Canada guides

The Comprehensive Ranking System scores up to 1,200 points across age, education, language, work experience, adaptability, and additional points (Canadian education, French proficiency, sibling in Canada, provincial nomination). Cut-offs vary by draw category — most general draws sit between 480 and 540.

A closed (employer-specific) work permit ties you to a single Canadian employer named on the permit. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada — examples include the spousal open work permit, the post-graduation work permit (PGWP), and the bridging open work permit (BOWP) granted to people with a pending PR application.

Spouses and common-law partners of full-time students at a Designated Learning Institution can apply for a spousal open work permit, but eligibility tightened in 2024–2025 — only spouses of master's, doctoral, and select professional-program students currently qualify. Confirm against the latest IRCC instructions before applying.

Quebec runs its own economic-immigration grid through Arrima. Candidates need a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) before IRCC will issue permanent residence. Express Entry profiles are filtered out of federal draws once a Quebec destination is declared.

Permanent residents must accumulate 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada within the five years immediately before applying, file Canadian taxes for at least three of those years, and meet language requirements at CLB 4 (English) or NCLC 4 (French) for ages 18–54.