A Canada permanent resident is as important as an ordinary citizen in Canada, as he is open to privileges, chances, opportunities and exercising his right in the country. The country offers more benefits to every foreign individual who is now a Canada permanent resident which includes quality healthcare services, standard education, job opportunities, highly paid salaries and an enabling environment. To enjoy all these benefits and advantages, you must apply for the Canada residency visa, fulfil all the basic requirements and eligibility criteria and successfully be granted a Canada permanent residency card. We have gathered enough information and details to help you apply for the visa and scale through till the end of the application procedures.
The Overview of Canada Permanent residency Visa
Canada permanent residency visa card is a type of document given to applicants who have applied through various immigration programs like express entry, which allows them to stay in the country for at least a period of five years. A Permanent resident card gives you all the rights as a Canadian citizen except that you can not vote or to be voted for. Another amazing thing about Canada’s permanent resident card is that you can work, study, live and travel anywhere around the country with no limited access.
List of Pathways to a Canada Permanent Residency Visa
There are many routes that can lead to a Canada permanent resident visa which are the various immigration programs. Below are the main immigration programs to get a Canada permanent resident visa:
1. Express Entry System
An express entry system is one of the common and most-sought after programs by Canada permanent resident applicants. The program is basically for skilled workers and traders who have years of experience in their field. Express entry system has three main programs which include:
- The Federal skilled worker program (FSWP): This is for individuals who are very much skilled and have some special abilities which make them the best in their field.
- The Federal skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This is for tradespeople who have better trading skills, knowledge and funds to start a trade in the country.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): This is basically for workers who have Canadian working experience and are looking forward to becoming a permanent resident.
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2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): Each province Canada is given the authority to nominate potential applicants for a Canada permanent resident visa according to their labour needs. Examples of provincial nominee programs are: Ontario PNP, Alberta PNP, Manitoba PNP, New Brunswick PNP, Nova scotia PNP, Prince Edward Island PNP, British columbia PNP, etc.
3. Family Sponsorship Program: This is majorly for the close family relatives, dependent children and spouse of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is ready to sponsor his family members or spouse into Canada .
Canada Permanent Residency Visa Requirements
Not considering any of the immigration programs you may have applied for, there are some important permanent residency requirements you have to meet up with before you can get a Canada permanent visa. These include:
- Age: There is really no age limit for Canada permanent residency card but you might have to be above 18 years to work but other visas do not have an age limit.
- Academic qualifications: You must have at least a high school diploma certificate or any post secondary school certificate. Any of these degree certificates is enough to progress with your application.
- Working Experience: You must have a long working experience in the specific field or occupation you are applying for.
- Language Proficiency Test: You must be able to speak, listen and write any of the Canada official languages which is either French or English. You may have to show a language test result like an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TEF(Test d’évaluation de français) for French.
- Medical exam: You must pass the medical exam to show that you are medically fit and possess no medical threat or condition.
- Criminal record: Having a zero criminal record or being convicted of any judicial matters is better and will increase your points in the ranking system.
- Proof financial capability: In any of the immigration programs, it will be required of the applicants to have enough funds to take care of themselves and family relatives.
- The comprehensive ranking system (CRS): For Immigration programs like the express entry system, the applicants are screened and scored through CRS based on the following: age, education degree, working experience, language proficiency exam, job offer, etc. If you score higher with the CRS, you are more likely to get an ITA (Invitation To Apply) for permanent residency visa.
- A valid Job offer: Having a job offer from a Canada employer will increase your chance of success in the application process.
- A valid ID passport: It is not important to possess a valid ID passport of your home country if you are an immigrant. But it will increase your points in the CRS if you apply for an express entry program.
How to Apply For Canada Permanent Residency
How to apply For a Canada Permanent Residency
To apply for a Canada permanent residency visa, there are some basic steps you have to follow and these include:
Step 1: Check Your Eligibility
For any of the immigration programs you are choosing to apply for, it is highly important that you know all the basic criteria and requirements of the program. For example, an express entry program will require you to have at least a three to five years working experience, extraordinary skills in any trade or profession, academic certificates, medical exam results etc. You can also consult available travel consultants online like the MDC.
Step 2: Get all the Required Documents
You must get all the documents requested which include:
- Academic certificates
- A valid ID passport
- Language proficiency exam result/certificate
- Working experience
- Medical exam result
- Police clearance certificate
- Proof funds like the bank statements, etc.
Step 3: Creating an Express entry profile or applying for Provincial nominee program
It has been explained in this piece that there are many routes to get a Canada permanent resident card which include the express entry program or the provincial nominee program. You have to create an express entry profile online which means signing in on the IRCC portal and creating your express profile, entering your details like personal info, academic history, etc.
Step 4: Getting an ITA (Invitation To Apply)
When you are sent a notification to apply for any of the immigration programs to get a permanent resident card. It is better that you start your application immediately to avoid delays or late feedback. Even though you have only 60 days to complete and submit your application along with all the requested documents.
Step 6: The processing time
The processing time for application to be rejected or approved depends on early submission, avoidance of errors during application, etc. The processing time for these immigration programs vary but it is usually within the period of 6 months – 12 months
Step 7: Permanent Residency Approval
Your application will be approved when you fulfill the necessities and strictly follow all the submission rules and submit a perfect application. It is now up to you to prepare for your flight and landings.
How to Apply For Canada Permanent Residency
Conclusion
It is a bigger opportunity and chance for you when you get a Canada permanent resident card which allows you to enjoy the same privileges and rights as a Canadian citizen. There are many benefits to enjoy from this opportunity which are big job opportunities, health insurance, good welfare, etc. Even though the application process may seem to have a lot of steps and requirements, it is all just a step away from achieving your dream – start now.
Frequently Asked Questions About Canada Permanent Residency Visa Card
1. Is it possible for me to apply for the visa without having a Job offer?
Yes, it is very much possible that you can apply for the Canada residency visa without a job offer from a Canada employer but having a job offer will increase your points in the CRS (comprehensive ranking system) to have a better chance of getting selected.
2. How long does it take to get a Canada Residency Permanent visa?
To get a Canadian permanent resident visa is not the hardest thing sometimes, but the amount of time it takes to process the whole thing and it depends majorly on the type of immigration program you signed up for. But on average it takes around 6 to 12 months to process a Canadian permanent residency.
3. What is the minimum score I can have for my language proficiency test?
A Canada permanent residency visa and other programs require you to have at least CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark) in either the French or English language.
4. What are the costs involved in a permanent residency application?
The expenses involved in a permanent residency application depends on the type of immigration programs and the family members involved in the application. But you should prepare around $1,325 for processing fee, $500 for the rights of permanent resident and $85 for biometric fee all on the average.
5. If I have a criminal record or being convicted of any crime, Can I still apply for the Permanent residency visa?
Your application will be rejected if you have a criminal record. You may have to get a police clearance certificate from your local country which shows you have no criminal record.