How to apply for a Canada permanent resident Visa from India?

Canada is the top choice for Indians who want to move abroad permanently for a better quality of life and more opportunities for career growth. Also, India has been the major source for skilled immigrants who are moving to Canada and have become Canadian permanent residents.

Immigration is the key factor for Canada to recover from the pandemic. Recently, Canada has announced their Immigration level plans for 2021, 2022, and 2023 where it will welcome 40,000, 411,000, and 421,000 immigrants respectively. Showing the commitment of the federal government to welcome more and more skilled immigrants to help in the country's economic development.

The best possible way to move to Canada from India is to get a PR Visa. As you become a Canadian permanent resident, you can avail of the following benefits:

• Live, work or study anywhere in the country for 5 years;

• Can apply for Canadian citizenship after a certain period;

• Access to healthcare and subsidized education system;

• Social security benefits;

If you are looking to become a Canadian permanent resident, the first step is to apply under a Canadian immigration program that allows you to apply for a PR Visa.

What are different immigration programs for Canada PR Visa?

Each immigration program that provides an immigration pathway to become a permanent resident of Canada has its different requirements and application process. You have to choose the right immigration program based on your skill-sets. Following are the major Canada PR Visa immigration programs:

• Express Entry program

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs)

• Business Immigration program

• Family Class immigration

• Quebec Immigration

How to apply for a PR Visa through the Express Entry Program?

The express entry program provides a fast-track immigration pathway for PR Visa aspirants, with application processing time is around 6 to 8 months. Its an application management system, managing the profiles of the immigrants who have applied for PR Visa through three major federal economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

To be eligible for FSW, which is the main source of skilled immigrants, you have to score 67 points out of 100 in the FSWP point assessment grid. Following are the factors based on which scores are assigned in 67 points calculator for PR Visa:

• Age

• Language Skills

• Work Experience

• Education

• Arranged Employment

• Adaptability

With the use of the ranking system - Comprehensive Rankings System (CRS), all the profiles are ranked in the express entry pool. Higher ranked profiles are then issued Invitation To Apply (ITA) to submit their PR Visa application to Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

After you have got your ITA, you will have 60 days to submit your PR Visa application along with all the right sets of documents.

Some of the major documents you must submit alongside your Canada PR Visa application are:

• Traveling documents

• IELTS Test report

• Educational degree, diploma, or certificate with ECA

• Proof of your work experience

• Medical certificate

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)

• Proof of funds

After your application is submitted along with your biometrics and is successfully assessed by IRCC, you will be given your Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) through the mail. You can get your PR Visa card from the point of entry in Canada. 

Business Immigration - Start your business in Canada 

Canada Business Immigration offers an immigration route that aims to create new opportunities in the local market of the province by welcoming experienced businessmen with the required skills and work experience to help the economic development of the province.

Now, under Business Immigration, various programs are designed and implemented to

help promote and develop the country's economy by inviting/attracting entrepreneurs,

employees, businessmen, and investors. Here are the available business immigration programs:

• Self-Employed Visa

• PNP Entrepreneur Visa

• Business Visitor Visa

• Start-up Visa

Quebec also offers programs for immigrant entrepreneurs and self-employed workers.

Family Class Immigration - Reunite with your families

Reuniting families is a pillar of Canada's immigration policies. The Canadian government allows its citizens or permanent residents over the age of 18 to sponsor spouses, dependent children, parents, or grandparents to live with them in the country through a Canadian spouse visa.

Who you can sponsor as a dependent?

You can sponsor the following relations for a dependent visa:

• Spouse or common-law partner or conjugal partner

• Dependent children below the age of 21

• Parents or grandparents

• A child you adopted outside Canada while you held Canadian citizenship or PR

• Your family members like a brother, sister, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt, or other close relatives

What is the minimum requirement to become a sponsor?

For the applicant to sponsor their spouse, partner, or dependent child, they have to meet the following requirements:

• Must be a minimum of 18 years old.

• Must be a Canadian Citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a registered person in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian act.

• Must prove that they are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.

• Must provide for the basic needs of any person who is sponsored.

Basic on Quebec Immigration

The province of Quebec has the autonomy of its immigration system. To immigrate to Quebec, applicants must master the French language. If you wish to immigrate to Quebec, you can apply through the following immigration programs under Immigration Quebec:

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program - QSWP

• Quebec Experience Program - PEQ

• Quebec Entrepreneur Program

Through QSWP skilled workers can apply for permanent resident status in the province of Quebec. There are two steps to apply for this:

Step 1: Apply for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).

Step 2: Submit your PR Visa application to IRCC with your CSQ certificate.

Canada has over 80 immigration programs to make your move to Canada as easy as possible. 

What is the cost of applying for a PR Visa?

Canada PR visa fees are mainly of two types: Fixed fees and Variable fees. Fixed fees include processing fees, Right of permanent residence fees (RPRF), IELTS examination fees, etc. For variable fees, it includes medical examination, Police clearance certificates, etc. Following is the fees for the candidates who have applied under the express entry program:

• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) fees: CAD 227 - CAD 322

• Application processing fees: CAD 825

• Right of permanent residence fees: CAD 500

• For each dependent child: CAD 225

• IELTS examination fees: INR 14,700 whether a paper-based test or Computer-delivered test 

• Biometric fees (per person): CAD 85

Other than this, candidates who have applied without a job offer have to show some proof of funds to show that they will be able to support themselves and accompanying family members for their move to Canada. Proof of funds or settlement funds depends on the accompanying family members. The following table will show how the proofs of funds are required:

Candidates have to show these proofs of funds in bank statements, Credit card statements, etc. Details should be printed on the financial institution's letterhead and duly signed by the authorities.