Most Popular Pathways to obtain Canada PR Visa

In an attempt to lead a blissful life in Canada by obtaining Canada PR Visa, it is important to understand the meaning of Permanent Resident (PR) in Canada. They are the people who are citizens of some other country and have been given the Permanent Resident Status by Canadian Government to stay in Canada for a certain period of time.

To obtain a Canada PR, there are multiple pathways offered by Canadian Authorities. The onus is upon you to opt for the most suitable one in order to maximize the possibility of getting the approval. Amongst the whole lot of pathways, there are two options that have gained tremendous popularity over the years as the number of applicants as well as invites have been significant — Express Entry and PNP Programs.

Canada Express Entry System

Express Entry is an online selection system for Canada immigration, which manages applications for three economic immigration programs for applicants seeking permanent residence as skilled workers, namely,

· Federal Skilled Worker Program

· Federal Skilled Trades Program

· Canadian Experience Class

The Express Entry System determines the eligibility of the candidates through a point-based system. It is used to rank the potential applicants on the basis of Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The factors responsible for the distribution of points are age, level of Education, work experience, Language Proficiency (IELTS score etc.) and adaptability such as marital status, Canadian work experience and others.

If the requirements of any of the three programs are being met, then the applicant is eligible to create an Express Entry Profile. However, the likelihood of getting an Invitation to Apply (ITA) will depend upon the CRS score declared in the Canada Express Entry Draw. This is basically the cut-off score, and the applicants scoring above the cut-off CRS scores will be invited to apply for Canada PR.

Provincial Nominee Program Pathway

Under Canada PNP Program, the applicants apply for a specific province or territory of Canada through paper-based process or through online Express Entry system. In the paper-based process, the applicant has to meet the eligibility criteria of the particular province that has nominated the candidate. Once nominated, a paper application is submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence. Further, the applicant has to go through a medical test and police verification, irrespective of the province chosen.

Through online Express Entry route, a candidate may

· Apply for nomination by contacting the province. If the province agrees to nominate, the candidate can create Express Entry Profile and show his or her nomination, or,

· Create an Express Entry profile first and then indicate the preferred provinces. If a province or territory sends a ‘Notification of Interest’ electronically, then the applicant shall approach them directly.

However, in both the aforementioned cases, the candidate must meet the minimum eligibility criteria of the province or territory applied for.

For both the pathways described above, it is important to note that the province of Quebec is not covered by any of these routes. It has its own Quebec Skilled Worker Program to allow foreign nationals to immigrate to Quebec as permanent residents. For successful immigration, one must abide by all the rules and regulations in obtaining a Canada PR Visa, as suggested by Canadian Immigration Authorities to ensure a smooth transition to a different country.