How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada in 2024

If you are looking for a guaranteed way on How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada then count yourself lucky for reading this article right now. Canada is one of the most eclectic districts in the world blessed with natural resources, as well as technological development.

This nation, unlike others, values the process of immigration to boost the advancement of its economy. With this said, one of its goals for 2024 concerning immigration is to grant 411,000 new immigrants with permanent residents. Through over 100 visa and immigrant schemes, individuals from across the globe are granted access to work and live in Canada. 

Criteria for permanent residence in Canada include:

English Language Proficiency

Age

Education: Aspirants should possess a senior secondary education according to Canadian immigration law to verify competence. Candidates who have higher degrees are at an advantage over those with only a senior secondary certification.

Work Experience: Candidates should have working experience(s) with a minimum of 30 hours or more per week to be qualified.

Adaptability: Candidates should be able to adapt to new working environments and conditions.

How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada

Among the different schemes available for the immigration process, the following two vital programs, if well implemented, will grant anyone access to become a permanent resident in Canada.

1. Express Entry

The fastest, easiest, and most popular route for newcomers with foreign skills yearning for a fresh start in Canada is through express entry. This program is an online system that was established in 2019. It organizes and conducts the application process regarding Canada permanent residency for folks who want to immigrate to Canada.

How can I apply for Express Entry?

To apply for express entry, the first step is to create your profile online which mandates the applicant to submit the following documents:

Language test results

Educational credential assessment report

A passport or travel document

Next, you will be required to submit your profile and await an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence. You will also need to give an extensive application that includes reference letters, further identity documents, police authorization certificates, and medical examination results.

Eligibility 

Aspirants who possess a university or college with a proficient work background and an intermediate mastery in English and/or French are suitable candidates. 

Candidates with the authorization of the following programs are also qualified to submit applications for the Express Entry program:

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

      Job opportunity is not required to apply for an express entry. Most candidates chosen for Express Entry do not possess a proper Canadian job request. Although, a legal Canadian job invitation for a professional, full-time position can enhance your express entry application to about 50 to 200 points with a positive labor market assessment(LMIA) required for the points to be awarded to you. An informal job offer should not be mentioned in the application. This does not award any additional points and may as well encourage a delay or rejection of your application. 

      Express Entry may require about six months to be conducted, varying from concession of the Express Entry profile to the allocation of a permanent resident visa. A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score will be given to you. This eventually determines if you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) which means you have the opportunity to apply for Canadian permanent residency. The abrupt procession of the visa depends on the fact that not all cases are the same. If you are not asked to apply, your Express Entry profile will reside active in the reservoir of candidates for 12 months. 

Resubmission of the profile is encouraged after 12 months of not being selected. The Express Entry system will be accountable for inviting 110,500 of the 411,000 total, which sums up to approximately 26 percent. This means early preparation and submission of required documents may put you on the list.

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is also a vast way to move to Canada. The local provinces and the government have the treaty to allow the local regions to nominate competent foreign skilled workers to live and work permanently in Canada.

There are many advantages to the PNP. These include:

You would be relocating to Canada with a job opportunity offered to you.

You will arrive in Canada as a permanent resident.

Processing time takes about 4 months.

How to apply for a Provincial Nomination

      A provincial application can be submitted in two ways. The application is either turned indirectly by paper or indirectly via an express entry system. The direct application requires additional cost due to the use of mail or courier service. Whereas, through the express entry system, the processing time is much faster with the advantage of applying either through an express entry profile or through a provincial nominee express entry stream. 

The permanent resident application process requires documents including:

Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Applicants are required to provide Educational Credential Assessment or ECA to verify that their foreign education is on average with the Canadian level.

Language Proficiency Report: The candidate needs a language mastery report with the IELTS score. This will ascertain if the English skills of the applicant are up to the Canadian Government standard Level (CLB) 7 or not.   

Express Entry Application: Once the candidate has both the documents, they can create an online profile in the Express Entry System profile.

CRS Score: The aspirant is scored after filling the application form, which serves as a means to analyze applications. If candidates pass the required CRS score, they become eligible for the Canada permanent Visa.  

Express Entry Draw: Candidates are required to wait for the express entry pool draw. Those who meet the requirements are invited as permanent residents.

Invitation To Apply (ITA): An invitation of application with a period of 60days is sent out to candidates who satisfy the requirements.

Final PR Application. The final PR application should be sent in with the required documents. The screening process takes within five to eight months. If you get authorized, you will obtain your PR permission.  

The cost to become a permanent resident in Canada

Educational Credential Assessment fee – CAD 220

Courier charges approx – CAD 10

Fast Express courier charges – CAD 85

Express Entry Application: This is free of cost

Pay the application fees: Single applicant fee – CAD 1325 (Including visa fees and PR fees)

Couple Applicant Fee – CAD 2650 + 500 (Right to PR Fee)

Dependent fee for Child – CAD 225 for each child

Complete your biometrics: For a single applicant – CAD 85

For two or more applicants – CAD 170

Send your passport details: If you already have a valid passport, it is free of cost.

Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) – CAD 1500

Saskatchewan Immigration Nominee Program (SINP) – CAD 350

Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – CAD 500

British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP) – CAD 1150

Primary applicant: CAD 785

Spouse or Partner: CAD 168

Dependent Child: CAD 168

Language exam fees (IELTS) Educational Credential Assessment fee – INR 12,500

Medical exam (varies depending on the city) – INR 3,000

Police certificate(varies depending on your city) – INR 500

Does marrying a Canadian guarantee permanent residency?

      Getting married to a Canadian citizen does not give you citizenship or permanent residency. To become a Canadian citizen, you are expected to follow the same process as others. There is no special route or privileges for being a spouse of a Canadian citizen. One of the requirements expected of you to apply for citizenship is to be present in the country at a minimum of 1,095 days before the date of application.