The Canada Permanent Residency (PR) visa is a popular option with Indian professionals to migrate to Canada. The application for the Canada PR visa is through the points-based immigration programs offered by the Canadian government. The Express Entry program and the Provincial Nominee Program are two popular programs to apply for a permanent residency visa.
Here is information on the eligibility requirements, steps in the application process and the documents required to apply for permanent residence.
Application for Canada PR through Express Entry program:
Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile
As a first step, you will have to create your online Express Entry profile. The profile should include credentials that include age, work experience, education, language skills, etc. Based on these points your profile will be given a score
If you have the required score, you can submit your profile, which gets added with the other profiles in the Express Entry pool.
Step 2: Complete your ECA
If you have done your 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 3: Complete your language ability tests
As the next step in the Express Entry program, you should take the required English language proficiency tests. The recommendation is a score of 6 bands in IELTS. Your test score should be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
You will gain extra points if you know French. To prove your proficiency in French, you can give a French language test like the Test de evaluation de Francians (TEF).
Step 4: Calculate your CRS score
The profiles in the Express Entry pool are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Factors such as age, work experience, adaptability, etc. determine your CRS score. Your profile gets included in the Express Entry pool if you have the required CRS score.
Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool, provided you have the minimum score for the Express Entry draw. After this, you will get an ITA from the Canadian government after which you can start the documentation for your PR visa.
Application through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for PR visa:
If you opt for the PNP to apply for your PR visa, these are the steps:
- You must apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
- You could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa if your profile meets the eligibility criteria.
- You can apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.
The criteria for evaluating the PR application differs in each province but the eligibility requirements are similar to the Express Entry Program.
After you receive your ITA you must submit the required documents.
Canada offers various immigration programs to apply for a PR visa. But the most popular ways to get your visa are the Express Entry System and the Provincial Nominee Program. An immigration consultant will help you understand the nitty-gritty of the PR application process and get your visa on time.