Why apply for a Canada PR?

If you are an overseas skilled worker, you must opt for the FSW (Federal Skilled Worker) stream to apply for a Canada PR visa. You must score a minimum of 67 points for the FSW stream.

This is based on your proficiency in the English/French language, education, work experience, and age while creating a profile. You will enter the Canada Express Entry pool of candidates if selected.

The minimum IELTS bands needed to apply for a Canada PR visa is as follows:

• Express Entry: 6 bands in each module (Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening)
• PNP: 6 bands in each module (Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening)
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (Occupation In-Demand Stream):5 bands in each module (Speaking, Reading, Writing, and Listening)
• Quebec: CLB 5 (Writing – 5 bands, Speaking – 5 bands, Listening – 5 bands, Reading – 4 bands)

Under Canada Express Entry, there are 3 economic immigration programs. These pathways are created for skilled foreign workers to get the Canada PR visa.

The IELTS bands required to apply for a Canada PR visa via the 3 economic immigration programs are as follows:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program: At least CLB 7 which corresponds to IELTS bands score of 6 for each module.
• Canada Experience Class: At least 6 bands if the occupation is in NOC A or 0. However, you can apply with a 5 bands score for each module if the occupation is in NOC B skill level.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program: At least CLB 4 which corresponds to IELTS bands score of 4 in each module.

This is a multiple-entry Canadian Visa for the long-term meant for parents and grandparents of a Canada PR visa holder or a Canadian citizen. The PGP Super Visa is a provisional resident permit. It allows parents and grandparents to remain in Canada for a maximum of 2 years per visit. The maximum validity of this visa is 10 years.

Canada permanent residence visa has a validity of 5 years. Canada PR visa holders should be aware of the expiration date of their PR visa. They will have to submit their renewal application 6 months before their Canada PR visa expires.

An open work permit is a permit that isn’t job-specific. Since it is not job-specific, you wouldn’t require the following when you apply for your work permit:

• Evidence that an employer has submitted an employment offer through the employer portal and paid the compliance fee of the employer
• A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada

Most often, it is necessary to pay the open work permit holder fee and the work permit fee.

There is a chance that you may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• Are a student who is no longer able to meet their educational expenses
• Applied for permanent residence in Canada
• Own an employer-specific work permit and are at risk of being abused about your job in Canada
• Are a family member who is dependent on someone who has applied for permanent residence
• Are the common-law partner or a spouse of an international student, or a skilled worker
• An international student who has graduated from a designated learning institution and is eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• Are the common-law partner or a spouse of an applicant under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• Under an ineffective removal order
• A holder of a temporary resident permit
• A young worker who is willing to participate in special programs
• A refugee claimant, protected person, refugee, or family member

To be eligible, it is imperative to meet the additional criteria under each situation.

Some conditions will be specifically mentioned on your work permit, which may include: 

• Type of work  
• Employer, you can work under
• Where you can work, or
• How long you can work

Regulation 185 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations lists the conditions on your work permit. The standard requirements are applied to all the work permit holders without any specific requirements on the work permit, but you are forbidden:

• To work for an employer in a business with reasonable grounds to suspect a risk of sexual exploitation of some workers from massage parlors, escort agencies, and more.
• Leave Canada until the authorized stay ends.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that a Canadian employer may require before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will display that a foreign worker does not have to occupy the job. It will also show if the permanent residence or Canadian worker is available to take up the job. It is also known as a confirmation letter.

If the employer requires an LMIA, they need to apply for one. Once an employer obtains the LMIA, the worker is eligible for a work permit.

To apply for a work permit, a worker requires:

• Contract
• Job offer letter
• Copy of the LMIA, and
• LMIA number

It ultimately depends on the immigration status of your spouse. If your common-law partner and spouse are permanent residents, they are eligible to work in Canada.

If your spouse is living in Canada on a temporary resident (visitor) visa, they must apply for a work permit to be able to work.

Your common-law partner or spouse can apply for a work permit from within Canada if:

• They have applied for permanent residence under the Common-law Partner or Spouse in Canada; or
• They possess a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more
• They are permitted to apply for a work permit supported by a Labour market Impact Assessment (LMIA) – permission from the Employment and Social Development Canada, an employer required to hire a foreign worker; or
• Having the eligibility to apply for a work permit based on an exception from the LMIA process

Yes you can extend the work permit in Canada if you want to change or if it is about to expire. But you must apply to change the conditions or extend it. You have apply for extension at least 30 days before your work permit expires.

Application status:

You are legally permitted to stay in Canada during your application process if you have applied for an extension or change of conditions.

Time and date the application is received

It is necessary to submit your work permit extension application before it expires. The time and date of the application can be determined in two ways:

1. Applying through an online portal
2. Submitting a paper application

Check the expiry date on your passport

Your work permit cannot be extended beyond the expiry date of your passport. You must ensure that it won’t expire before the end date of your permit.

The application processing times may differ based on your application type. All the necessary information on the application processing times submitted from within and out of Canada is available for the applicants who frequently update their application. So, it is essential to check it on  regular basis.

There are multiple resources you can make use of to get help with your job search in Canada, including:

• Immigrant-serving organizations offering services like:

• Job search training sessions
• Resume writing workshops, and
• Other benefits to help you find work

• Job Bank provides free occupational and career information about working in Canada, such as:

• Jobs
• Wages
• Employment trends
• Educational requirements
• Main duties
• Service Canada has integral details on searching and applying for jobs
• The province or territory website is made available for newcomers

Canada is a home country to millions of people and is one of the favorite destinations for many professionals to settle and work. It has provided permanent residency to skilled workers even though Canada has over 60 visa programs.

Below are the four visa categories to apply for in 2022:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

Quebec Skilled Worker Visa

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class

To acquire a PR visa, you must complete the application by taking a detailed examination. The eligibility for a Canada PR visa is calculated on the points-based system, and the applicants are evaluated based on age, language, education, and work experience.

Canada offers various immigration programs through which you can apply for permanent residency. Among these, the most popular are:

• Express Entry Program
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Entrepreneur and Investor Visa 
• Work Visa  program

The most exclusive visa category is the Canadian Permanent Residency. It is a five-year multiple entry visa that provides skilled foreign workers an opportunity to settle and work in Canada.

To be eligible for permanent residence, you must:

• Be physically present in Canada
• Not be under an effective removal order
• Not be a Canadian citizen
• Not be convicted of an offense related to the misuse of a PR Card
• Meet the residency requirement and
• Be a permanent resident of Canada

You can get a Canada PR within six months, starting from the date of completing the application process.

The processing fee for Canada PR is 2,340 CAD for the principal applicants.

Yes, it is easy to get a Canada PR. Moreover, Canada is a popular choice among immigrants worldwide due to its support services for immigrants, favorable immigration policies, high-quality life, cosmopolitan cities, etc.

Yes, at least an IELTS score of 6.0 for each test section is mandatory for Canada PR.

Most permanent residency visas in Canada are valid for five years.

Yes, you can get Canada PR even without a job offer. But, you may have to get a job offer if you apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program or the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Yes, an IELTS score of 7 is considered a good score for Canada PR.

Yes, you can apply for a Canada PR after completing a one-year study program there. The country has various options for international funds that help them work and stay in Canada.

Tech and Healthcare jobs are in high demand in Canada offering Canada PRs.

Yes, as Canada combines a multicultural atmosphere, promising opportunities for career building, access to world-class education, and the benefits of a developed economy and social ecosystem. Also, the country is known for being the most welcoming country for immigrants worldwide. In 2022, Canada welcomed 437,180 new immigrants and is planning to get a total of 1.5 million immigrants by 2025.

One needs 67 points or more out of a total score of 100 points to be considered under the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

There is no age limit to apply for a Canada PR. However, you get maximum points under Express Entry if you are 18 to 35 years old.