Quick answer
Permanent residence (PR) lets you live, work or study anywhere in Canada and later apply for citizenship. Most people from India get PR through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program, often after studying and working in Canada first. The government fee for a principal applicant is CAD 1,590, and to keep PR you must spend at least 730 days in Canada in every five years.
Last reviewed against official Government of Canada sources. Rules change often: confirm with a counsellor before you apply.
- Main routes
- Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs, family sponsorship
- Fee, principal applicant
- CAD 1,590 (990 processing + 600 right of PR)
- To keep PR
- 730 days in Canada in every 5 years
- Provincial nomination
- Adds 600 Express Entry points
What PR gives you
- Live, work or study anywhere in Canada.
- Most of the social benefits Canadian citizens receive.
- The right to apply for Canadian citizenship later.
Permanent residents can't vote or run for political office, and can't hold some jobs that need a high-level security clearance.
The main routes to PR
| Route | Who it suits | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry | Skilled workers and tradespeople, including graduates working in Canada | Three programs: Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades. The highest-ranked candidates in the pool are invited to apply. |
| Provincial Nominee Program | People a province or territory wants for its economy | A province nominates you. Through Express Entry, a nomination adds 600 points; there is also a non-Express Entry route. |
| Family sponsorship | Spouses, partners and dependent children of citizens and permanent residents | Your relative in Canada sponsors you. Sponsorship of parents and grandparents is currently paused. |
IRCC also lists the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots, programs for caregivers and doctors, and Quebec's own selection programs. The Start-up Visa is paused, and the temporary-resident-to-PR pathway is closed.
The usual path for students from India
- Study at a Canadian college or university on a study permit.
- Get a Post-Graduation Work Permit and work in Canada.
- After 1 year of skilled work in Canada, apply through the Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry.
- Or apply to a province: a nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry score.
Work you did while studying full time doesn't count toward the Canadian Experience Class. Check the language levels you need in CLB to IELTS.
Provinces with nominee programs
Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan and Yukon run nominee programs. Quebec and Nunavut don't; Quebec selects its own skilled workers.
Each province sets its own requirements and nomination limits. Ontario's program is the OINP.
Government fees
| Application | Fee (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Permanent residence, principal applicant (Express Entry, provincial nominee) | 1,590 (990 processing + 600 right of permanent residence) |
| Sponsoring a spouse or partner | 1,260 (660 without the right of permanent residence fee) |
| Each dependent child | 180 |
| Biometrics | 85 per person; 170 maximum for a family |
Keeping your PR status
You must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every five-year period. The days don't need to be continuous, and some time outside Canada may count. Keep a record of your travel dates.
Every PR application we prepare is handled by licensed RCICs. See our immigration services.
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