How to get Canada PR – Step by Step Process
Canada PR visa is a popular choice for those looking to migrate to Canada. And why not? 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. As a PR visa holder, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Can apply for Canadian citizenship in the future
- Can live, work and study anywhere in Canada
- Eligible for healthcare and other social benefits enjoyed by Canadian citizens
- Protection under Canadian law
- 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.
How does one obtain a Permanent Resident (PR) visa?
To get a PR visa, you will have to go through an application process. The applications go through elaborate scrutiny. The eligibility for a Canada PR visa is through a points-based system. The applicants are assessed on various points such as age, language, education and work experience.
First step in Canada PR process is English language test, then education assessment and then express entry profile creation. Documents for ITA, processing time.
Canada PR step by step process. You can follow this sequence to start your Canadian permanent residency application.
- #1 IELTS English Exam
- #2 Education Assessment – ECA
- #3 Create Express Entry profile
- #4 Wait for CIC Draw and Invite
- #5 ITA – 60 Days to Submit Documents
- #6 Pay Canada PR Fee
- #7 Canada PR Processing Time
- #8 Passport Submission Request, COPR
- #9 Reach Canada on CoPR, Apply for PR card
- #10 Receive PR card (2–3 months)
- #11 You are Canadian PR
Get your act together with ELEVATEINDIA. The process of applying for and getting Canada PR is as complex as it can get because the policies are constantly changing. This makes it important to keep yourself fully updated on latest developments so that you do not miss out on critical formalities. Missing out on some essential documentation could be devastating to the end-result. We can help to successfully conclude your PR dream.
#1 IELTS English Exam
The first step is to take an English language exam. IELTS is most common and is easily available around the world. IELTS score to CLB score table. IELTS general exam fees is USD $230. IELTS process is time consuming:
- Process of appointment booking (1-2 months),
- Exam and then result (issued after 13 days).
The total IELTS process can take up to 3 months and hence it is important to book the exam date as early as possible. Normally, the IELTS dates are available after an average of 35-40 days. So, first book the appointment and then start preparing for IELTS.
#2 Education Assessment – ECA
ECA is Education Credential Assessment. It is done by multiple organisations (WES is one of them) and provides you the Canadian equivalent degree assessment of your native country education. Education assessment can take anywhere between 6 to 8 weeks. Cost of ECA is approximately CAD $285 (200 CAD Fee + 85 CAD International Result Delivery).
#3 Create Express Entry profile
‘Express entry’ is the name of the online system used by Canadian immigration for filing PR applications. Creating an application in Express entry system enters you in the pool of candidates waiting for the ITA (Invitation to Apply Canada PR). Make sure all the information mentioned in your online profile is accurate as you will be asked to provide proof of all that information once you are selected.
#4 Wait for CIC Draw and Invite
Canadian immigration runs a draw called ROI (Rounds of Invitation) every 3–4 weeks. The Canadian govt declares the minimum cut off score (CRS points) for each draw. All the express entry profiles having same or more than the draw score will get an invite to apply PR. This invite is called invitation to apply (ITA). The score varies in each draw and is usually set at a number that is enough to invite 2800–3500 applicants quota per draw.
ITA received – what next?!
#5 ITA – 60 Days to Submit Documents
Once you receive an invite (ITA), you get 60 days to submit all documents to prove your education and work experience. Documents required for ITA:
- Color copy of Passport.
- Digital Photograph.
- Proof of Employment of primary applicant.
- Proof of Funds of primary applicant.
- Proof of Medical of all applicants.
- Proof of Education & IELTS of all applicants
- Police Clearance Certificate (From all countries where you have resided for 6 months or more) of all applicants.
Cost for medical, PCC and notarization varies by each location. Ideally, all expenses should be covered within 300–350 CAD per applicant.
You can get Indian PCC from Indian Embassy if you are outside India. People physically present in India can get PCC from Indian passport office. If you are in USA, you will need FBI clearance certificate. You can ask for an extension if the PCC is delayed by the embassy of FBI.
#6 Pay Canada PR Fee
Canada PR fees is CAD $1050 for each applicant. Reconfirm
#7 Canada PR Processing Time
After submitting the documents and paying the Immigration fees, the Canadian Immigration officers verifies the documents and information. Canada PR processing generally takes 2 to 4 months depending on the application type, countries a person has resided in and most importantly, the immigration visa office where the application has been sent for processing and how much application backlog is there. New Delhi visa office is infamous for taking 4 months to process and verify the submitted documents, sometimes even more!
#8 Passport Submission Request, COPR
Once the documents are verified, candidates are informed about the result of their application via mail. On successful processing, candidates are required to submit the passports of all the applicants for the Visa Stamping and CoPR (Confirmation of permanent residence). Confirmationof permanent residence Canada Passport is being sent by VFS Global and would cost around CAD $30 per passport. The stamped passport are returned to the designated address within 2 weeks along with 2 copies of CoPR.
#9 Reach Canada on CoPR, Apply for PR card
Applicants are suppose to travel to Canada within the tenure mentioned on the passport. The tenure is generally till the time passport is valid or till medical proof is valid, whichever is earlier. In any case, visa will not be for more than 1 year. Applicants are suppose to plan their travel, temporary or permanent migration to Canada within the Visa timelines and submit one copy of CoPR at the time of landing. The other copy is stamped and returned. Submitting CoPR means that Candidates have successfully landed in Canada and this in turn initiates the PR card application for each applicant. You should validate Canada PR at port of entry, get Social security insurance number at ‘Service Canada’ center at airport, open bank account, library card and driving license.
#10 Receive PR card (2–3 months)
Official PR Card processing time is 62–65 days and the PR card will be couriered to the address given by the applicants at the time of their landing. The address has to be a Canadian address.PR Card will be delivered to the address within 50–80 days. In case you have performed soft landing (temporary migration) just to fulfill the landing formalities before the Visa expires, you can request any friend coming to your native country to bring along your PR card. PR cards are not couriered outside Canada and have to be delivered in person in such scenarios.
#11 You are Canadian PR
Once you have your PR card, you are officially a Canadian PR. Have fun!
PR card is provided with validity of 5 years. A person is supposed to live in Canada for 730 daysin consecutive 5 years to continue his/her PR card for next 5 years after the expiry. If a person has stayed in Canada for more than 1095 days in consecutive 5 years, he/she is eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
Some Acronyms Frequently Used in this post & during Visa Processing:
- CLB – Canadian Language Benchmark
- ECA – Education Credential Assessment
- EE – Express Entry
- ROI – Round of Invitations
- ITA – Invitation to Apply
- CoPR – Confirmation of Permanent Residency
- PPR – Passport Request
- PR – Permanent Resident (Residency)
