Step by Step Guide to Canada PR Visa in 2022

If you want to apply for permanent residency in Canada in 2022, you will need to understand your options and the steps involved.

Canada has a variety of immigration programs, each with its own set of criteria and requirements. Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP), Startup visa program are some of the most popular immigration programs.

The Express Entry program and the Provincial Nominee Program are the two most popular ways to apply for a Canada PR visa.

Before you apply for an immigration program ensure that you meet the eligibility requirements which is a minimum score of 67 points out of 100.

Applicants score points on factors such as age, language, education and work experience.

Here are the points you can earn for meeting the eligibility requirements based on the following criteria:

• Age: You can score the maximum points if you are between 18-35 years. Those above this age will score lesser points.
• Education: Your minimum educational qualification must be equal to the higher secondary education level in Canada.
• Work experience: To score the minimum points you should have at least one year of work experience. More years of work experience will help you gain more points.
• Language ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS equivalent to CLB 7 to be eligible to apply. Higher scores mean more points.
• Adaptability: You gain ten points on the adaptability factor if your family members or close relatives are living in Canada and will be able to support you when you move in there.
• Arranged employment: A valid job offer from a Canadian employer entitles you for ten points.

Check your eligibility here – Canada Immigration Points Calculator

Here is a step-by-step guide on the application process for PR visa through the Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.

Application for Canada PR through Express Entry program

Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile

You must first create an online Express Entry profile. Details such as age, work experience, education, language skills, and other credentials should be included in the profile.

You can submit your profile if you meet the program’s qualifying conditions. This will be added to the other profiles in the Express Entry pool.

Step 2: Get your ECA done

You should complete an Educational Credentials Assessment, or ECA, if you received your education outside of Canada. This is to demonstrate that your educational credentials are comparable to those granted by the Canadian educational system.

Step 3: Complete your language ability tests

You should take the appropriate English language tests as the next step in the Express Entry program. A score of 6 bands in each section of the IELTS is required. At the time of application, your test score should be less than two years old.

If you know French, you will get bonus points. You can take a French language test, such as the Test de Evaluation de Francians, to demonstrate your ability in the language (TEF). If you have done your e education outside Canada, you should complete an Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA. This is to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to those awarded by the Canadian educational system.

Step 4: Calculate your CRS score

The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score is used to rank the profiles in the Express Entry pool. A CRS score is assigned to applicants based on their profile, and this number will be used to rank them in the Express Entry pool. The following are the assessment fields for the score:

• Skills
• Education
• Language ability
• Work experience
• Other factors

If you have the required CRS score for the Express Entry draw, you can get an invitation to apply for the PR visa.

Getting a job offer from a Canadian employer is one of the best ways to improve your CRS score; depending on your skill level, this can add anywhere from 50 to 200 points to your score.

Obtaining a provincial nomination is another way to boost CRS. PNPs related to Express Entry in some Canadian provinces. A nomination from these provinces will add 600 points to your CRS score.

Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)

If your profile is chosen from the Express Entry pool and you meet the minimum score requirements for the Express Entry draw, you will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) from the Canadian government, allowing you to begin the process for your PR visa.

Application through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) to assist Canada’s provinces and territories in selecting immigration candidates who are willing to settle in a specific province or territory and have the skills and expertise to contribute to the province or territory’s economic development.

Follow these steps if you choose to apply for your PR visa through the PNP:

• You must apply in the province or region in which you wish to reside.
• The province may designate you to apply for a PR visa if your profile meets the requirements.
• You can apply for your PR visa after being nominated by a province.
• The PR application’s qualifying requirements differ by province, although they are comparable to those for the Express Entry Program.
• After receiving your provincial nomination, you can apply for a PR visa in that province.

Every PNP is tailored to the needs of the province’s labor market. To be qualified for the Provincial Nominee Program, you must have the necessary skills, education, work experience, and language ability (PNP).

If the province believes your abilities are a good match for their needs, they’ll issue you a provincial nomination, which will give you 600 of the total 1,200 points you’ll need on your CRS, allowing you to move ahead in the candidate pool.