Canada is the favourite country for Indians who want to relocate abroad and get a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa from India to enjoy a better life quality and have more growth opportunities.
In fact, India is the biggest source of skilled immigrants who are becoming Canadian permanent residents. Thus, for Canada, Immigration is one of the main factors to recover from the pandemic. The Immigration level plan for 2021 to 2023 is to welcome more than 1,2 M immigrants. Then, the Canadian government proves the commitment to receive more and more skilled immigrants to increase the country’s economic development.
So, if you are an Indian citizen and want to move and immigrate to Canada, the best way to do it is to apply for your PR visa. Fortunately, while you get your permanent residence, you and your family members will :
- Live, study or work in any province for five years
- After the required time, you can apply for Canadian citizenship
- Access to healthcare and education
- Get social security benefits
So, if you want to become a Canadian permanent resident, you need to qualify under an immigration program to apply for a PR Visa.
Immigration Programs for Canadian Permanent Resident Visa From India
In effect, Canada offers different immigration programs to get a Permanent Resident Visa from India. Each program has specific requirements and application processes.
Then, choosing the right immigration program is essential to have a smooth process. To do it, you should focus on your profile, needs, and background. The following programs are some of the most popular to apply for the Canada PR Visa:
- Express Entry program
- Business Immigration program
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNPs)
- Quebec Immigration
- Family Class immigration
Apply for a PR Visa Through the Express Entry
The express entry system is a fast-track immigration pathway for PR Visa candidates. For people from India, and all over the world, this system offers some of the most popular immigration programs. In essence, it is a point system to manage the profiles of immigrants who apply for PR Visa under these three federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Overall, the processing time is around 6 to 8 months. However, times can change depending on different circumstances. Such as your elected program, country of residence, among others.
The Federal Skilled Worker program is the primary source of skilled immigrants. So, to qualify, you need to score at least 67 points out of 100 in the FSWP point assessment grid.
The grid ranks candidates based on the following factors:
- Age
- Work Experience
- Arranged Employment
- Language Skills
- Education
- Adaptability factors
In fact, in the Express Entry pool, all the profiles are ranked through the Comprehensive Rankings System (CRS). Then, candidates with the higher-ranked profiles receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA). Finally, after the ITA, applicants can submit their PR Visa application to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada).
So, once you have your ITA, you will have 60 days to apply for your PR Visa. You will need to do it with all the documentation required.
Documents are:
- Valid passport
- English test report
- Educational credential assessment (ECA)
- Work experience proof
- Medical exams
- Police Clearance Certificate
- Proof of funds
Once your application and biometrics are submitted and successfully assessed by IRCC, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR). Then, you can get your PR Visa card from the point of entry in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – Settle in Any Canadian Province.
There are some provincial immigration programs that are an excellent option to immigrate from India.
Almost every province and territory offers an immigration program to nominate skilled immigrants to settle as permanent residents. These programs are Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and are a faster pathway to get your Canadian Permanent Resident Visa from India.
The following information has the main PNPs with their immigration streams:
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- Opportunity Stream (AOS)
- Express Entry Stream
- Farmer Self-Employed Pathway
- Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur Pathway
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Skills Immigration
- Express Entry
- Entrepreneur Immigration
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Skilled Workers in Manitoba
- Skilled Workers Overseas
- International Education Pathway
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Express Entry Stream
- Skilled Workers Stream
- Business Immigration Stream
Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- Newfoundland Express Entry Skilled Worker
- Priority Skills
- International Graduate
- International Graduate Entrepreneur
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
- Express Entry
- Skilled Worker
- Entrepreneur
- Physician
- Occupation in-demand
- Overseas Graduate Entrepreneur
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Human Capital Priorities Stream
- Employer Job-Offer
- Business Immigration
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- PEI Express Entry
- PEI PNP Skilled Workers Outside Canada
- Skilled Workers in PEI
- International Graduate
- Critical Work
- Business Work Permit
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- International Skilled Worker Program
- Saskatchewan Experience Program
- Saskatchewan Business Immigration Program
Northwest Territories PNP
- Employer Driven
- Business
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
- Skilled Worker
- Express Entry
- Critical Impact Worker
- Business Nominee
- Community Pilot
To sum up, each of those PNPs has different requirements based on their local market needs. However, all PNPs are an excellent alternative to immigrants who cant meet the requirements of the express entry program.
How is The Express Entry Linked With PNPs?
Indeed, PNPs immigration streams allow provinces to search and select skilled immigrants in the federal government’s express entry pool.
Then, Express Entry candidates who receive a provincial nomination certificate grant 600 CRS points on their profile. In brief, these points guarantee an ITA for the candidate to apply for their PR visa.
Business Immigration: Have a Business in Canada and Get a PR Visa
Overall, Canada offers Business Immigration programs that someone from India can use as a pathway to immigrate and create new opportunities in the local market. Then, each province welcomes business individuals with the required skills to help economic development.
Business programs focus on entrepreneurs, employees, business people, and investors.
Then, depending on your needs, you can choose one of them:
- Self-Employed Visa
- PNP Entrepreneur Visa
- Business Visitor Visa
- Start-up Visa
On the other hand, Quebec also has programs for investors and entrepreneurs.
Family Class Immigration
Canada is a country that supports immigrants and recognizes the importance of reuniting families as one of its immigration programs. It can be a good option for someone from India. As a result, citizens and permanent residents can sponsor spouses, dependent children, parents, or grandparents to get a Canadian Permanent Resident Visa from India. Those programs are:
- Family Class sponsorship
- Canadian spouse program (spouse visa)
- Super Visa
Who is a Dependent?
In fact, if you wish to sponsor a family member, they become your dependents. In that case, you can need to prove your relationship to bring them to Canada. Those dependents are:
- Spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner
- Dependent children(under 21 years)
- Parents or grandparents
- A child you adopted outside Canada
- Your family member (brother, sister, niece, nephew, uncle, aunt)
Minimum Requirement to be a Sponsor
To clarify, if you want to sponsor your spouse, partner, or dependent child, you need to meet the following criteria:
- Must be a minimum of 18 years old.
- Must be a Canadian Citizen, a permanent resident of Canada. Or you can be registered as an Indian under the Canadian Indian act.
- Must commit to providing basic needs of any person you will sponsor
Quebec Immigration
So, it is essential to know that Quebec has its own immigration system. To qualify, applicants must prove their French language skills.
These are the immigration programs for Quebec:
- Entrepreneur Program
- Skilled Worker Program – QSWP
- Experience Program – PEQ
Through QSWP, skilled workers can apply for their permanent resident status in Quebec. Finally, there are two steps you must follow:
Step 1: Apply for Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).
Step 2: Submit your Permanent Resident Visa application to IRCC with your CSQ certificate.
Cost of Applying for a Canadian PR Visa
Generally speaking, there are two fees for the Canadian permanent resident visa: Fixed fees and Variable fees.
Fixed fees include:
- Processing fees
- Right of permanent residence fees (RPRF)
- Language test fees
- Among others.
Variable fees include:
- Medical examination
- Police clearance certificates
- Among others.
As an illustration, these are some fees for candidates under the express entry program:
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Between CAD 227 -322
- Application processing fees: CAD 825
- Right of permanent residence fees: CAD 500
- Each dependent child: CAD 225
- Biometric cost (per each): CAD 85
Additionally, candidates who applied without a job offer need to prove their funds to support themselves and their families. But, funds will depend on the accompanying family members.
Number of Family Members Funds Required (CAD)
- 1 person: $12,960
- 2 people: $16,135
- 3 people: $19,836
- 4 people: $24,083
- 5 people: $27,315
- 6 people: $30,806
- 7 people: $34,299
Each additional family member $3,492
To demonstrate your funds, you can do with bank statements, Credit card statements, among others. So, remember it must be printed on the financial institution’s letterhead and signed by the authorities.