Get Permanent Residence in Canada

You apply for permanent residence through Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Steps depend on your chosen program, but the general structure is similar.

Programs include Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Spousal or Partner Sponsorship, Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, and the Start-up Visa Program.

1. Choose the Correct Immigration Pathway

Pick the program that fits your background and goals.

For Express Entry, you must qualify under one of its streams—Federal Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, or Federal Skilled Trades Program.

For a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you’ll need a nomination certificate from the province or territory first.

2. Create Your Profile or Submit a Provincial Application

Express Entry applicants create an online profile and enter the pool.

For PNP non‑Express Entry streams, apply directly to the province or territory for nomination before submitting your permanent residence application to IRCC.

3. Receive an Invitation or Nomination

Express Entry applicants wait for an invitation to apply.

PNP stream applicants need to secure a nomination certificate before moving forward.

Processing times vary. IRCC estimates about 7 months for some permanent residence applications, but times rise with higher application volumes.

4. Submit Your Permanent Residence Application

After you get an invitation or nomination, submit your complete online application to IRCC.

List accurate details about all dependants and any family status changes. Report updates right away to avoid delays.

5. Provide Biometrics (If Required)

You might need to provide biometrics, especially if you’ve previously applied for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit.

Not confirming your biometrics requirement can slow down processing.

6. Keep Your Information Updated

Keep your contact information current during processing.

Tell IRCC about any changes to your address, dependants, or family situation. Missing updates can extend timelines.

IRCC bases processing times on how long it would take to process an application received today. High intake levels can affect these timelines, especially for the Provincial Nominee Program or other non‑Express Entry streams.

You must submit a complete and accurate package to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Required documents depend on your pathway—Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Trades Program, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Spousal/Partner Sponsorship, Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, or the Start-up Visa Program.

Gather core identity and civil status records for everyone included in your file.

• Passports or travel documents
• Birth certificates
• Marriage, divorce, or separation documents (if applicable)
• Updated contact details
• Records of any changes in family composition, such as marriage or children

Provide copies of original documents. If a document isn’t in English or French, add a certified translation.

Medical exams are required for all applicants and accompanying family members. Every exam must be valid at the time you submit your file.

Don’t submit expired medical results. IRCC may refuse or delay your application if exams aren’t synchronized for all applicants.

Biometrics may be needed. You might have to give biometrics if you previously applied for a visitor visa, study permit, or work permit, or if IRCC tells you to.

Check if biometrics apply to you and pay the fee when asked. Submit proof as directed.

Program-specific documents vary. For the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), include a valid job offer from a designated employer in Atlantic Canada.

IRCC might ask for more documents after you apply. Respond quickly and submit everything within the deadline.

Here’s a quick reference table to help organize your file:

Submit all requested documents on time. Incomplete applications delay processing.

You must qualify under a specific permanent residence pathway managed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Each program has its own eligibility rules, and some require a provincial nomination or a valid job offer.

Your eligibility can change if your contact details are outdated, if your dependants’ status changes, or if an admissibility issue comes up. Keep your information accurate and complete throughout processing.

Express Entry Programs

For Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades Program, IRCC checks if you meet the criteria for your selected stream.

Make sure all documents and details are correct. Incomplete or inaccurate information can delay processing or affect your approval.

IRCC publishes estimated processing times based on when you apply. If you apply from outside Canada or the United States, add 3–4 months for mailing time.

Provincial and Regional Programs

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) requires a formal nomination from a province or territory. You have to meet that province’s specific criteria before IRCC will finalize your permanent residence.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) requires a job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province. You must qualify as a recent graduate or a skilled worker under the program rules.

Regional pathways like the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) depend on meeting community-based requirements and, often, getting local support.

Family and Business Immigration

For Spousal/Partner Sponsorship and Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, your sponsor must meet program requirements and submit complete, accurate information.

Applying through the Start-up Visa Program means you must satisfy eligibility standards tied to business applicants. Some pathways also require provincial support.

Fees and Dependants

Certain immigration categories allow a maximum fee of CA$500 if:

• All family members apply at the same time
• All applications go to the same office
• Your children qualify as dependants

Work permits, including extensions, cost CA$155 per person. These permits often form part of your pathway before permanent residence.

After You Apply

IRCC provides estimated processing times, but outside events can affect accuracy. Monitor updates directly from IRCC.

After you become a permanent resident, you can apply for financial benefits and credits through the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA). Newcomers may apply for certain benefit and credit payments even before filing their first tax return.

When IRCC grants permanent residence, you gain the right to live in Canada as a resident for tax purposes.

You may settle in Canada after approval through programs like Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), the Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Spousal/Partner Sponsorship, Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship, or the Start-up Visa Program.

Your rights come with legal duties.

You must keep your information accurate and current with IRCC. This includes:

• Identification and personal details
• Work and education history
• Current immigration status and arrival history
• Personal and family information, including updates to dependents

If you apply for a minor under 18 who lives outside Canada, IRCC provides separate processing time estimates.

You also have tax obligations. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) treats you as a newcomer in your first year as a resident for income tax purposes.

Your residency status affects:

• Whether you must file Canadian taxes
• How you are taxed
• When you may receive benefit and credit payments

If you studied in Canada as an international student before becoming a permanent resident, you may already have tax filing duties.

Update the CRA when your status changes to ensure you receive the correct benefits and credits.

If you qualified under the Canadian Experience Class, you needed at least one year of skilled work in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.

That work must have been authorized.

If you worked remotely, you had to be physically present in Canada and working for a Canadian employer to count that experience.

Permanent residence also requires you to respect the conditions under which you were selected, whether through employment, regional programs like AIP or RNIP, or family sponsorship.

IRCC expects full compliance with Canadian law and accurate reporting at every stage.

You’ll get an acknowledgment from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) after submitting a complete application.

Applicants who send incomplete forms often face returns or delays, which can extend processing beyond the typical about 13 months.

Processing times increase, especially for non-routine files.

One applicant applied through Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker) after reviewing every document before submission.

IRCC acknowledged receipt, and the file moved forward without being returned.

The applicant followed updates and understood that the Immigration Levels Plan affects how many newcomers Canada admits each year.

Another applicant qualified under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and double-checked all employment records before applying.

A friend in the Federal Skilled Trades Program did the same after an earlier application was returned for missing information.

Both avoided further delay by ensuring their packages were complete.

You’ll see similar patterns in applications through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), or Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP).

Applicants who follow document checklists closely reduce the risk of added review time.

Family-based applicants under Spousal/Partner Sponsorship or Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship often focus on submitting full relationship documentation at the start.

Entrepreneurs applying through the Start-up Visa Program also benefit from complete submissions.

After approval, you become a newcomer for tax purposes under the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), which administers Canada’s tax laws.

Understanding this step helps you prepare for your first tax year in Canada.