Canada PR (Permanent Residency) grants non-Canadian citizens the right to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, with access to social benefits and protection under Canadian law. It is a step towards gaining full Canadian citizenship, though it does not grant the right to vote in Canadian elections.
Read more...
A Canadian Permanent Resident Visa is a gateway to permanent resident status in Canada. It is valid for 5 years, and candidates with a Canada PR card can live, study, and work in Canada freely. Based on their eligibility, they can apply for Canadian citizenship.
Do’s and Don’ts of Canadian Permanent Resident:
| Dos | Don’ts |
|---|---|
| Canada PRs get most of the social benefits to which Canadian citizens are entitled, including healthcare coverage. | Canada PRs can’t vote or run for any political office. |
| Canada PRs can live, study, or work anywhere in Canada. | Canada PRs can’t hold specific government jobs requiring high-level security clearance. |
| Canada PRs can apply for Canadian citizenship. | |
| Canada PRs are protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and Canadian law. |
*Willing to migrate to Canada on a PR visa? Get in touch with our experts to get FREE counselling.
Yes, Indians can become permanent residents of Canada and are eligible to apply for a Canada PR Visa from India if they meet the eligibility criteria. Canada PR (Permanent Residency) is a legal status granted to immigrants, allowing them to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada. PR status is different from Canadian citizenship, but it offers many similar rights and privileges, with certain exceptions like voting rights and holding high-level security jobs.
*Check your eligibility to become a Permanent Resident of Canada with the Y-Axis CRS Points Calculator, instantly for FREE.
The difference between Canada PR and Canadian citizens is given in the table below:
| Feature | Canada PR | Canada Citizenship |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Permanent resident status | Full citizenship status |
| Passport | Requires a passport from the country of origin | Eligible for a Canadian passport |
| Residency Obligation | Must live in Canada for at least 730 days in 5 years | No residency obligation |
| Right to Vote | Cannot vote in federal, provincial, or municipal elections | Can vote in federal, provincial, and municipal elections |
| Political Office | Cannot hold political office | Can hold political office |
| Job Restrictions | Some jobs requiring high-level security clearance are restricted | Can work in all jobs, including those requiring security clearance |
| Jury Duty | Not eligible to serve on a jury | Eligible to serve on a jury |
| Deportation | Can be deported for serious criminality or violation of PR obligations | Cannot be deported (except fraud-related revocation cases) |
| Travel Rights | May need visas for other countries | Broader visa-free travel with Canadian passport |
| Family Sponsorship | Can sponsor relatives to become PRs | Can sponsor and may pass citizenship to children born abroad |
| International Mobility | Depends on origin passport | Higher mobility with Canadian passport |
| Access to Social Benefits | Access to most social benefits, incl. healthcare | Access to all social benefits, incl. healthcare |
| Eligibility for Citizenship | Must meet residency & other criteria | Already a citizen |
| Renewal of Status | PR card renewed every 5 years | Citizenship is for life |
The Canada PR process is an easy seven-step procedure for applicants who meet the eligibility requirements. After following the seven steps, you can submit your Canada PR visa application.
A Permanent Resident (PR) visa has become prominent among immigrants who are willing to settle in ‘Maple Leaf country.’ It depends on your path to apply for the Canada PR visa.
Here is the path list that guides you through the Canada PR process.
“Did You Know? You can get a Canada PR Visa without a job offer in Canada.”
Candidates applying for the Canada PR visa through the Express Entry program must use a points-based selection system. The Express Entry System consists of three sub-categories:
If you are an overseas skilled worker, you can apply for a Canada PR visa under the Federal Skilled Workers Program.
Canada offers nearly 80 different Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), each with its own eligibility requirements. PNPs allow provinces to fill in-demand jobs and address labour shortages.
Most PNPs require some connection to the province (work, study, or job offer). However, some PNPs require no previous connection; you can apply directly.
The popular PNP programs for a Canada PR visa are:
StatCan reports that there are 1 million jobs in Canada for overseas skilled professionals. The table below lists top in-demand occupations and average salaries.
| Occupation | NOC Code | Average Annual Salary (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical Engineers | 21399 | 118,136 |
| Chemical Engineers | 21320 | 135,405 |
| Civil Engineers | 21300 | 120,841 |
| Database Analysts | 21223 | 109,748 |
| Dentists | 31110 | 150,000 |
| Electrical Engineers | 21310 | 125,242 |
| General Practitioners and Family Physicians | 31102 | 200,000 |
| IT Project Managers | 20012 | 117,048 |
| Mechanical Engineers | 21301 | 116,218 |
| Medical Laboratory Technologists | 32120 | 97,298 |
| Medical Radiation Technologists | 32121 | 101,106 |
| Medical Sonographers | 32122 | 101,106 |
| Network Administrators | 22220 | 85,933 |
| Pharmacists | 31120 | 100,000 |
| Physiotherapists | 31202 | 80,000 |
| Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses | 31301 | 85,000 |
| Software Developers | 21232 | 119,845 |
| Veterinarians | 31103 | 95,000 |
| Web Developers | 21234 | 96,820 |
Application through PNPs often requires a provincial connection (work, study, or job offer). Ensure your documents meet Canada PR checklist standards.
An important step while applying for your Canada PR visa is to apply for the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you completed education outside Canada. The ECA report shows your credentials are equal to Canadian secondary or post-secondary credentials.
The ECA is required under Express Entry to prove your foreign credential is valid and equal to a Canadian degree.
The following PR applicants need an ECA:
Designated ECA organizations:
IRCC accepts assessments issued on or after the date of designation for immigration applicants.
| Services | Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) |
|---|---|
| Electronic ECA report provided to you | C$248 |
| An official paper report (delivery fees apply) | |
| ECA report access by IRCC | |
| Electronic storage of your report and verified transcripts for future use | |
| Additional Fees | |
| Delivery Options | Fees |
| Standard delivery (no tracking) | C$12 |
| Courier delivery (with tracking) | |
| U.S. & international courier (per address) | C$92 |
| Next-day courier (per address, Canada only) | C$27 |
| Add a new credential | C$108 |
| Convert ECA to Document-by-Document | C$54 |
| Convert ECA to Course-by-Course | C$108 |
| First report (WES Basic) | C$54 |
| First report (WES ICAP) | C$33 |
| Each additional report | C$33 |
Choose the organization based on occupation. Example: Pharmacists (NOC 3131) needing licensure should use the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada.
The total cost for a Canada PR visa is 2,500 CAD – 3,000 CAD (varies by number of applicants).
Includes application fees (applicants & dependents), medicals, English test, ECA, PCC, etc.
The table below gives you all the total costs for a Canada PR visa.
| Program | Applicants | New fees (April 2024 – March 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee | Principal applicant & spouse/common-law partner | $575 |
| Protected persons | Principal applicant | $635 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $635 |
| Protected persons | Accompanying dependent child | $175 |
| Permit holders | Principal applicant | $375 |
| Caregiver pilots (HCP & HSW) | Principal applicant | $635 |
| Caregiver pilots (HCP & HSW) | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $635 |
| Caregiver pilots (HCP & HSW) | Accompanying dependent child | $175 |
| H&C / Public policy | Principal applicant | $635 |
| H&C / Public policy | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $635 |
| H&C / Public policy | Accompanying dependent child | $175 |
| FSW, PNP, QSW, AIP & most economic pilots | Principal applicant | $950 |
| FSW, PNP, QSW, AIP & most economic pilots | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $950 |
| FSW, PNP, QSW, AIP & most economic pilots | Accompanying dependent child | $260 |
| Family reunification | Sponsorship fee | $85 |
| Family reunification | Sponsored principal applicant | $545 |
| Family reunification | Sponsored child (PA under 22, not a spouse/partner) | $85 |
| Family reunification | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $635 |
| Family reunification | Accompanying dependent child | $175 |
| Business (federal & Quebec) | Principal applicant | $1,810 |
| Business (federal & Quebec) | Accompanying spouse/common-law partner | $950 |
| Business (federal & Quebec) | Accompanying dependent child | $260 |
Canadian PR applicants should also provide proof of funds to show they can support themselves and dependents upon arrival in Canada until they earn an income. Letters from banks where the funds are held are required as proof. The amount varies by family size (Read More...).
| Number of family members | Proof of funds |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,263 |
| 2 | $19,001 |
| 3 | $23,360 |
| 4 | $28,362 |
| 5 | $32,168 |
| 6 | $36,280 |
| 7 | $40,392 |
| If more than 7, add per extra member | $4,112 |
The general processing time is 6 to 8 months. Timelines vary by program. For example, CEC applications may be processed in about 3–4 months (Read more...).
*Express Entry: If you receive an ITA, you must submit your application within 90 days.
Invest in INR and get returns in CAD. Get ROI of more than 100X of investment—better returns than FD, RD, Gold, and Mutual Funds. Save 1–3 lakhs per month.
| Draw no. | Date | Immigration program | Invitations issued |
|---|---|---|---|
| 384 | December 10, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 6,000 |
| 383 | December 08, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 1,123 |
| 382 | November 28, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,000 |
| 381 | November 26, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 380 | November 25, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 777 |
| 379 | November 14, 2025 | Healthcare and Social services occupations | 3,500 |
| 378 | November 12, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 377 | November 10, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 714 |
| 376 | October 29, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,000 |
| 375 | October 28, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 374 | October 27, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 302 |
| 373 | October 15, 2025 | Healthcare and Social Services Occupations | 2,500 |
| 372 | October 14, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 345 |
| 371 | October 06, 2025 | French language proficiency | 4,500 |
| 370 | October 01, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 369 | September 29, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 291 |
| 368 | September 18, 2025 | Trade occupations | 1,250 |
| 367 | September 17, 2025 | Education occupations | 2,500 |
| 366 | September 15, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 228 |
| 365 | September 04, 2025 | French language proficiency | 4,500 |
| 364 | September 03, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 363 | September 02, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 249 |
| 362 | August 19, 2025 | Healthcare and Social services occupations | 2,500 |
| 361 | August 18, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 192 |
| 360 | August 08, 2025 | French language proficiency | 2,500 |
| 359 | August 07, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,000 |
| 358 | August 06, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 225 |
| 357 | July 22, 2025 | Healthcare and Social services occupations | 4,000 |
| 356 | July 21, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 202 |
| 355 | July 08, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 |
| 354 | July 07, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 356 |
| 353 | June 26, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 |
| 352 | June 23, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 503 |
| 351 | June 12, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 3,000 |
| 350 | June 10, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 125 |
| 349 | June 04, 2025 | Healthcare and Social services occupations | 500 |
| 348 | June 02, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 277 |
| 347 | May 13, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 500 |
| 346 | May 12, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 511 |
| 345 | May 02, 2025 | Healthcare and Social services occupations | 500 |
| 344 | May 01, 2025 | Education occupations | 1,000 |
| 343 | April 28, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 421 |
| 342 | April 14, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 825 |
| 341 | March 21, 2025 | French language proficiency | 7,500 |
| 340 | March 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 536 |
| 339 | March 06, 2025 | French language proficiency | 4,500 |
| 338 | March 03, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 725 |
| 337 | February 19, 2025 | French language proficiency | 6,500 |
| 336 | February 17, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 646 |
| 335 | February 05, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 |
| 334 | February 04, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 455 |
| 333 | January 23, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 4,000 |
| 332 | January 08, 2025 | Canadian Experience Class | 1,350 |
| 331 | January 07, 2025 | Provincial Nominee Program | 471 |
| Express Entry/Province | Jan | Feb | March | April | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express Entry | 5,821 | 11,601 | 13,261 | 1,246 | 2,511 | 7,405 | 7,558 | 6,417 | 10,018 | 12,991 | 94,476 | |
| Manitoba | 325 | 117 | 219 | 4 | 118 | 528 | 86 | 114 | 4,258 | 891 | 82 | 6,742 |
| British Columbia | 10 | NA | 13 | NA | 108 | NA | 17 | 16 | NA | 485 | 24 | 673 |
| Ontario | 4 | NA | NA | NA | NA | 3,791 | NA | 468 | 4,536 | 1,680 | NA | 10,479 |
| Alberta | NA | 551 | 17 | 246 | 414 | 291 | 433 | 693 | 2,819 | 2,635 | 1,125 | 9,224 |
| Prince Edward Island | 22 | 87 | 124 | NA | 168 | 52 | 39 | 132 | 129 | 319 | 190 | 1,262 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | NA | NA | NA | 256 | 733 | NA | 509 | 433 | 570 | 225 | 330 | 3,056 |
| New Brunswick | NA | NA | 498 | 477 | NA | 608 | NA | 1,052 | NA | 522 | NA | 3,157 |
| Total | 6,182 | 12,356 | 14,132 | 2,229 | 4,052 | 12,675 | 8,642 | 9,325 | 22,330 | 14,742 | 1,29,069 |
Y-Axis, the world’s best overseas immigration consultancy, provides unbiased immigration services based on your interests and requirements. Our services include:
Explore what Global Indians have to say about Y-Axis in shaping their future