Everything you need to know about Canada Permanent Residency. Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, eligibility, requirements, and step-by-step application process.
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CAD 1,590 (Principal Applicant)
Permanent
Canada PR Visa refers to permanent resident status. Permanent residents can live, work and study in Canada, subject to their legal obligations. Health coverage depends on provincial or territorial rules. Citizenship requires a separate application and eligibility assessment.
Economic routes include Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), the Atlantic Immigration Program and community pilots. Each has its own eligibility and selection rules. The Agri-Food Pilot has closed and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot intake is paused. The 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan targets 380,000 PR admissions in each year. Targets are planning figures, not individual invitations or approval guarantees.
Quick Answers
Start here if you are comparing Canada PR pathways, checking fees, or deciding whether Express Entry, PNP, or a work visa to PR route fits your profile.
Indian applicants usually apply through Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, or a community pilot. The right route depends on your CRS score, occupation, language test results, education, work history, job offer, and settlement destination.
Economic PR eligibility depends on the route. Compare qualifying work, language, education, settlement funds, admissibility and the required invitation, nomination, endorsement or community recommendation. CEC and FST have no education minimum.
Use your route's checklist. Education assessments, language tests, work records, funds, medical information, police certificates, biometrics and family records have different conditions and timing. They are not a universal checklist for every PR program.
Express Entry ranks eligible candidates using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). A Provincial Nominee Program can help applicants with lower CRS scores if a province selects their occupation, job offer, education, French ability, or local connection.
Authorized Canadian work may help you qualify for an economic PR route, but a work permit does not guarantee PR. Applicants outside Canada can qualify through routes such as FSW, AIP or community pilots if they meet all selection and application conditions.
Sources checked October 18, 2026. References from IRCC and Canada.ca.
Use the official program instructions for your case. IRCC has announced Express Entry changes for November 3, 2026. Those changes are future rules as of this source check.
Eligibility
Specific eligibility criteria vary by pathway. Visit individual program pages for exact requirements, point thresholds, and language score minimums.
Detailed Guides
A points-based federal immigration system for skilled workers using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Includes Federal Skilled Worker,...
Allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who meet their specific economic and labour market needs. Applicants must...
An employer-driven program helping skilled workers and international graduates settle in Canada's Atlantic provinces of New Brunswick, Nova...
An employer-led pathway launched in 2025 to help rural communities outside Quebec address labour shortages. Applicants must have a qualifyin...
An employer-led pathway for skilled foreign workers to settle permanently in francophone communities outside Quebec. Candidates must demonst...
Compare Pathways
No single PR pathway suits every applicant. This comparison covers the key differences across processing time, fees, job offer requirements, and eligibility — so you can identify which route best matches your profile before diving into individual program guides.
| Criteria | Express Entry | PNP (EE-aligned) | PNP (Non-EE) | Atlantic IP | Rural Pilot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicant profile | Eligible FSW, CEC or FST candidates ranked in the pool | Provincial nominees also eligible for an Express Entry program | Applicants who meet a provincial nomination stream | Designated-employer offer in an Atlantic province | Designated-employer offer and community recommendation |
| Processing time | Check current IRCC tool | Provincial stage plus federal application | Provincial stage plus federal application | Endorsement plus federal application | Community stage plus federal application |
| Federal adult PR fee | CAD 1,590 | CAD 1,590; provincial fee separate | CAD 1,590; provincial fee separate | CAD 1,590 | CAD 1,590 |
| Job offer required | FSW/CEC: not mandatory; FST: qualifying offer or trade certificate | Depends on stream | Depends on stream | Yes, from a designated employer | Yes, from a designated employer |
| Settlement destination | Intend to live outside Quebec | Intend to settle in nominating province or territory | Intend to settle in nominating province or territory | One of the four Atlantic provinces | Participating community |
| Language minimum | FSW: 7; CEC: 7 or 5 by TEER; FST: 5 speaking/listening, 4 reading/writing (CLB/NCLC) | Both federal program and provincial stream rules | Varies by stream | CLB/NCLC 5 for TEER 0–3; 4 for TEER 4 | CLB/NCLC 6 for TEER 0/1; 5 for TEER 2/3; 4 for TEER 4/5 |
| Education requirement | FSW: secondary or assessed equivalent; CEC/FST: no minimum | Federal program and provincial stream rules | Varies by stream | TEER 0/1: one-year post-secondary; TEER 2–4: secondary; foreign equivalent needs ECA | Secondary or higher; ECA for foreign equivalent |
| Work experience | FSW/CEC: one qualifying year; FST: two; look-back rules differ | Federal program and provincial stream rules | Varies by stream | 1,560 qualifying hours in five years; eligible Atlantic graduates exempt | 1,560 related hours in three years; eligible community graduates exempt |
| Selection process | Meet program rules and receive an invitation from the pool | Nomination plus Express Entry invitation | Provincial nomination then federal PR application | Provincial endorsement then federal PR application | Community recommendation then federal PR application |
Sources checked October 18, 2026. Adult federal fees include CAD 990 processing and CAD 600 RPRF. Biometrics, provincial charges and third-party costs are separate. Check each program for all conditions and current intake. Express Entry changes announced for November 3, 2026 are future rules.
Find Your Pathway
Canada offers multiple permanent residence pathways because different applicants have different strengths. Use your profile below to identify which program best matches your background — then visit the individual pathway page for detailed eligibility and steps.
You may meet FSW requirements with one continuous qualifying year in the past ten, CLB/NCLC 7 in each ability and at least secondary education or its assessed equivalent.
Route to check: Check FSW selection factors and the 67-point minimum, then Express Entry ranking and invitation requirements. Meeting the minimum does not guarantee an invitation.
Express Entry →You have at least one qualifying year of authorized skilled Canadian work in the last three years and meet CEC language and other rules.
Route to check: Check CEC. Work while a full-time student and self-employment generally do not count, with a specific physician exception. Draw scores and processing times vary.
Express Entry →You are an electrician, plumber, carpenter, welder, or work in another skilled trade with a job offer or certificate of qualification in Canada.
Route to check: Check FST. It requires two qualifying years in five, a qualifying offer or certificate, CLB/NCLC 5 in speaking/listening and 4 in reading/writing. There is no education minimum.
Express Entry →You have an employer offer in a specific province, or the province has an in-demand occupation matching your skills.
Route to check: Check the province's current stream and intake. Express Entry nomination and non-Express Entry nomination use different federal application processes.
PNP →You have strong French results from TEF Canada or TCF Canada. The French-language Express Entry category requires NCLC 7 in all four abilities.
Route to check: Check Express Entry program and category eligibility. FCIP is a separate route requiring a designated-employer offer, community recommendation and its own French and other requirements.
Express Entry →You have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a designated employer in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI, or Newfoundland and Labrador.
Route to check: Check AIP education, work experience or graduate exemption, language, funds and settlement-plan requirements. Provincial endorsement is needed before the PR application.
Atlantic IP →You have a job offer from an employer in a designated rural or small Canadian community outside major urban centres.
Route to check: Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). Designed specifically for workers who will settle and contribute to smaller communities.
Rural Pilot →Pathway recommendations are general guidance only. Eligibility depends on your specific work experience, language scores, education, and other factors. Visit individual pathway pages or consult a Registered Immigration Consultant (RCIC) for advice specific to your profile.
Fees & Costs
Government fees are standardised across most economic PR pathways — the principal applicant pays CAD 1,590 after the April 30, 2026 IRCC increase. The total cost of your application depends on your family size, third-party service fees, and provincial fees if you apply through a PNP.
Payable to IRCC — same across Express Entry, AIP, and most pilot programs
| Fee item | Note | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Economic PR principal applicant | CAD 990 processing plus CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee | CAD 1,590 |
| Accompanying spouse or partner | CAD 990 processing plus CAD 600 RPRF | CAD 1,590 |
| Dependent child | Must meet the dependent-child definition; no RPRF | CAD 270 |
| Biometrics per person, if payable | CAD 170 maximum for eligible family members applying together | CAD 85 |
| Provincial nomination | Separate provincial charge; check the specific stream | Varies |
Paid to external service providers — required by most applicants
| Fee item | Note | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Medical examination | Ask an approved panel physician for the local fee and any additional test costs | Provider quote |
| Accepted language test | Use the required test version; provider, location and repeat attempts affect cost | Provider quote |
| Educational Credential Assessment | Where required, use the designated organization for your credential or profession | Provider quote |
| Police certificates | Use the country instructions and the applicable program checklist | Varies |
| Translation and certification | Follow IRCC instructions for documents outside English or French | Varies |
Economic PR processing and RPRF subtotals only
| Scenario | Note | Federal Subtotal |
|---|---|---|
| One adult | Processing plus RPRF only; add biometrics if payable | CAD 1,590 |
| Two adults | Two adult processing fees and RPRFs; other costs separate | CAD 3,180 |
| Two adults and one dependent child | Two adult fees plus CAD 270 for the child; other costs separate | CAD 3,450 |
| Settlement funds | Accessible funds are not an IRCC application fee; amount and exemptions depend on the route | Separate requirement |
Sources checked October 18, 2026. These examples exclude biometrics, provincial charges, third-party services, travel and settlement funds. Verify fees at canada.ca. Ask any paid representative for a separate written quote.
Processing Times
Processing times depend on the program and application. Check IRCC's current tool for the exact route. Selection, nomination and endorsement can add time before federal processing starts.
Pool waiting time and the federal PR application are separate. An eligible profile does not guarantee an invitation.
Allow for provincial nomination and the Express Entry invitation before the federal PR application.
Designated-employer offer, settlement plan and provincial endorsement precede the federal PR application.
Designated-employer offer and community recommendation precede the federal PR application.
Provincial nomination and federal processing are separate. Check the correct non-Express Entry category.
Processing times are estimates and subject to change based on application volume and IRCC capacity. No fixed completion time is promised here. Sources checked October 18, 2026. Check current times at canada.ca.
Latest Data
Total new permanent residents targeted by year
| Year | Target | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 380,000 | 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan target |
| 2027 | 380,000 | 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan target |
| 2028 | 380,000 | 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan target |
Planned admissions in the 2026–2028 Levels Plan; not the number of invitations or available application places.
Planned permanent resident admissions through the Provincial Nominee Program in 2026.
Planned AIP admissions in 2026, including principal applicants and their accompanying family members.
Target share of permanent resident admissions outside Quebec. The plan lists 9.5% for 2027 and 10.5% for 2028.
Immigration levels plan targets are set annually by the Government of Canada and subject to revision. These are planning targets and can change. Sources checked October 18, 2026. Verify the current plan at canada.ca.
Requirements
Documents
Application Process
Compare the exact program requirements, settlement destination and current intake. Eligibility alone does not guarantee selection or PR.
Use the test version your program accepts. Express Entry accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Results must remain valid for the profile and application.
Use an IRCC-designated organization if your route requires an assessment of foreign education or you claim points for it. Check that organization's current documents, price and timing.
Gather work and family records, and settlement-fund evidence where required. Obtain the nomination, designated-employer offer, endorsement or community recommendation your route needs.
For Express Entry, an eligible profile enters the pool and you need an invitation before applying for PR. After invitation, complete the upfront medical exam before the PR application unless eligible for reuse. Other routes use their own instructions.
Use the required application portal, upload the personalized checklist and pay applicable fees. Provide police certificates as instructed. If IRCC requests biometrics, follow the instruction letter.
Respond to requests and keep your information current. Processing times vary. If approved, follow IRCC's instructions to confirm permanent residence in Canada or to travel and complete the landing process.
The PR residency obligation generally requires 730 days in each five-year period; some time abroad can count. Adult citizenship generally requires 1,095 days of qualifying physical presence in five years plus other conditions. Citizenship is not automatic.
Understanding the Canada PR Visa requirements is essential to avoid delays or rejections. Each pathway has specific conditions, eligibility factors, and documentation requirements. Review these carefully before applying.
Review every requirement for your chosen pathway before applying. This improves your chances of a successful application. For details on eligibility, fees, processing time, and documents, explore the individual program guides below.
For detailed insights on eligibility, document checklist, visa validity, and common refusal reasons, explore PR Visa FAQs guide to know the answers of all your questions.
Related Resources
Check your eligibility and explore the best PR pathway for your profile. Start your Canada permanent residency journey today.