Canada permanent residency
What Canada permanent residency means for you
Canada permanent residency is a status that lets you live in Canada long term without becoming a citizen. Here is what IRCC confirms a permanent resident can do.
What PR status gives you
- Live, work or study anywhere in Canada
- Receive most social benefits, including health care coverage
- Keep your Indian citizenship
- Apply for Canadian citizenship later, once you meet the requirements
Your spouse or partner and dependent children can usually be included in the same application, provided the programme allows it and each family member meets its conditions.
The main rule is the residency obligation. You need to spend at least 730 days in Canada in every five years to keep your status.
Source: 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Government of Canada
Your options
Canada PR pathways we can help you assess
Most skilled workers apply through one of the first two routes. Our assessment shows you which one fits.
Express Entry
Express Entry manages applications for three federal skilled worker programmes. You create an online profile, receive a CRS score, and wait for an Invitation to Apply in a round you are eligible for. IRCC also runs category-based rounds for in-demand groups.
Explore Express Entry →Provincial Nominee Program
A province or territory nominates you based on its labour needs. A nomination linked to Express Entry adds 600 CRS points. Other streams run outside Express Entry, with the province deciding first.
Explore the PNP →Category-Based Draws
Alongside general rounds, IRCC holds category-based rounds for candidates in specific groups, including healthcare and social services, STEM, trades, education, transport and French-language proficiency. In these rounds, IRCC ranks the candidates who meet the category criteria by CRS score. Cut-offs vary from round to round. If your occupation or French ability fits a category, we factor that into your pathway comparison.
Explore the Category-Based Draws →Other Pathways
Family sponsorship, the Atlantic Immigration Program and Quebec's own selection system also lead to permanent residence. We tell you if one of these suits your profile better.
Eligibility
Canada PR eligibility: is your profile ready?
Requirements depend on your immigration pathway. Our assessment reviews the factors relevant to your profile. The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the route most applicants from India use, is a useful benchmark.
FSWP requirements at a glance
- Language
- CLB 7 or higher in all four skills, through an approved test. For English, that is IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core. For French, it is TEF Canada or TCF Canada.
- Work experience
- One year of continuous paid work in a skilled job, or 1,560 hours in total, within the last 10 years.
- Education
- An FSWP applicant who studied in India needs an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organisation.
- Selection factors
- At least 67 points on the FSWP 100-point grid, along with the programme's other eligibility conditions. Eligible candidates then enter the Express Entry pool and are ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is scored out of 1,200.
- Settlement funds
- Proof of funds unless you are exempt. IRCC updates the amount every year.
Other programmes work differently. The Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program have no minimum education requirement, and provincial streams set their own criteria. Every applicant and family member also completes medical and security checks.
Unsure about some of these? That is exactly what our profile assessment is for.
The process
The Canada PR process, step by step
- Profile assessment. We review your age, education, work history, language results and family situation.
- Pathway selection. We identify the suitable pathway, whether Express Entry, a PNP stream or another route.
- Eligibility steps. You book your language test and start your ECA if your pathway needs one.
- Expression of interest. Your Express Entry profile or provincial registration is submitted.
- Invitation or nomination. You receive an Invitation to Apply or a provincial nomination.
- Application submission. Your complete application, fees and documents go to IRCC.
- Processing. IRCC completes biometrics, medicals and background checks.
- Decision. If approved, you receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR). As an Indian citizen, you also receive a permanent resident visa in your passport for travel. Your PR card is issued after you land in Canada.
Documents you'll usually need
- Passports for you and each family member included
- Language test results less than two years old
- ECA report with degree certificates and mark sheets, where required
- Reference letters showing duties, hours, salary and dates
- Proof of funds, unless you are exempt
- Police certificates and medical results, at the application stage
Costs and timelines
Know your Canada PR cost before you commit
Your Canada PR cost starts with IRCC's fees for economic immigration.
Third-party costs
You pay providers directly for your language test, ECA, medicals and police certificates. Some provinces also charge their own application fee.
KINBRIDGE fees
Our professional fees come to you in writing after your assessment. IRCC revises its fees from time to time, so check the official fee list before you pay.
Why KINBRIDGE
What you get from a KINBRIDGE PR assessment
Your career, savings and family all go into this move. Here is what our support covers.
Profile Review
Your age, education, work history, language results and family situation are reviewed together, before you spend money on tests or fees.
Pathway Comparison
You see how Express Entry, relevant provincial streams and any other suitable routes compare for your profile, including their requirements, likely costs and limitations.
Document Checklist
You receive a checklist built for your chosen pathway, so you know which documents to gather and in what order.
Application Review
Reference letters, forms and supporting evidence are checked against each other, so your application presents one consistent account.
Clear Next Steps
You leave the consultation knowing what to do first, whether that is a language test, an ECA or a profile submission.
Language Training Under One Roof
Need a higher band for more CRS points? Our IELTS and PTE Core training lets you prepare with the same team guiding your PR plan.
FAQs
Your Canada PR questions, answered
Can I apply for Canada PR from India?
Yes. Express Entry and many provincial streams accept applicants living outside Canada. Requirements depend on the pathway, but most skilled worker routes ask for approved language results, skilled work experience and, for federal programmes, proof of funds.
Can I keep my Indian citizenship as a Canadian PR?
Yes. Permanent residence is a status, so you remain an Indian citizen. The question arises only if you later apply for Canadian citizenship, since India does not allow dual citizenship.
Does KINBRIDGE guarantee Canada PR?
No, and no one honestly can. Only IRCC and the provinces make immigration decisions. KINBRIDGE is an independent consultancy, not a government body.