FAQs
The elements to become a Canadian permanent resident vary depending on the stream through which you are accepted.
To apply for citizenship, you must have Permanent Resident Status. You must remain in Canada for 2 of 5 years.
- Receive almost all social benefits including Canadian health.
- Live, work and study in Canadian province or territory.
- Can apply for Canadian citizenship.
- Get rights and freedoms.
- In order to apply for Canadian citizenship, candidate must be at least 18 years of age.
- In order to apply for child under 18 years, the child’s parent or legal guardian can apply on behalf of the child. The child must be a PR of Canada, but is not required to have lived in Canada for 3 years.
- For child under 18 years, one parent should be a Canadian Citizen or is applying to becoming a citizen.
Interview is conducted to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the documentation submitted to clarify issues relating
- to confirm an applicant possesses the necessary means to settle in Canada,
- to verify the absence of security inadmissibility,
- to ensure applicant is intending to enter the Canadian labour market,
- to verify whether there are sufficient grounds to exercise positive
Applicants are advised to bring to the interview, all original documentation supporting the application, certificates of non-criminal conviction, evidence of settlement funds.
Permanent resident status in maintained if a person is physically resident in Canada for at least 2 years within any period of 5 years, or if other circumstances are met.
If not physically present in Canada, permanent resident status can be maintained while abroad where the Canadian resident is aboard with a Canadian citizen spouse or parent with a Canadian permanent resident who works for a Canadian employer.
It is sufficient for a permanent resident to demonstrate at examination, if they have been a permanent resident for less than 5 years, that they can potentially meet the 730-day residency obligation in respect of the 5-year period immediately after their arrival in Canada.
- Possess at least one year of applicable full-time experience in one of 50 major high demand occupations (health, skilled trades and finance) or
- Possess an approved offer of employment “arranged employment” or
- Be legally living in Canada for a minimum of one year as a temporary foreign worker and have received a permanent full time employment offer from current employer. or
- Be enrolled in good standing in Canadian PhD program and have completed at least two years of the program or graduated within the 12 months preceding the application.
- At least one year of experience within the past 10 years is one of the occupation list in either skill type 0 or skill level A or B of the National Occupation List (NOC) is a necessary preliminary requisite to qualifying for permanent resident status.