Canada is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world! The snow-capped Canadian Rockies, the gorgeous valleys, and thousands of crystal-clear lakes leave its visitors speechless. The vibrant, multi-cultural cities are also charming and thriving, and they provide all the conveniences to have a great life. For some, the economy of Canada and its conveniences convince them that this is the life they want to live. For those who imagine Canada to be their perfect abode and would want to immigrate in the near future, their gateway to the Great White North is paved by acquiring a Canada Permanent visa. Canada’s Permanent Visa is a sought-after opportunity for individuals looking to establish long-term residency there. Check out this brief guide that will give a better understanding of Canada permanent visa
Canada Permanent Visa
A Canada permanent visa holder can stay in Canada permanently. With this visa, you get to live like a citizen of Canada, move to any Canadian state, and work and live with benefits from the Canadian government. You can enjoy numerous facilities, such as access to efficient healthcare and social services, and even have the opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship later on. There are plenty of options for choosing a visa program based on your qualifications. In fact, there are 80+ ways to apply for a permanent Canada visa. However, the most popular types of Permanent Canada Visa are the Federal Skilled Trades Program and Federal Skilled Workers Program, which are directed toward skilled workers migrating to Canada. Even those who are studying and have gained Canadian work experience can opt for Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The Federal Skilled Program, Federal Skilled Workers Program, and Canadian Experience Class can be applied through Express Entry. Likewise, there is a Start-Up Visa Program and a Self-Employed visa program for skilled individuals who want to start a business and turn into entrepreneurs in Canada.
Advantages of Getting a Canada Permanent Visa
- This visa offers permanent residency, allowing holders to live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely.
- No more visa woes; you can exit and enter Canada any time you want without hassling over multiple entry visa applications.
- You get to study, work, and earn an income anywhere in Canada. Once you have gained some experience and lived a livelihood in Canada for a few years, you can even apply for citizenship in Canada.
- With a Canada permanent visa in hand, you can unlock access to Canada’s finest social amenities right from free healthcare, free education in school for kids and other social programs that are usually available for Canadian citizens.
- A permanent visa in Canada also strengthens your passport and makes you eligible for visa-free travel to many destinations.
Eligibility
Getting a Canada Permanent visa is a process filled with several formalities. It begins primarily through a Canada permanent visa eligibility screening. For the same, you first have to fulfill the following criteria:
- Age: You should be an adult over the age of 18 years to be a primary applicant for a Canada permanent visa.
- Funds: You must provide proof of sufficient funds to support the cost of living in Canada.
- Qualification: You also need to show the minimum qualifications required to apply for the type of permanent visa program you will be applying to migrate to Canada. The Canada permanent visa is given based on the Comprehensive Ranking System(CRS) and your eligibility factors increase or decrease your score and also your chance of getting a permanent visa.
- Character: You should have a sound, moral character and should not have any criminal record against you.
- Language: You should be proficient in English as Canada has a majority of the population speaking English. French is also the national language and knowing French can be a bonus in your application to fast track towards a Canada permanent visa.
Requirements
The requirements basically narrows down to the following aspects:
English Language Proficiency
A language proficiency test in English is a mandatory requirement for a Canada permanent visa. If you are planning to apply for a Canada permanent visa, you need to clear the IELTS examination and get at least a score of 7.5 to easily glide into the Canada permanent visa program.
Education
Canada is in search of highly skilled applicants especially those who are double graduates, have master’s degrees, PHDs, medical degrees etc. So higher your qualification, the more chance you will have of getting a Canada visa.
Work Experience
For the visa, the work experience of the applicant is taken into consideration. Having continuous, paid employment with years of experience offers an advantage to get a good CRS score. A job offer from Canada will surely increase your chances of getting a permanent visa in Canada with ease.
Financial funding
You must provide evidence of adequate funds outlined for the immigration program you choose to be eligible for a Canada Permanent visa. This is a crucial aspect of the visa program as the Embassy will verify if you have the necessary money to support yourself in Canada on your own without receiving government social assistance. The amount varies according to the visa programs and a number of people are travelling as dependents with you to Canada. You will need to furnish documentation like bank statements, investment certificates, or proof of paid employment to demonstrate you meet the minimum requirement.
How to Apply?
Check your eligibility
A Canada permanent visa application is submitted online. But before you do so, you will have to visit the official immigration website and check if you are eligible to apply for this visa type. You can check if you are eligible by answering a series of questions on the official Canadian government website.
Gather documents
Based on your eligibility questionnaire, you will know whether you are allowed to apply for a Canada Permanent visa or not. Once you know you are eligible, the next step would be to register on the website, go through the document checklist, and gather all the requisite documents to support your Canada permanent visa application. This would include your valid passport with a minimum six months validity remaining, recent, identical colour photographs as per Canada visa photo size guidelines, educational credential assessment report, transcripts from colleges detailing your education journey, bank statements, Language test report such as IELTS, proof of employment, offer letter of a job in Canada and other documents if needed. A full list of documents to submit will be available on the IRCC website once you are ready to apply.
Complete the online form, submit documents, and pay the fees
Login on the official Canada Government Immigration website and start filling out the application and uploading the requested documents for your visa approval. Pay the visa fees, and you will get a confirmation of your visa submission. The visa grant depends on the CRS score you obtain as per your eligibility. You must wait to receive an “Invitation to Apply” and for your scores to match or exceed the cut-off score.
Submit your Permanent Resident (PR) Application
Once you receive your ‘Invitation to Apply,’ submit your Permanent Residence Application, give all the necessary documentation for verification, and provide biometrics if needed. Now, all you have to do is wait for the final word from Canada Immigration, and once you are cleared, you can start packing your bags to start a new life in Canada!
Conclusion
Canada is a beautiful country offering a range of opportunities to those looking for a fresh start. Understanding the eligibility criteria, benefits, and application process is crucial for those considering the Canada permanent visa option. It makes the process less cumbersome and easier to follow.
Nilkanth Patil is a passionate writer with an impressive background in travel and has experience in the fields of visa consulting and customer service. He combines his expertise in these fields with his love of writing viewing it as both a hobby and a way to share his perspectives on topics that fascinate him.