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Canada Permanent Residency

Everything you need to know about becoming a permanent resident of Canada — from eligibility and Express Entry to pathways, processing times, and life after PR.

Last updated · Official sources

Processing Time

Varies by program; check IRCC

Visa Fee

CAD 1,590 per adult for Express Entry, including RPRF

Validity

PR status and PR card expiry are separate

Overview

Why Canada?
Understand your permanent residence options.

Canadian permanent residence lets approved applicants live, work and study in Canada. Eligibility, fees and application steps depend on the immigration program. PR status is separate from the PR card. An expired card does not by itself end PR status, but permanent residents must meet their residency obligations.

This guide covers everything you need to know: eligibility requirements, the Express Entry system, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), required documents, costs, processing times, and the step-by-step application process to make Canada your permanent home.

Universal Healthcare

Eligible permanent residents can apply for provincial or territorial health coverage. Covered services and registration rules vary.

Work & Live Anywhere

Live, work, and study anywhere in Canada with full mobility rights across all provinces and territories.

Path to Citizenship

Adults generally need 1,095 days of physical presence in the five years before applying, plus the other citizenship requirements. Citizenship is not automatic.

Social Benefits

Permanent residents can access many social benefits, subject to each program's residence, income, contribution and other eligibility rules.

Sponsor Family Members

Apply to sponsor eligible relatives when you meet the relevant sponsorship rules and the category accepts applications.

Quality of Life

Compare housing, employment, education and healthcare arrangements in the province where you intend to settle.

Detailed Guides

Explore by type.
Find your perfect pathway.

Express Entry

An application management system for the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs.

Check current IRCC guidance
CAD 1,590 including RPRF
Read guide

Provincial Nominee Program

Get nominated by a Canadian province or territory based on their specific economic and labour market needs.

Check current IRCC guidance
CAD 1,590 including RPRF
Read guide

Canadian Experience Class

For applicants with qualifying paid Canadian work experience. Work gained while studying full-time does not count toward CEC eligibility.

Check current IRCC guidance
CAD 1,590 including RPRF
Read guide

Family Sponsorship

Eligible sponsors can apply for qualifying relatives, subject to category requirements and intake restrictions.

Check current IRCC guidance
Varies by sponsorship category
Read guide

Atlantic Immigration Program

An employer-driven program helping skilled workers and international graduates settle in Canada’s Atlantic provinces.

Check current IRCC guidance
CAD 1,590 including RPRF
Read guide

Start-Up Visa

Paused for new applications since June 30, 2026. IRCC continues to process accepted applications.

Check current IRCC guidance
Intake paused
Read guide

Application Process

Express Entry application steps

01

Check Your Eligibility

Determine which immigration program you qualify for based on your work experience, education, language skills, and other factors.

02

Take Language Tests

For Express Entry, use IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada. Meet the minimum scores for your program.

03

Get ECA (If Applicable)

Have your foreign credentials assessed by designated organizations like WES, ICAS, or IQAS to verify Canadian equivalency.

04

Create Express Entry Profile

Submit your profile to the Express Entry pool. You’ll receive a CRS score based on age, education, work experience, and language ability.

05

Receive Invitation to Apply

Wait for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in regular draws. You have 60 days to submit your complete application after receiving an ITA.

06

Submit Complete Application

Upload all required documents including police certificates, medical exams, proof of funds, and pay the application fees within the 60-day deadline.

FAQ

Common questions.
Clear answers.

Permanent residence is a status that allows you to live, work and study in Canada, subject to residency and other legal obligations. PR card expiry does not itself end PR status. Healthcare, social benefits and citizenship each have separate eligibility requirements.

For Express Entry and the listed economic immigration programs, the adult fee is CAD 1,590, comprising CAD 990 processing and CAD 600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee. An accompanying dependent child costs CAD 270. Biometrics, tests, medical exams and other costs can be additional. Family sponsorship and business programs have different fee schedules.

Processing depends on the program and the application. Check the current IRCC processing-time tool for your category. Express Entry pool waiting time, provincial nomination and document preparation are separate from federal application processing. An estimate does not guarantee a decision date.

Express Entry manages the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs. Eligible candidates enter a pool with a CRS score. Invitations depend on the round type, eligibility, ranking and any tie-breaking rule. Entering the pool does not guarantee an invitation.

There is no single minimum CRS score that guarantees an invitation. Check the published results for each round. An accepted nomination through an Express Entry provincial stream adds 600 CRS points; meeting a provincial stream's requirements is a separate step.

You can create an Express Entry profile from India if you meet the relevant program requirements. CEC requires qualifying previous Canadian work experience but does not require you to be living in Canada when you apply. Start-Up Visa is currently paused for new applications.

Under the current IRCC Express Entry table, dated July 7, 2025 and checked October 17, 2026, the minimum is CAD 15,263 for one family member and CAD 28,362 for four. FSW and FSTP applicants generally need funds. CEC applicants are exempt; FSW and FSTP applicants are also exempt if both authorized to work in Canada and holding a valid job offer. Include the required family members even if they are not accompanying you. Funds must be legally accessible and cannot be borrowed; use the official bank-letter requirements.

Language, education, work experience, spouse factors and provincial nomination can affect CRS points. IRCC has announced new Canadian work-experience and qualifying job-offer scoring rules for November 3, 2026. These are future changes as of October 17, 2026. Use the official CRS guidance for your application date.

Use the checklist for your immigration program and circumstances. Express Entry may require a passport, approved language results, education evidence or an ECA, work records, police certificates, medical evidence and proof of funds where applicable. The official checklist determines the documents required for each family member.

You may include an eligible spouse or common-law partner and dependent children. A dependent child is generally under 22 and has no spouse or common-law partner; limited exceptions apply at age 22 or older. Each family member must meet the applicable requirements. Approval is not automatic.

Official IRCC sources used for this permanent residence guide

Last updated

Immigration rules and processing times change often. Use these official pages as the final authority before paying fees or submitting documents.

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