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Complete guide to obtaining Canadian PR status via Express Entry, PNP streams, and Family Sponsorship.
If you immigrate to Canada, you can be categorized as a temporary or permanent resident. If you are a permanent resident of Canada, you have Permanent Residency (PR), but this does not mean you are a Canadian citizen. At this point, you are still a citizen of your home country.
If you are temporarily studying or working in Canada as an international student or a foreign worker, you are not a permanent resident. This also applies if you are a tourist visiting Canada. Let's look at the requirements for Canada permanent residency (PR) and what you can and can't do as a permanent resident.
Becoming a permanent resident means you have the right to live, work and study in Canada indefinitely. You are treated as a member of the Canadian population and are afforded all of the rights and responsibilities of the Canadian people.
Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), and Family Sponsorship welcome over 485,000 newcomers every year.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) welcomes hundreds of thousands of immigrants via Express Entry annually toward its annual target of 485,000+ new permanent residents.
Express Entry is an online immigration management system for three federal economic programs:
Foreign skilled workers can gain Canadian permanent residency in as little as six months through Express Entry.
Check if you meet minimum requirements for FSWP, FSTP, or CEC. Create your online portal account upon verification.
Complete your profile regarding age, education, work experience, and language tests (IELTS/CELPIP/TEF). Receive your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
If your score meets an Express Entry draw cutoff, you receive an official ITA. You have 60 days to submit your complete PR application.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is designed for foreign workers with skills, education, and work experience tailored to specific provincial economies.
11 Participating Canadian Provinces & Territories:
Allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible relatives for Canadian permanent residency.
If you hold temporary worker or student status in Canada, you can transition to PR status through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) streams.
To remain a Canadian permanent resident, you must meet the residency obligation: physically reside in Canada for at least 730 days (2 years) within every 5-year period.
Your Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) is your official proof of PR status when returning to Canada on commercial carriers (flights, trains, buses). If lost abroad, you must apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to re-enter.
You do not automatically lose your PR status, nor does status expire when your card expires. However, PR status can be revoked through official IRCC proceedings under these 7 grounds:
Navigating the Canadian immigration system can be tedious, with many forms and documents to complete and strict submission dates to adhere to. At CanaHorizon, we take the stress out of relocating abroad with experienced CICC legal guidance.
Live, work, and study anywhere in Canada with permanent legal status.
Find out if you meet the Express Entry CRS draw cutoffs or PNP nomination criteria.