Permanent Residency Canada
🍁 Family • Economic • Humanitarian & Compassionate 🍁
Canadian permanent residency gives you the right to live, work, and study in Canada, along with access to most social benefits, without the time limits that come with a temporary work or study permit.
There is no single route to Canadian permanent residence. Canada has numerous permanent residence pathways with different eligibility requirements. These fall broadly within categories such as economic immigration, family reunification, refugees and protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate or other immigration programs.
This page explains how permanent residency works, the main pathways available, what is generally required, and how to figure out which route may fit your situation.
What Is Permanent Residency in Canada?
A Canadian permanent resident is someone who has been granted permanent resident status in Canada but is not a Canadian citizen.
Permanent residents can generally live, work, and study anywhere in Canada and access most social benefits and provincial or territorial health-care coverage, subject to the applicable eligibility rules.
However, permanent residents cannot vote or run for political office, do not hold Canadian passports, may be ineligible for certain positions requiring high-level security clearances, and must meet a residency obligation to maintain their status.
Canada’s immigration system, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), includes objectives such as reuniting families, supporting Canada’s economy, and providing protection to refugees and others in need of humanitarian consideration. Canada’s permanent residence programs reflect these different immigration objectives.
Permanent Resident vs. Citizen: What’s the Difference?
Permanent residency and citizenship are often confused, but they come with different rights and ongoing obligations.
| Permanent Resident | Canadian Citizen | |
|---|---|---|
| Right to live/work/study in Canada | Yes | Yes |
| Right to vote or run for office | No | Yes |
| Canadian passport | No | Yes |
| Can lose status | Yes, through applicable legal processes | Citizenship may be revoked in limited circumstances involving fraud, misrepresentation, or knowingly concealing material information in obtaining immigration status or citizenship |
| Must meet a residency obligation | Yes | No |
| Path forward | Can apply for citizenship after meeting eligibility requirements | N/A |
A key distinction is that permanent resident status can be lost through specific legal processes, including where a person fails to meet the residency obligation or becomes subject to certain inadmissibility proceedings.
Canadian citizenship is significantly more secure. However, citizenship may be revoked in limited circumstances where it was obtained through fraud, misrepresentation, or knowingly concealing material information.
This is one reason many permanent residents eventually pursue Canadian citizenship once they become eligible.
How Can You Get Canadian Permanent Residency?
According to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), Canada’s immigration law, Canada’s immigration system has objectives to:
- see that families are reunited in Canada
- support the development of a strong and prosperous Canadian economy, in which the benefits of immigration are shared across all regions of Canada;
- offer safe haven to persons with a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion or membership in a particular social group, as well as those at risk of torture or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment
Even though Canada has over 80 different immigration pathways, almost every pathway can be classified under 3 overarching classes of immigration: Family Class, Economic Class, and Refugee Class. The first step in applying for Canadian permanent residency is to understand the differences between the 3 classes to narrow down your list of possible immigration programs!
Family Class
Are you a Canadian PR or Citizen looking to sponsor a family member for Canadian Permanent Residency?
Economic Class
Do you have the skills or experience needed to help grow Canada’s economy? You may be eligible for PR.
Humanitarian & Compassionate
Not eligible for any immigration program? IRCC has the flexibility to grant permanent residence status based on H&C considerations.
Family Class: Sponsoring a Family Member
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor certain family members for permanent residence.
One of the most common categories is spousal and partner sponsorship, which can include:
-
spouses
-
common-law partners
-
conjugal partners
Other family sponsorship categories may include dependent children and, depending on current program availability and applicable requirements, parents and grandparents.
If you are looking to sponsor a spouse or partner specifically, our dedicated spousal and common-law sponsorship page covers eligibility, the Family Class versus Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class distinction, open work permit considerations, and the documents typically involved.
Economic Class: Express Entry, PNP, and Skilled Worker Pathways
Economic immigration programs are designed primarily for people who can contribute to the Canadian labour market and economy.
Major economic immigration pathways include:
-
Express Entry – the federal system that manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. Eligible candidates create an Express Entry profile and enter a pool, where they are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). CRS ranking considers factors such as age, education, language proficiency, Canadian and foreign work experience, and other eligible factors. IRCC conducts different types of invitation rounds and invites qualifying candidates with competitive CRS scores to apply for permanent residence.
-
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) – provinces and territories use their own immigration programs to nominate candidates who meet their economic and labour-market needs. Most provinces and territories operate Provincial Nominee Programs. Quebec has its own immigration selection system, while Nunavut does not operate a Provincial Nominee Program. Depending on the particular stream, a provincial nomination may support an Express Entry application or a non-Express Entry permanent residence application.
-
Quebec-selected pathways – Quebec selects many of its own economic immigrants through separate provincial selection processes. Successful candidates generally complete the federal permanent residence stage after receiving the applicable Quebec selection document.
Other federal, regional, sector-specific, and community-based economic immigration pathways may also be available depending on current government programs and an applicant’s circumstances.
Pathways from Temporary Status to PR
Many temporary residents in Canada may later become eligible for permanent residence through an economic immigration program.
Eligibility can depend on factors such as:
-
Canadian and foreign work experience
-
occupation
-
language ability
-
education
-
age
-
province or territory of residence
-
employer support
-
job offers, where relevant to the specific program
-
family circumstances
-
other program-specific criteria
For example, qualifying Canadian work experience may help a candidate become eligible for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry.
Some Provincial Nominee Program streams may also consider Canadian work experience, employer support, a job offer, or other factors specific to the province or territory.
However, simply holding a Canadian work permit does not create an automatic pathway to permanent residence.
Employer-Supported PR Pathways
Some permanent residence pathways consider a candidate’s employment, job offer, or employer support as part of the eligibility requirements.
This is particularly relevant to certain Provincial Nominee Program streams and other employer-supported immigration pathways.
The requirements vary significantly by program and province or territory.
Employers looking to help valued employees transition from temporary status to permanent residence may want to review our corporate immigration services, which include both temporary work permit and permanent residence support.
Humanitarian & Compassionate Considerations
Not everyone fits within an existing economic or family immigration program.
Humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) consideration is a discretionary immigration mechanism that may allow certain foreign nationals to request permanent residence from within Canada based on their particular circumstances.
Officers assess each application individually and may consider factors such as:
-
establishment in Canada
-
family and community ties in Canada
-
the best interests of children directly affected
-
health considerations
-
consequences of separation from family members
-
country conditions, where relevant to the H&C assessment
-
hardship or other circumstances the applicant would face
H&C consideration is highly discretionary.
It should not be treated as simply another points-based permanent residence program or as an automatic alternative whenever an applicant does not qualify under an economic or family pathway.
Still deciding between pathways?
A regulated Canadian immigration consultant can help you identify the strongest route for your situation.
How to Apply for Permanent Residency in Canada
The exact application process depends on the immigration program.
However, many permanent residence processes involve some variation of the following steps:
-
Determine eligibility for a specific immigration program, such as a Family Class sponsorship, Express Entry program, Provincial Nominee Program, or another permanent residence pathway.
-
Gather the required documentation. Depending on the program, this may include identity and civil-status documents, language test results, education documents, Educational Credential Assessments, police certificates, proof of funds, employment records, relationship evidence, and other supporting documents. Immigration medical examination requirements and timing vary by immigration program. Some applicants may be required to complete an upfront immigration medical examination, while others may receive medical instructions during processing.
-
Submit the required profile, nomination application, sponsorship application, or permanent residence application. For Express Entry, eligible candidates first create a profile and enter the Express Entry pool. Candidates who receive an Invitation to Apply can then submit their permanent residence application within the applicable deadline. For Provincial Nominee Programs, applicants may first need to apply to the province or territory and obtain a nomination before completing the federal permanent residence process, depending on the stream.
-
Respond to requests from IRCC for additional information, documentation, medical examinations, biometrics, interviews, or other requirements where applicable.
-
Receive a decision. If the permanent residence application is approved, the applicant will normally receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and complete the applicable permanent residence confirmation or landing process. Applicants outside Canada who require a permanent resident visa based on their nationality or travel document may also receive a permanent resident visa.
Permanent Residency Requirements Overview
Requirements differ significantly between permanent residence programs.
Depending on the immigration pathway, IRCC or the applicable province or territory may assess factors including:
-
identity
-
criminal admissibility
-
medical admissibility
-
security admissibility
-
immigration history
-
program-specific eligibility
-
qualifying work experience
-
occupation
-
language ability
-
education
-
Educational Credential Assessments, where applicable
-
proof of funds, where required
-
family relationships
-
employer support or provincial nomination
-
supporting documentation
Applicants must also provide complete and accurate information and must not be inadmissible on grounds such as security, criminality, medical inadmissibility where applicable, or misrepresentation.
Permanent Residency Processing Times
Permanent residence processing times vary significantly depending on the program.
A spousal sponsorship application, Express Entry application, Provincial Nominee Program application, and H&C application can have very different processing timelines.
IRCC updates its published processing times periodically based on application inventories, processing capacity, and other operational factors.
Rather than relying on a single general estimate, applicants should check IRCC’s current published processing time for their specific immigration category.
Permanent Residency Fees
Permanent residence applications generally involve government processing fees specific to the immigration category.
Many adult permanent residence applicants must also pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF).
Certain categories and applicants are exempt from the RPRF, including dependent children and some refugee or protected-person applicants.
Because IRCC fees can change, applicants should confirm the current government fees applicable to their immigration program before submitting an application.
Benefits of Canadian Permanent Residency
Permanent residence provides significant rights and benefits in Canada.
Permanent residents can generally:
-
live, work, and study anywhere in Canada
-
access provincial or territorial health-care coverage, subject to applicable eligibility rules
-
receive most social benefits available to Canadian citizens
-
receive protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
-
sponsor eligible family members where the sponsorship requirements are met
-
apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting the applicable citizenship requirements
Permanent residence therefore provides long-term security in Canada while also creating a potential pathway to Canadian citizenship.
How to Maintain PR Status in Canada
Permanent residents are subject to a residency obligation.
If you have been a permanent resident for five years or more, you generally need to have accumulated at least 730 days in Canada during the most recent five-year period.
The 730 days do not need to be continuous.
If you have been a permanent resident for less than five years, you must generally be able to demonstrate that you will be able to accumulate at least 730 days of qualifying residency within the first five years after becoming a permanent resident.
Certain periods spent outside Canada may also count toward the residency obligation. For example, qualifying time abroad may count in circumstances involving an accompanying Canadian citizen spouse or common-law partner or certain employment outside Canada.
Falling short of the residency obligation can put permanent resident status at risk. However, a person does not automatically lose PR status simply because they have accumulated fewer than 730 qualifying days.
Permanent resident status continues until it is formally lost through one of the legal processes provided under Canadian immigration law.
PR Card vs. PR Status
A PR card is different from permanent resident status.
PR cards expire and may need to be renewed for travel purposes, but the expiry of a PR card does not by itself mean that permanent resident status has expired.
A person can therefore remain a permanent resident even if their PR card has expired.
Common Mistakes in PR Applications
Some of the most common problems in permanent residence applications include:
-
Applying under a program without confirming eligibility – meeting some of the requirements does not necessarily mean the applicant qualifies for the immigration program as a whole.
-
Incomplete supporting documentation – missing employment records, language test results, education documents, proof of funds, civil documents, or other required evidence can create delays or result in refusal or an application being returned.
-
Police certificates that do not meet IRCC requirements – police certificate requirements depend on where a person currently lives, where they previously lived, and when the certificate was issued. A certificate is not necessarily unusable simply because a printed expiry date has passed.
-
Misrepresentation – directly or indirectly providing false or misleading information, or withholding material information, that induces or could induce an error in the immigration process can result in serious consequences. A finding of misrepresentation can lead to refusal and a five-year period of inadmissibility, and an intention to deceive is not necessarily required.
-
Inconsistencies between different applications – information about employment, education, relationships, addresses, travel, or immigration history should be consistent with previous immigration applications unless an accurate explanation is provided.
-
Missing deadlines – failing to submit an application after an invitation or nomination, or failing to respond to an IRCC request within the required timeframe, can seriously affect an application.
-
Failing to disclose family members or other material information – incomplete disclosure can have significant consequences for both the current application and future immigration matters.
-
Not accounting for time outside Canada after becoming a permanent resident – extensive travel can eventually affect compliance with the permanent resident residency obligation.
Want to avoid costly mistakes in your application?
Get personalized guidance before you submit, not after something goes wrong.
How Mygration Can Help
The first challenge for many prospective permanent residents is not filling out forms – it is identifying which immigration pathway actually fits their circumstances.
At Mygration, we begin by assessing the relevant immigration options before recommending a strategy.
Depending on your circumstances, that assessment may involve reviewing:
-
Canadian and foreign work experience
-
education
-
language ability
-
Express Entry eligibility and CRS score
-
Provincial Nominee Program options
-
employer-supported pathways
-
family sponsorship possibilities
-
previous immigration history
-
refusals or inadmissibility concerns
-
temporary resident status in Canada
-
longer-term immigration strategy
Consultation
Starting at $149 CAD
Full Representation
Starting at $1,250 CAD
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get permanent residency in Canada?
There is no single route to Canadian permanent residence.
Canada has numerous immigration pathways covering categories such as economic immigration, family sponsorship, refugees and protected persons, and humanitarian and compassionate or other immigration programs.
The appropriate pathway depends on factors such as your work experience, education, language ability, family relationships, province or territory, immigration history, and personal circumstances.
What are the requirements for permanent residency in Canada?
Requirements depend entirely on the immigration program.
Depending on the pathway, requirements may involve qualifying work experience, language ability, education, a provincial nomination, an eligible family relationship, proof of funds, employer support, or other program-specific criteria.
Permanent residence applicants must also satisfy the applicable admissibility requirements and provide the required supporting documentation.
How long does it take to get permanent residency in Canada?
Processing times vary significantly depending on the immigration program and can change over time.
IRCC publishes current processing-time estimates for different application categories.
Applicants should check the processing time for their specific immigration program rather than relying on a general estimate for Canadian permanent residence.
Does permanent residency in Canada expire?
Permanent resident status does not expire simply because a PR card expires.
However, permanent residents must comply with Canada’s residency obligation.
A person who has been a permanent resident for at least five years generally needs at least 730 qualifying days during the most recent five-year period.
A person who has been a permanent resident for less than five years must generally be able to accumulate at least 730 qualifying days within their first five years as a permanent resident.
Certain periods outside Canada may count toward the residency obligation.
Failing to meet the residency obligation does not automatically terminate PR status. Permanent resident status can only be lost through the applicable legal processes.
Can permanent residents vote in Canada?
Permanent residents cannot vote in federal elections or run as candidates in federal elections.
Voting eligibility at other levels of government is governed by the applicable Canadian election laws.
Canadian citizenship is generally required to vote in federal and provincial elections.
Can a permanent resident of Canada travel to the United States?
Yes, but Canadian permanent resident status does not by itself give someone the right to enter the United States.
A Canadian permanent resident must separately meet US entry requirements based on factors such as their country of citizenship, passport, and whether a US visa or other travel authorization is required.
US entry requirements are governed by US law rather than Canadian permanent residence rules.
What’s the difference between a permanent resident and a citizen in Canada?
Permanent residents can generally live, work, and study in Canada, receive most social benefits, and later apply for citizenship if eligible.
However, permanent residents cannot vote or run for political office, cannot obtain a Canadian passport based solely on PR status, must meet a residency obligation, and can lose permanent resident status through applicable legal processes.
Canadian citizens have additional rights, including voting rights and the right to a Canadian passport. Canadian citizenship does not have a continuing residency obligation.
Citizenship may nevertheless be revoked in limited circumstances involving fraud, misrepresentation, or knowingly concealing material information in obtaining immigration status or citizenship.
Can I go straight from a work permit to permanent residency?
Sometimes, but there is no automatic transition from a Canadian work permit to permanent residence.
Qualifying Canadian work experience may help a person become eligible for programs such as the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry or particular Provincial Nominee Program streams.
Other pathways may depend on employer support, occupation, language ability, education, a provincial nomination, or other factors.
Whether a particular period of work counts toward permanent residence depends on the specific requirements of the immigration program.