🇨🇦 Canada · Permanent Residency
Permanent-residence routes: eligibility, required years of residence, and the official application steps — including any investment routes where a country offers them.
Quick answer
Canadian permanent residence is commonly obtained through Express Entry (skilled workers), Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship or business routes. PRs can live, work and study anywhere in Canada and must meet residency obligations.
Canada grants permanent residence through several federal and provincial programmes. The main economic routes are Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades) and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP); there are also family sponsorship, Quebec-selected, and pilot/regional streams. IRCC sets the criteria and processes applications.
- Express Entry ranks candidates by points (CRS) across three federal programmes; higher-ranked candidates are invited to apply.
- The Provincial Nominee Program lets a province nominate you; an Express Entry-linked PNP nomination adds 600 CRS points.
- Family sponsorship lets citizens/PRs sponsor a spouse, partner, dependent child, parent or grandparent.
- Quebec runs its own selection; processing times and quotas vary by programme — check IRCC for current rounds and times.
Step-by-step
- 1
Choose your PR route
Main routes are economic (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs), family sponsorship, and business/investor streams.
- 2
Build your profile and score
For Express Entry, create a profile and earn Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points from age, education, language and work experience.
- 3
Get an invitation and apply
Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) or a provincial nomination, then submit the PR application to IRCC with supporting documents.
- 4
Complete medical, biometrics and checks
Provide a medical exam, biometrics and police certificates; IRCC assesses admissibility.
- 5
Land and get your PR card
On approval you become a permanent resident and receive a PR card; meet the residency obligation (2 of every 5 years).
- 6
Understand rights and path to citizenship
PRs can live, work and study anywhere in Canada and can apply for citizenship after 3 years of physical presence.
Checklist
- PR route (Express Entry / PNP / family / business)
- Express Entry profile + CRS score
- ITA / provincial nomination + IRCC application
- Medical + biometrics + police certificates
- PR card + residency obligation (2 of 5 years)
- Live/work/study anywhere in Canada
- Citizenship after 3 years’ physical presence
- Immigration-consultant/lawyer advice if complex
Official authorities
- Live in Canada permanently (IRCC)
Official overview of permanent-residence programmes.
- Apply for PR through Express Entry (IRCC)
The main federal economic route.
Frequently asked questions
What is Express Entry?
A points-based system (CRS) managing applications for federal skilled-worker programs; top-ranked candidates are invited to apply for PR.
What is a Provincial Nominee Program?
Provinces nominate candidates who meet local labour needs, which boosts their PR application, often via Express Entry.
Is there a residency obligation?
Yes — PRs must be physically present in Canada at least 730 days in every five-year period to keep status.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- Government of Canada — Canada's federal service portal — immigration, taxes, benefits, and travel info
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada — Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, work/study permits, and PR card applications
- Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) — T1 personal tax returns, corporate taxes, GST/HST, and benefit applications (CCB)