Once you receive your permanent resident (pr) card, there are some rules you may need to follow. Indeed, you are a Canadian permanent resident, but still a citizen of another country.

Permanent Residency in Canada

Your PR card is the document that proves you hold permanent resident status in Canada. Then, if you travel outside the country, you should show your PR card and passport when you come back on.

PR Rules in Canada:

A permanent resident in Canada has most of the same social benefits that citizens have. Including health care coverage, free public education for kids and the opportunity to live and work in any province or territory. Moreover, you have protection from Canadian law, and you must pay taxes and respect the federal and provincial law. One of the rules for Permanent residents in Canada is to stay in the country for up to 730 days during the last five years to keep their status valid. However, this time doesn’t have to be continuous. Furthermore, after spending at least three years in Canada, you can apply to get your citizenship.

Can you Lose your PR Status?

If your PR card expires, you don’t lose your status. After all, you can only lose it if you go through an official process. Still, even if there are no rules to lose your PR status, you can lose it if you voluntarily renounce. Also, it happens if you have a removal order, or become a Canadian citizen.

Canadian PR card — The PR Card is the document that proves you are a Canadian permanent resident.

Apply to PR under the Express Entry System:

The Express Entry has two steps. Firstly, you need to create a profile in the pool. To do it, you need to submit the following documents:

A passport or travel document
Educational credential assessment report
Language test results

After submitting your profile, you will receive an invitation to apply. If so, you need to provide more documents to support all your information, such as employment letters, police clearance certificates and medical exams results.

Who is Eligible for Express Entry with PR?

Overall, a candidate with a university or a college degree, with work experience and moderate proficiency in English or French is an ideal candidate who qualifies for one of the programs under the Express Entry system.

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Are there PR Rules for an Ideal Applicant?

There isn’t a rule to be an ideal PR applicant. However, you must be eligible for Express Entry. As mentioned before, applicants who enter the pool gain a comprehensive ranking system (CRS) score. Those who have higher scores will receive an ITA. The system ranks candidates based on their age, language proficiency, age, work experience, level of education, and other factors. Such as having family in Canada. In general, even if there are no rules to be an ideal PR candidate, is better if an applicant meets the following requirements:

Be between 30 – 35 years old
Hold two Bachelor’s degrees or a Master’s degree
Is fluent in English or French language proficiency
Has at least three years of skilled work experience

(photo of an express entry candidate)

Other Factors to Improve your Score:

Retake your language test to get a better result
Get more education or work experience in Canada
Arrange employment from a Canadian company
Apply and gain a provincial nomination

How Much Does It Cost?

There are similar payments you have to make before submitting your final application. The following costs are estimates, but they may change.

Language tests: $300
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): $250
Biometrics: $85/person
Government fees: $1,325/adult – $225/child
Medical examination fees:$450/adult – $250/child
Police clearance certificates: $100/country

All in all, there isn’t a unique pathway or rules to qualify for PR in Canada. Indeed, there are many different ways to do it on behalf of your needs and profile. However, you must meet the program’s criteria you want to apply to start your immigration journey.