Canadian permanent residence allows someone to live, work and study anywhere in Canada on a permanent basis, without needing to reapply for a visa or work permit.
There are several pathways available to acquiring permanent residence status in Canada, including:
- Express Entry Programs, e.g.
- Family Sponsorship
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Start-up Visa Program
Additional permanent residence pathways are periodically opened and closed, usually targeted at specific national and regional labour market gaps or individuals with a particular country/territory of origin.
Who can apply for Canadian permanent residence?
The eligibility requirements for Canadian permanent residence vary depending on which specific program you wish to apply for. For example, skilled workers may be able to get permanent residence by applying through a national pathway like the Federal Skilled Worker Program, while entrepreneurs or investors may be able to apply for the business-focused Start-up Visa Program.
The Family Sponsorship Visa and Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Visa offer a route to permanent residence which is not work-based.
What does Canadian permanent residence offer?
Regardless of which program or pathway it is acquired through, Canadian permanent resident status entitles holders to:
- live, study and work anywhere in Canada
- receive most social benefits available to Canadian citizens, including public healthcare coverage
- receive the protections of Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
- apply for Canadian citizenship, if they so wish
You will usually keep permanent residence status indefinitely unless you renounce it, become a Canadian citizen, or an official decision is made to remove your status because of non-residency or other serious factors.
How do I apply for Canadian permanent residence?
The Express Entry application system covers many but not all pathways to Canadian permanent residence. You may wish to use our Express Entry Permanent Residence Points Calculator to estimate how close you may be to qualifying to apply for one of these programs, and what you might be able to do to increase your chances if you are not currently eligible.
If you are unsure which permanent residence program would be best for you, you can check the individual links above or, alternatively, contact a member of our team who will be able to advise you on all your permanent residence and other Canadian immigration options.