In the last few years, Canada has emerged as the most preferred destination to settle as a permanent resident. It is one of the easiest countries to get a PR visa and a perfect place to live and work.

Its excellent infrastructure, the standard of living, available job opportunities, and safe and peaceful society, lure worldwide immigration aspirants. If you are looking to settle in Canada, the best pathway is to apply for a Canada PR from India. The PR status allows you to live and work in Canada permanently.

Although, it is permanent, however, the validity of the Canadian PR visa is five years. The PR visa is not Canadian Citizenship; however, it provides with you the pathway to becoming a Citizen of Canada.

Popular programs/pathways to get Canada PR

• Live, study or work anywhere in Canada
• Apply for Canadian Citizenship after living in Canada for three year and meeting other requirements
• Sponsor eligible family members for Canadian PR
• Get free health care, school education, and other social benefits that a Canadian citizen receives.
• Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

To get PR in Canada, you have to apply via the appropriate pathway, i.e. as a skilled worker, International student, etc.

The Canadian government has designed various pathways/programs to obtain Canadian Permanent Resident (PR) visa depending on the immigration type or immigrant category. Since, every program has different process and requirements, there, to apply for PR visa; you will have to follow the application process of the immigration program relevant to your case.

Vital Benefits of Permanent Residency in Canada

The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) offers several immigration programs to get permanent residency in Canada. The most popular are:

• Express Entry Program– It is a point-based and online federal immigration program.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – The PNPs are immigration programs of Canadian provinces.
• Investor/Entrepreneur Program– This program is for entrepreneurs/investors willing to start a new business or invest in Canada's existing business.
• Self-employed Program– An individual with relevant experience, can immigrate to Canada under the self-employed immigration program
• Family class Immigration– For Canadian permanent residents to sponsor their family members

How to get a PR visa through Express Entry System?

Express Entry System is the most popular pathway to get Canada PR for skilled workers. Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (then CIC) launched the Express Entry system in January 2015. Express Entry has three key categories:

• Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• The first one, i.e. the Federal Skilled Workers Program, is for the Skilled Workers from Overseas. It invites skilled and talented people from overseas and allocates the permanent residency invitation to the selected candidates.

  Eligibility Criteria/Selection Factors for Express Entry

  To qualify for the express entry-FSW category, you need to score 67 points out of 100 for the below-given factors:

• Age: The minimum age to apply is 18 years, while there is no upper age limit. However, the applicants between 18-35 years of age get maximum points. The points for the age factor start decreasing gradually after the age of 35.
• Education: Your educational qualification must be minimum higher secondary as per Canadian Education standards. However, you may need more increased capabilities, i.e. gradation, depending upon the occupation (NOC Code) you apply.
• Work experience: You need to have a minimum of one-year full-time work experience. However, based on the category you choose or to gain more points, your experience needs to be more than just one year. Moreover, your occupation must in Skill Type, 0, A, or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC).
• Language ability: Proficiency in English or French is necessary. If you are proficient in English, you must have at least a score of six bands in your IELTS test result. You can earn extra points for language factors if you are proficient in French as well.
• Adaptability:You can get points for this factor if your spouse or common-law partner has a connection to Canada. It means past education, work experience, relative, etc. in Canada or your spouse/partner has CLB 4 level of language proficiency.
• Arranged employment: You can gain points for this factor, provided you have a valid employment offer from a Canadian employer.