Your Ultimate Guide to Canada PR: Validity, Cost, Eligibility, How to Apply, Benefits, FAQs – Yuno Learning
Did you know that Canada is one of the most favourite immigration destinations in the world? Every year a huge diaspora of different nationalities immigrate to Canada for different purposes; while some go there on temporary visas to study, work and even tour around, others plan to settle there via the help of what is known as, Permanent Residency in Canada (Canada PR).
Permanent Residency in Canada is a status granted to a person who isn’t originally a citizen of Canada. This status allows them the permanent right to live and/or work in Canada without any restrictions on their duration of stay. In addition to this, the person can also apply for citizenship in Canada after a certain period of time. Permanent Residency is one kind of a fast track to getting Canadian citizenship.
Is there an expiry date on Canada PR?
Permanent Residency in Canada, or Canada PR eligible immigrants are given a PR card. The validity and expiry date of one’s residency is written on the card itself. One must plan ahead of time to apply for renewal of their Canadian PR. Ideally, one should begin renewal processes six months prior to the expiry. It is worth noting that while most PR cards have a validity period of 5 years, in some cases, the validity is only 1 year. Therefore, it is important to be vigilant about the details printed on the PR card.
How much does it cost to apply for the Canada PR?
There are several categories under which one can apply for a Permanent Residency in Canada. Each of these categories have subcategories too. Most of them require payment of a certain amount for application. These can vary anywhere from $825 to $3000 (Canadian Dollars). You can check the fee for your category’s application by visiting the official website of the Government of Canada.
What is the Eligibility Criteria for Canada PR application?
PR is given on the basis of points scored in different criteria pools set by the Government of Canada. These criteria pools include –
Age requirement for PR application
You must be between 21 to 55 years. Once an applicant crosses the threshold, the amount of points given are very minimal.
Do you need to be educated to apply for PR in Canada?
Your education should be a Canadian high school credential or equivalent.
How much work experience is required for PR in Canada?
A minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience is required for minimum points.
Adaptability
This is an additional, non compulsory criteria where spouses or common-law partners willing to migrate with you to Canada add an additional 10 points to your score card.
Does a job offer adds points to your PR application for Canada?
If a Canadian company is offering you employment in the country, this can add an additional 10 points to your score card as well.
How much IELTS score is required to apply for PR?
You should have language ability in English or French on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB). On the other hand, you should have a minimum band score of 6 in IELTS.
If you want to prepare and improve your IELTS score inorder to secure your dream of going to Canada, join one of the many different IELTS courses we provide at Yuno Learning. Take a free demo class today.
How to Apply for Permanent Residency?
Inorder become a permanent resident in Canada, a foreign national must apply to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), formerly known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada, under one of many programs. You can follow the steps given below to apply for Canada PR –
- Sign in to your account.
- Click the link to apply for permanent residence under the specific program.
- Fill out the details properly in the online application form.
- Scan and upload the required documents.
- Pay your Application Fees.
- Submit your completed application.
Benefits of Permanent Residency in Canada
A Permanent Resident holds many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, including the right to live, work (subject to some restrictions), and study in any province or territory of Canada.
- Permanent residents can participate in many of the same social benefits that Canadian citizens receive.
- Permanent residents receive the benefits under the Canada Pension Plan and benefits of the healthcare system.
- Permanent Residents may apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada for a certain amount of time.
- They also have the right to sponsor relatives for permanent residence.
However, since Permanent Residents are not citizens of Canada, they must oblige to certain restrictions, such as –
- They do not have the right to vote, nor can they run for any office at any government level.
- They cannot hold jobs in either the public or private sectors that require a high-level security clearance.
- Permanent residents must use the passport of their current nationality in combination with a permanent resident card for international travel because they cannot be issued Canadian passports.
What are the differences between Canada PR and Canadian citizenship?
A Permanent Resident holds many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen, including the right to live, work (subject to some restrictions), and study in any province or territory of Canada. However, Permanent Residents are not citizens of Canada. A Canadian citizen enjoys extra benefits such as the welfare schemes and they aren’t bound by the restrictions that are placed on Permanent Residence. These restrictions include exclusion of the right to vote, and hold public office at any government level. They cannot hold jobs in either the public or private sectors that require a high-level security clearance. Permanent residents must use the passport of their current nationality in combination with a permanent resident card for international travel because they cannot be issued Canadian passports.
How to immigrate to Canada through Express Entry Program
While most people believe that Express Entry is a program to help immigrate to Canada, in its true essence it is an online system at the IRCC used to manage immigration applications of skilled workers. In the simplest sense, it is the application process specifically designed for skilled workers who want to settle in Canada permanently, and take part in the workforce of the Canadian economy.
This program allows applicants to apply for the Canada Permanent Residency after a certain period of time, and it is one of the most sought after programs when it comes to gaining citizenship in Canada.
How to immigrate to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program
Just like the Express Entry Program, the PNP is also one of the most sought after programs for immigrantion to Canada. This program is based on location as each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and requirements. If an applicant meets the certain requirements, they are eligible to apply.
This program is for workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific province or territory, and want to live in that province. It also acts as a catalyst for those who want to become permanent residents of Canada
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Permanent Residency in Canada
Q. If my permanent residence card expires during an international trip, what to do?
Ans. There is no working around this problem. One must be vigilant about their PR card expiry date and make renewal requests accordingly, as entry into Canada will not be allowed on an expired PR card.
Q. What is the processing time for Canada PR? Can one get a Canada PR in 8 to 10 months?
Ans. The processing time varies depending on the category under which you apply for the Canada PR. Therefore, it is advised that you frequently check your application status.
Q. How do I make changes to my PR application after submission?
Ans. You can use the Web form provided by IRCC, when you need to report important changes about your application, such as changes in address, telephone number, email or other contact information, births or deaths in your family, marriages or divorces, adoptions, changes to your job or job offer, a new educational credential, and updated language test results.
Q. How to apply for Canada PR without birth certificate?
Ans. You can ask your school to provide it to you if it was misplaced during admissions. On the other hand, those who don’t have a certificate at all, can visit their nearby Municipal Corporation, or Suvidha Kendra to apply for a new certificate. While that gets processed, you can send a handwritten letter to the IRCC, with an attested copy of proof of application. This is applicable to those candidates whose application date is before the date of arrival of their birth certificate.
Q. How can one apply for a Canada PR from India? What are the requirements?
Ans. The process to apply for a Canada PR from India is the same as the general application. The details are given above.
Q. Can I apply for Canada PR without my spouse?
Ans. Yes. That is possible. However, the score may vary depending on the kind of factors that one’s spouse can add to their application. In some cases, when the spouse’s details are included, the score drastically increases especially if the spouse has any relation in Canada. In other cases, the score may decrease by 20-30 points.
Q. Can I apply for a Canada PR visa with IELTS score Listening – 7.5, Reading – 8.5, Writing – 7.5, Speaking 8.0, and overall score of 8.0?
Ans. Yes. Infact, that is a very good score for a Canada PR application. Applicants must have a minimum score of 6 to apply.
Q. Which test is better for Canada PR, IELTS or PTE?
Ans. PTE scores are not accepted for Canada PR applications. The exams accepted for Canadian immigration are IELTS General Training, CELPIP or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program.
PTE is only accepted for Canadian Student Visa.
Q. How do I get a police clearance certificate in order to apply for Canada PR?
Ans. In regards to India, applicants can follow the given procedure-
- Login to Passport Seva Portal
- On the left hand side of the page there will be a link to apply for a Police Clearance Certificate(PCC). Fill in all the details as per your passport. Save as you fill in. Once you submit the application, you can see it in view saved applications.
- You now have to make a payment of INR 500 per application.
- Next, you will need to schedule an appointment with the available dates and venue.
- Take the printout of appointment confirmation.
- Once you have furnished all the documents, the police will visit your house and verify the documents.
- After this, you will get the message that you can collect your PCC. At this stage, you will have to revisit the passport office and collect the PCC copies.
Q. How to migrate to Canada without a job offer? Is an experience certificate required for Canada PR?
Ans. Yes. While it is not mandatory, it adds value to the applicant’s profile.
Q. Is it possible to get Canada PR by investing money?
Ans. No. That is not possible. However, if one wishes to heavily invest in a Canadian company, or buy a Canada based company, they can apply for a Canada PR once the deal gets through. This is possible as the applicant becomes a contributor to the Canadian economy.
Q. Is it possible to get a Canada PR visa from India without a job offer letter from Canada?
Ans. Yes. However, in this case you need to be careful about the program you are applying under. If you apply through the Express Entry Program, you may lose some brownie points due to the absence of a job offer.
Q. Which province in Canada is the best for Canada PR application?
Ans. This importance of the province can be highlighted in the Provincial Nominee Program. Applicants must understand that every province has different requirements in terms of job opportunities, and the applicant must select such a province that best suits their skills.
Q. Can I stay in India after getting Canada PR?
Ans. Yes. A Canada PR card holder can come back to India, however, to qualify for the final stage, they must spend a minimum of 5 years in Canada. This stay, fortunately, doesn’t have to be continuous, and can be calculated in the number of days one stays in Canada.
Q. Can one immigrate to Canada without IELTS?
Ans. No. Proving an English Language Proficiency is necessary. For this purpose, one has to give one of two examinations – IELTS General Training, CELPIP or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. However, the only options where one can move to Canada without IELTS is on a temporary basis, i.e. Canada’s visitor or work visa.
Q. Can one immigrate to Canada after 40 years of age?
Ans. Yes. That is absolutely possible. The age limit for a considerable score in one’s application is 55.
Q. How to calculate one’s points for Canada PR application? How many points are required for Canada PR in 2021?
Ans. There are many tools available on the internet to calculate one’s Canada PR score. Infact, the Canadian government has also provided their own tool to do so. Click here to access the tool.
In the year 2021, the last update score that was required for Canada PR was 67 points. This is in regards to the Express Entry program.