency obligation |
| Right to Vote | Cannot vote in federal, provincial, or municipal elections | Can vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections |
| Political Office | Cannot hold political office | Can hold political office |
| Job Restrictions | Some jobs requiring high-level security clearance are restricted | Can work in all jobs, including those requiring security clearance |
| Jury Dutys | Not eligible to serve on a jury | Eligible to serve on a jury |
| Deportation | Can be deported for serious criminality or violation of PR obligations | Cannot be deported. Citizenship is secure except in cases of citizenship obtained by fraud |
| Family Sponsorship | Can sponsor relatives to become PRs, subject to meeting eligibility requirements | Same as PR, but also enjoys the right to pass citizenship to children born outside Canada |
| International Mobility | Travel rights can be restricted based on the country of origin's passport | Enjoy more freedom to travel internationally |
| Access to Social Benefits | Access to most social benefits, including healthcare | Access to all social benefits, including healthcare |
| Eligibility for Citizenship | Must meet specific residency and other criteria to apply for citizenship | Already a citizen; no application necessary |
| Renewal of Status | PR card must be renewed every 5 years | Citizenship is for life; no need for renewal |
The Canada PR process is an easy seven-step procedure for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements. After following the seven steps, you can submit your Canada PR visa application.
A Permanent Resident (PR) visa has become prominent among immigrants who are willing to settle in ‘Maple Leaf country.’ It depends on your path to apply for the Canada PR visa.
Here is the path list that guides you on the Canada PR process.
“Did You Know: You can get a Canada PR Visa without a job offer in Canada.”
Candidates applying for the Canada PR visa through the Express Entry program must use a points-based selection system. The Express Entry System basically consists of three sub-categories:
If you are an overseas skilled worker, you can apply for a Canada PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program. The Canadian government initiated this program in 2015 to encourage skilled workers to come and settle in the country.
Canada offers nearly 80 different Provincial Nominee Programs, or PNPs, each with its own eligibility requirements. The PNP program allows provinces to meet their individual immigration needs by helping them fill in-demand jobs and address 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, some PNPs require no previous connection to the province you are applying for; you can apply for a Canada PR visa directly to the PNP program of that province.
The popular PNP programs for a Canada PR visa are:
Application for a Canada PR visa through the PNP program requires the applicants to have some connection to the province. You can either work in that province or study there. You can be eligible if you have a job offer from an employer in the province.
Below is the checklist of Canada PR requirements you need to check before applying for permanent residence in Canada:
Indians applying for a Canada PR visa need to meet all the eligibility criteria and arrange all the requirements. Then, follow the below steps to file your Canada PR visa application from India.
An important step while applying for your Canada PR visa is to apply for the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), which is required if you have done your education outside Canada. The ECA report will show that your educational credentials are equal to Canadian secondary school credentials or post-secondary educational credentials.
The ECA is required if you are applying for a visa through the Express Entry program to prove that your foreign education degree or credential is valid and is equal to a Canadian degree.
The following categories of PR applicants need to get an ECA:
You can get your ECA from one of the designated organizations given below:
The IRCC will only accept assessments that are issued on or after the date the organizations were designated to issue ECA reports for immigration applicants.
| Feature | Canada PR |
| Services | Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) |
| Electronic ECA report provided to you | C$248 |
| An official paper report (delivery fees apply) | |
| ECA report access by IRCC | |
| Electronic storage of your report and verified transcripts for future use | |
| Additional Fees | |
| Delivery Options | Fees |
| Standard delivery (tracking not included) | C$12 |
| Courier delivery (tracking included) | |
| U.S. and international courier services (per address) | C$92 |
| NAdd a new credential | C$108 |
| Convert ECA to a Document-by-Document evaluation | C$54 |
| Convert ECA to a Course-by-Course evaluation | C$108 |
| First report (WES Basic) | C$54 |
| First report (WES ICAP) ) | C$33 |
| Each additional report | C$33 |
You should choose your organization based on your occupation; for instance, if you are a Pharmacist (NOC code 3131) and need a license to practice, you must get your report from the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.
As a Canada PR visa holder, you can enjoy the following benefits:
If you are a student or worker from a foreign country, you must apply for the Canada PR visa exclusively; it does not automatically make you a permanent resident.
Refugees from another country do not automatically become permanent residents. Their status as refugees must be approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Subsequently, they can apply for and obtain PR status.
StatCan reports that there are 1 million jobs in Canadafor overseas skilled professionals. The table below gives you all the information about the top-in-demand occupations in Canada, along with the average salary range.
| Occupation | Average Salary in CAD |
| Accountant | 63,000 - 75,000 |
| Engineering Project Manager | 74,000 - 92,000 |
| Sales Representative | 52,000 - 64,000 |
| Business Analyst | 73,000 - 87,000 |
| IT Project Manager | 92,000 - 114,000 |
| Account Manager | 75,000 - 92,000 |
| Software Engineer | 83,000 - 99,000 |
| Human Resources | 59,000 - 71,000 |
| Customer Service Representative | 37,000 - 43,000 |
| Administrative Assistant | 37,000 - 46,000 |
IT companies in Canada are hiring more foreign workers. As per the recent news, there is high demand for IT professionals under Express Entry. The top IT jobs are listed below:
| List of IT jobs | NOC codes |
| Developer/Programmer | NOC 21232 |
| Business System Analyst/Administrator | NOC 21221 |
| Data Analyst /Scientist | NOC 21223 |
| Quality Assurance Analyst | NOC 21222 |
| Security Analyst/Architect | NOC 21220 |
| Cloud Architect | NOC 20012 |
| IT Project Manager | NOC 21011 |
| Network Engineer | NOC 22220 |
The total cost for a Canada PR visa is 2,500 CAD – 3,000 CAD. This cost varies based on the number of applicants.
It is the sum of your application fees for you and your spouse and dependents, fees for medical examination, English language test, ECA fees, PCC fees, etc.
The table below gives you all the total costs for a Canada PR visa.
| Program | Applicants | Current fees (Apr'22– Mar'24) | New fees (Apr'24–Mar'26) |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant and accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $515 | $575 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner applicant | $570 | $675 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying dependent child | $155 | $175 |
| Permit holders | Principal applicant | $335 | $375 |
| Live-in Caregiver Program and caregivers pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot) | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $570 | $635 |
| Live-in Caregiver Program and caregivers pilots (Home Child Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot) | Accompanying dependent child | $155 | $175 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate consideration / Public policy | Principal applicant | $570 | $635 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate consideration / Public policy | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $570 | $635 |
| Humanitarian and compassionate consideration / Public policy | Accompanying dependent child | $155 | $175 |
| Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most economic pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Principal applicant | $850 | $950 |
| Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most economic pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $850 | $950 |
| Federal Skilled Workers, Provincial Nominee Program, Quebec Skilled Workers, Atlantic Immigration Class and most economic pilots (Rural, Agri-Food) | Accompanying dependent child | $230 | $260 |
| Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives) | Sponsorship fee | $75 | $85 |
| Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives) | Sponsored principal applicant | $490 | $545 |
| Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives) | Sponsored child (principal applicant under 22 years old and not a spouse/partner) | $75 | $85 |
| Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives) | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $570 | $635 |
| Family reunification (spouses, partners and children; parents and grandparents; and other relatives) | Accompanying dependent child | $155 | $175 |
| Business (federal and Quebec) | Principal applicant | $1,625 | $1,810 |
| Business (federal and Quebec) | Accompanying spouse or common-law partner | $850 | $950 |
| Business (federal and Quebec) | Accompanying dependent child | $230 | $260 |
Canadian PR applicants should also provide proof of funds to prove that they have the required funds to support their stay and that of their dependents once they come to Canada till they can earn their income in the country. Letters from banks where the money is deposited are required as proof. The proof of funds will vary depending on the number of family members of the primary PR applicant (Read More…).
| Number of family members | Current Funds Required | Funds required (CAD) Coming into effect May 28, 2024 |
| 1 | CAD 13,757 | CAD 14,690 |
| 2 | CAD 17,127 | CAD 18,288 |
| 3 | CAD 21,055 | CAD 22,483 |
| 4 | CAD 25,564 | CAD 27,297 |
| 5 | CAD 28,994 | CAD 30,690 |
| 6 | CAD 32,700 | CAD 34,917 |
| 7 | CAD 36,407 | CAD 38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | CAD 3,706 | CAD 3,958 |
The general processing time for the Canada PR visa is 6 to 8 months. However, the processing time depends on the program under which you made an application. For instance, if you applied under the CEC program, your application will be processed within three to four months (Read more…).
*Note: If you have applied through the Express Entry program, you must apply within 90 days if you get an invitation to apply.
| Phase-wise process timelines & costs | |||||
| Phases | Process | Description | Designated Authority | TAT (Turn Around Time) | Fees Applicable |
| Phase 1 | Step 1 | An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is used to verify your foreign education is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada. It is valid for 5 years. | WES | 6-8 Weeks | CAD$305 |
| [CAD$ 220 for report + CAD$ 85 for international courier] | |||||
| CAD$ 275 | |||||
| IQAS | 20 Weeks | [CAD$ 260 for report + CAD$ 75 for international courier] | |||
| CAD$ 335 | |||||
| [CAD$ 260 for report + CAD$ 85 for international courier] | |||||
| ICAS | 20 Weeks | CAD$ 345 | |||
| [CAD$ 280 for report + CAD$ 75 for international courier] | |||||
| ICES | 8 – 10 Weeks | CAD$ 210 + CAD$ 102 for Courier | |||
| CAD$ 310 Fee + CAD$ 190 SVR + CAD$ 120 for ECA | |||||
| CAD$ 340 Fee + CAD$ 685 Evaluation | |||||
| CES | 12 Weeks | IELTS: INR 15,500 | |||
| MCC (Doctors) | 15 Weeks | CELPIP: INR 10,845 [plus taxes] | |||
| PEBC (Pharmacists) | 15 Weeks | TEF: variable | |||
| Step 2 | English or French Language Test | IELTS /CELPIP /TEF | Within 4 weeks | No Fee | |
| Varies based on Provinces. | |||||
| Application Fees per Applicant – CAD$ 850 | |||||
| Phase 2 | Step 1 | EOI – Expression Of Interest | IRCC | Your Profile will be valid for 12 months. | RPRF Fees for Applicant & Spouse – CAD$ 515 |
| Step 2 | PNP – Provincial Nomination Program | Provincial Authorities | Varies based on Provinces | Biometrics – CAD$ 85 per person | |
| Phase 3 | Step 1 | Invitation To Apply – ITA | Main Applicant + Spouse + Children | 60 Days | Medical Fee – As applicable |
| Step 2 | Passport Submission and PR Visa | Main Applicant + Spouse + Children | Up to 30 days | VFS fee as applicable |
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| Draw No.. | Date | Immigration Program | Invitation Issued |
| 341 | March 21, 2025 | French language proficiency | 7,500 |
| 340 | March 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 |
| 339 | March 06, 2025 | French language proficiency | 4,500 |
| 338 | March 03, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 |
| 337 | February 19, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,500 |
| 336 | February 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 |
| 335 | February 05, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 |
| 334 | February 04, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 |
| 333 | January 23, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 |
| 332 | January 08, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 |
| 331 | January 07, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 |
| 34,313 Invitations Issued in 2025 | Express Entry/ Province Draw | Jan | Feb | March | April | Total |
| Express Entry | 5821 | 11,601 | 13,261 | 825 | 31,508 |
| Manitoba | 325 | 117 | 219 | 4 | 665 |
| British Columbia | 10 | NA | 13 | NA | 23 |
| Ontario | 4 | NA | NA | NA | 4 |
| Alberta | NA | 551 | 17 | 81 | 649 |
| Prince Edward Island | 22 | 87 | 124 | NA | 233 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | NA | NA | NA | 256 | 256 |
| New Brunswick | NA | NA | 498 | 477 | 975 |
| Total | 6,182 | 12,356 | 14,132 | 1643 | 34,313 |