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Thinking of moving to 🍁Canada permanently? You're not alone! A lot of people have made the move and never looked back. This blog aims to break down everything you need to know about the Canada PR (Permanent Resident) Visa.
What is Canada PR Visa 🍁?
A Permanent Residency Visa in Canada 🍁is a type of immigration status that lets you live, work, or study anywhere in Canada. Unlike a temporary visa, it doesn't have an expiry date, but you do have to renew your PR Card every 5 years.
Let’s start with the basics, shall we?
- • Permanent Resident Card: When people talk about "Canada PR," they're often talking about the Permanent Resident Card. It's the official proof that you've got the right to live and work in Canada indefinitely.
- • Not Citizenship: Keep in mind, a PR is not the same as citizenship. You don't get a Canadian passport or the right to vote in Canadian elections.
- • Freedom to Work and Live: With PR, you can live, work, or study anywhere in Canada.
Canada PR Requirements 🍁
Here’s what you’ll need in your application package:
Basic Requirements
- Age: You have to be under 45 years, although some exceptions may apply.
- Language Proficiency: Fluent in English or French.
- Skilled Work Experience: At least 1 year in a full-time skilled job.
Documents 📃
- • Passport
- • Language test results
- • Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- • Police clearance
- • Medical exam results
| Documents | Where to Get It | Time to Process |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Your home country | 1-3 weeks |
| Language tests | Approved testing agencies | 2-4 weeks |
| ECA | Educational institutions | 3-8 weeks |
| Police Clearance | Local Police Station | 2-4 weeks |
Who is Eligible for Canada PR?
Eligibility Criteria
- • Skilled Worker: This is the most common way people apply. You have to have work experience in a skilled job like a manager or healthcare worker.
- • Family Sponsorship: If you have close family members who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents, they can sponsor you.
- • Business Immigration: If you want to invest or start a business in Canada.
Points System
Canada uses a points-based system called CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System). You'll get points based on your age, education, and work experience among other things.
Permanent Resident Canada Processing Time ⏱
Timeframes
- • Initial Assessment: About 6-8 months for the Express Entry system.
- • Invitation to Apply (ITA): After the initial assessment, it usually takes about 4-6 months to get an ITA.
- • Final Processing: After you get an ITA, another 6 months for your PR Card.
| Stage | Duration |
|---|---|
| Initial Assessment | 6-8 months |
| ITA | 4-6 months |
| Final Processing | 6 months |
How Do You Become a Permanent Resident of Canada?
Here's a step-by-step rundown for the Express Entry system, just to give you a taste:
- • Take a Language Test: Yup, you gotta prove you can speak English or French.
- • Document Verification: Gather all the documents you'll need like passports, job records, etc.
- • Create an Express Entry Profile: You'll get points based on your details.
- • Wait for Invitation: If you're among the top, you'll get invited to apply.
- • Submit the Application: Now you go all in.
- • Biometrics and Interview: A fancy way of saying they'll check your background.
- • Wait for Decision: The nail-biting part.
How Long Can You Stay Out of Canada if You Are a Permanent Resident?
- • Short Trips: You can leave for short trips without issues.
- • Long Trips: If you’re outside of Canada for more than 730 days in the last 5 years, you could lose your PR status.
Benefits 😀
Who wouldn't want to be a Canadian, right? Here's why:
- • Healthcare: Free!
- • Education: Access to one of the world's best education systems.
- • Job Opportunities: Plenty of them, eh.
- • Safety: It’s one of the safest countries in the world.
- • Citizenship: After a few years, you can apply to be a full-on Canadian
Canada PR Fees💸
- • Application Fee: Around $825 for adults, $225 for kids.
- • Right of Permanent Residence Fee: $500
- • Biometrics: $85
These numbers can change, so check the official site.
Myths and Facts 🕵️♀️
- • Myth: PR is a guaranteed path to citizenship.
- • Fact: You gotta meet specific criteria and apply separately.
- • Myth: PR gives you all the benefits Canadian citizens have.
- • Fact: Almost, but you can't vote or hold high-security jobs.
- • Myth: Once you get PR, you're set for life.
- • Fact: You gotta renew your PR card and meet residency requirements
Conclusion
So there you have it, your complete guide to Canada's PR Visa🍁. It’s not a quick process but if you have the right skills or family ties, it's totally doable. Remember to get all your documents in order and be prepared for a bit of a wait. Good luck!
