Working on your Canada permanent residency application from outside Canada is possible. If you are eligible and meet the requirements, you can begin your Canada permanent residency application from anywhere in the world.  

Canada is known for its welcoming attitude toward immigrants and has one of the most generous immigration systems in the world. They even have a whole department dedicated to that cause. It is the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). And they plan to welcome 485,000 new permanent residents in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025 and 2026.

IRCC is the department of the Canadian Government responsible for facilitating immigration to Canada, providing refuge to those in need, and organizing programs to help newcomers settle in the country. They also grant citizenship and issue travel documents, like passports, to Canadians.

Becoming a Canadian permanent resident is a dream come true for many people. However, before then, the application requirements and process can appear complicated. But after reading this blog post, you’ll have a clear roadmap for beginning your Canada permanent residency application outside Canada.

So, if you’re already considering immigrating or want to learn about Canada’s permanent residency application, this blog post is all you need. 

Check out this post on France Visa Application 2024/2025 | Guide & Requirements

Understanding the Canada Permanent Residency Application Process

The Canadian permanent residency program is an IRCC initiative to allow foreigners to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely. It is one of the most sought-after immigration programs globally. The application process takes approximately six to eight months to be processed.  

Like many roads lead to the market, many routes lead to becoming a Canadian permanent resident. Canada offers several pathways to permanent residency, and they are designed to attract different kinds of applicants, including skilled workers, entrepreneurs, and relatives of Canadian residents. The primary pathways are:

1. Express Entry System
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
3. Family Sponsorship

1. Express Entry System

This is the primary way skilled workers can immigrate to Canada. It is one of the most popular and fastest routes for skilled workers to gain permanent residency in Canada. It involves three main economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

It allows people with skills and professional qualifications to apply for permanent residency in Canada. To be eligible for this opportunity, you must meet specific requirements, such as language proficiency, work experience, and education.  

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

It allows skilled tradespeople with at least two years of work experience and moderate proficiency in English or French to qualify for permanent residence and settle in Canada.

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

It allows those with Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residency. It was designed explicitly for foreign graduates and temporary foreign workers who have acquired eligible work experience in Canada.

How to Apply for Canada Permanent Residency Through Express Entry

• Determine Eligibility

In 2015, Canada introduced a system that ranks all Express Entry profiles against one another through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This system assigns each candidate a CRS score of 100 points using factors like age, education, English language proficiency, work experience, and family relationships. Before beginning the Canadian permanent residency application, you must check your eligibility for any program and score at least 60 points in the points calculator.

• Create an Express Entry Profile 

After confirming your eligibility, create an express entry profile on the Canada Immigration Express Entry platform system and submit details about your skills, work experience, language proficiency, education, and other personal information. On September 23, 2022, it became mandatory to apply online. However, you can request different application formats if you can’t apply online. 

• Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA)

The Canadian government selects the candidates with the highest CRS score from the Express Entry pool and issues them an ITA to apply for permanent residency in Canada. If you meet the cut-off CRS score, you’ll receive an ITA. 

• Submit the Application and pay the application fees.

You must submit your complete application for permanent residence, including biometric information (fingerprints and two digital photographs) and documents like language proficiency test scores, educational credentials assessment, passport and travel documents, work experience documents, medical and police clearance certificates on the IRCC website, within 60 days of receiving the ITA.   

Ensure all documents are accurate and up-to-date and follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions could delay or even result in the rejection of your application.

• Wait for Approval

The processing time varies depending on the program you’re applying to and other factors, such as the volume of applications received. However, the timeline to get a response can be within six to eight months. 

During processing, keep your contact information up-to-date and respond promptly if any additional information or documents are requested.

• Get Your Permanent Residency Visa

If your application is approved, you will be granted a permanent residency visa that permits you to reside permanently in Canada. You must send your passport to a Visa Processing Office to be stamped and returned. After this, you can then proceed to Canada.

Remember, completing the landing process within a year of receiving your permanent residency visa and fulfilling the obligations to maintain your PR status is mandatory.

Prepare for your journey to Canada and ensure you have all the necessary documents for entry.    

On arrival in Canada, you must complete the landing process by meeting with an immigration officer to provide your fingerprints and other biometric information.  

Note that if you gain permanent residency via the Express-Entry stream, you can live and work anywhere in Canada, except Quebec province, because it has its requirements.  

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Canada is divided into ten provinces and three territories. Provincial and territorial governments select immigrants based on their economic requirements. Each province and territory set its criteria and procedures for selecting nominees, aiming to nominate individuals who are likely to integrate effectively into the economic and social fabric of the region.

If you choose this pathway, you must apply to the province or territory where you want to live and be nominated. Afterwards, you can apply to IRCC for permanent residence. An IRCC officer will assess your application based on Canadian immigration rules.   

 Note: If you gain permanent residency via the PNP, you must live and work in the same province for at least two years before moving to another province. 

       How to Apply for Canada Permanent Residency Through PNP

• Choose a Province

Research and choose the province where you wish to settle. The provinces in Canada are Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan. 

• Apply to the Province

After deciding where to settle, apply to the province’s immigration office.

• Receive a Nomination

You can apply for permanent residency through Express Entry or directly to IRCC if nominated.

• Submit Application

Follow the same steps for Express Entry after receiving a provincial nomination.

Also read UK VISA Lottery Application 2024/2025 – Complete Guide.

3. Family Sponsorship

This program allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor relatives outside Canada to immigrate to Canada. So, if you have a family member who’s a permanent resident or citizen of Canada, they can also sponsor you to become a permanent resident. 

How to Apply for Canada Permanent Residency Through Family Sponsorship

• Check Eligibility

Ensure that your sponsor meets the eligibility requirements.

• Submit Sponsorship Application

Your sponsor would have to submit a sponsorship application to IRCC.

• Submit Permanent Residency Application

Afterwards, you can proceed to submit your application for permanent residency.

• Wait for Approval

Processing times vary based on the country of residence.

Applying for permanent residency in Canada from outside the country requires careful planning and understanding of the different pathways available. Whether you choose the Express Entry System, Provincial Nominee Program, or another route, following the outlined steps will help you navigate the Canada permanent residency application process smoothly. 

Ensure you meet the eligibility requirements and provide accurate information to increase your chances of success.

After living in Canada for three years as a permanent resident, you may be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship. This offers several other benefits, including the right to vote and access to social benefits.