Are you planning on immigrating to Canada or applying for a permanent residency card? Then, this guide can be your bible to reside in the maple country! Canada ranks amongst the top countries worldwide for providing top quality of life. Without a doubt, if you want to live in a country known for its security and safety, seek top-notch education, enhance your career, or prefer to live somewhere exceptional, Canada is the place for you.
In addition to the aforementioned factors, one of the most significant ones is that Canada needs immigrants. As a result, they have over 100 visa and immigration programmes, including the Permanent Residency Card, that help foreigners immigrate to Canada and allow them to create a better life for themselves.
Now, the question is – How do you get a Green Card in Canada?
Let the article be your guide on how to apply for permanent residency in Canada. It will cover details such as eligibility, documents needed and more.
What is Canada Permanent Residence Card/ Green Card?
In the United States, “Green Card” refers to document status and is a commonly used term. This document qualifies a person or foreign national to live, study, work, and reside permanently in the United States. The Green Card in Canada, also known as the Canada Permanent Residency Card, is available in Canada and is a commonly used term. Don’t get deceived when “Canada Permanent residency card” is referred to as “Green cards” instead.
Canada Permanent Residence Card (PR) is official proof of your status as a permanent resident in Canada. Without this card, you are not permitted in the country and have no access to any of the social benefits.
Here are the three reasons why you need a Canada Permanent Residence (PR) Card –
- If you are a permanent resident of Canada (including children)
- If you wish to travel outside of Canada
- If you plan to travel back to Canada via commercial transportation, including a bus, train, boat, or aeroplane
Benefits of Canada Permanent Residence Card
The PR card holds numerous benefits once you have procured the Canada PR. These include –
- Social security and medical facilities
- You are entitled to study, work, and reside anywhere in Canada. It is equivalent to receiving the same benefits as a Canadian citizen.
- There is no international fee associated with any of your activities, unlike temporary immigrants on either a student visa or a work visa. For instance, international students temporarily residing in Canada and enrol in academic programmes must pay an international fee.
- After 5 years of holding a Canada Permanent Residence Card, one can apply for Canadian citizenship.
- Additionally, the PR Card will offer protection by Canadian law.
However, keep in mind that as a permanent resident, you are required to respect Canadian law and rights and pay taxes accordingly.
How to Apply for Your Permanent Residency Card in Canada?
Are you ready to apply for your Canada PR? Here are a few steps for your Canada PR card application that needs to be submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Step 1 – Are You Eligible to apply for PR?
If you are applying for Canada PR via the Express Entry Program, a few criteria need to be considered. These criteria will give you points that will provide you with the total score needed, which is 67 points, to apply for a Permanent Residency in Canada. They are as follows –
- Age
- Education Qualifications
- Work Experience
- Language Proficiency
- Proof of Funds and Adaptability
- Employment offered in Canada
The following table gives you a brief on how many points you can get as per the different criteria to apply for PR Card Canada.
| Category | Maximum Points Allotted as per the Category |
| Age | 12 |
| Education Qualification | 25 |
| Work Experience | 15 |
| Language Proficiency | 28 |
| Adaptability | 10 |
| Full-time Employment offered in Canada | 10 |
Age (18 – 49 years)
At the time of PR card application, the candidate must be at least 18 years old and not older than 49. However, applicants between the ages of 25 and 35 are given a high priority and first preference.
Education Qualifications
The applicant must hold a Canadian degree or one of a comparable equivalency. The course must come from a recognized and reputable university or other organization with a Canadian equivalent. Depending on the National Occupational Classification Code, you might also meet the qualifications needed for specialization (NOC).
A high school diploma is the minimum education qualification required. The education credentials are evaluated by the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
Work Experience
PR candidates must have a minimum of 12 months of full-time job experience. Few professions require specific education or a licence to apply for a PR Card in Canada. The more work experience you have on your plate, the more points you will receive on your PR card application.
Language Proficiency
Candidates must speak English, French, or both languages with an acceptable level of proficiency. Before submitting the PR card application, candidates must first demonstrate this by including test results from the following language testing agencies on their Express Entry profile:
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)
Proof of Funds
Before issuing a PR visa, the immigration department assesses your financial situation. This is to determine your capacity to pay for your living expenses in Canada for one year following your arrival. Hence, carefully plan your savings for a Canada PR card. If you want to apply for Canada Permanent Residency Card in 2022, you should have at least CAD 13,310.
Full-time Employment Offer
You will receive 10 points if you already have a job offer from Canada or are employed (full-time and permanently) in an occupation that is classified as Skill Type 0, Skill Level A, or Skill Level B on the Canadian National Occupational Classification list.
Step 2 – Documents Needed for PR Card Application
Numerous documents must be submitted to immigrate to Canada. You must keep all your documents in place, in case your PR card application gets through the Express Entry portal. Here is a list of the documents required before applying for a PR visa to become a permanent resident of Canada –
- Valid Passport
- Identity Proof Cards issued by the Government
- Proof of Funds – Bank Statement
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Originals and photocopies of all necessary documents such as Education certificates
- Language Test results (ideally IELTS score is preferred)
- Job offer letter from a Canadian company (if any)
- Sponsorship Letter
- Personal Identification Letter such as birth certificate
Step 3 – Check your Eligibility for Canada PR Visa
Before you apply for Permanent Residency in Canada, you must identify which programs you are eligible for. The country offers a variety of immigration programs of 3 categories – Economic, Family class, Refugee and Humanitarian. Some of the programs are based on points while others are not. Few of the programs could require a sponsor and some might not.
To know the right program for you, you must visit canada.ca for all the information on the PR visa programs.
There are 4 steps to do to apply for Permanent Residency in Canada –
- You must determine whether your employment fits within NOC 0, A, B, or D to be eligible for a Canada PR Card through the Express Entry Program.
- Your educational credentials will help you determine which category to apply for.
- You need to be proficient in English, French or both languages as per the IELTS test.
- You can determine your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on all the factors given in the article above.
Step 4 – Submit Your PR Card Application/Profile
After you have deciphered the suitable program and calculated your CRS score, you need to create a profile on the Express Entry portal. To create a profile, you must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) along with the following data in order –
- Personal Reference Code
- Marital status
- Number of Dependent Family Members
- ID Document Data
- Funds Amount
- Education Qualification History
- Language Proficiency Test Results
- Work History
- Passport Details
- Choice of Province
- Details of Valid Employment Offer (if applicable)
Once you fill in all the required details on your PR Card application, submit your profile on the Express Entry portal and wait for an invitation to apply (ITA) mailer, requesting you to apply for the PR Card Canada.
Step 5 – Final Application for Canada PR Visa
The applicant has to wait until the Express Entry Pool draw, which happens regularly. Candidates who are ranked higher than a particular threshold receive an invitation to apply for PR in Canada.
Once you receive the ITA, you will have 60 days to complete the application and any further paperwork. You must go through the document checklist given by the IRCC for the PR Card application. The following documents are required to upload on the portal. They are –
- Passport
- Employment Offer Letter
- Police background checks
- Bank statement for Proof of funds
- Language test results (IELTS)
- Medical assessment
- Invitation to apply letter
You will be prompted to share your passport after submitting the final PR Card application and will receive a confirmation receipt of the document. The applications will take 6 months or more to process for approval. Once the PR card application is accepted, you will receive approval.
Moving to the Maple Country
With better work opportunities and an exceptional quality of life, Canada is the perfect fit for a better life. Applying for a permanent residency in Canada has been made easy and is inviting millions of people from across the globe. Get your documents right, and check your eligibility, and the CRS score to apply for a PR visa.
It is important to understand the rules and regulations of the country you are applying, to make sure it is the right place to start afresh. Canada is offering a permanent residency card with open arms, even though it might take heaps of time to process the PR card applications but once it’s through, they welcome you with open arms.
You May Also Read
| Guide to Apply for Canada’s PR Visa | Process to Renew PR Card in Canada |
| TR to PR Pathway in Canada | Property Buying for Non-Residents |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
You can apply for Canadian citizenship if - You hold a PR Card of Canada and During the five years before the submission of your PR application, you need to be physically in Canada for a minimum of 1,095 days.
No, it is not an essential criterion. The Express Entry System and Provincial Nominee Program allow you to apply for Canada PR without a job offer. You can receive extra points on your CRS score if you have a full-time employment offer.
The minimum score for a Canada PR visa is 67 points.
To apply for citizenship after 3 years you must be physically present in the country for 1,095 days during the 5 years before your application date.
According to the 2021 “Best Countries in the World” US News report, Canada is ranked #1 as the country that offers top quality of life with medical and social facilities amongst other services. When can you apply for Canadian Citizenship?
Having a Canadian job offer an essential requirement for a Canada PR visa?
What is the minimum score for a Canada PR visa?
Can you apply for Canadian citizenship after 3 years?
Is Canada a good place to immigrate?
