Indians have been the biggest beneficiaries of Canada PR programs. They have dominated the list of Canadian permanent residents as well as Canadian immigrants overall. Considering quick and easy pathways to apply for Canada PR from India – this is no surprise.
Since the Great White North offers world-class education, high-paying job opportunities, jaw-dropping scenic beauty, free healthcare, and a multicultural society – Canada is the perfect destination for Indian nationals wanting to settle in a foreign country.
But, how does one apply for Canada PR from India?
Out of the many Canadian Permanent Residency options offered by the Canadian government – your best bet will be to apply under the Express Entry. Why?
Express Entry: Fast-track Canada PR pathway
Launched back in 2015, Express Entry is Canada’s primary source of economic immigration to the country. The point-based system takes anywhere between 6 and 8 months to process a PR application – making it the fastest roadmap to Canadian permanent residency.
It currently manages three Federal High Skilled (FHS) programs including:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
How to apply for Canada PR under Express Entry?
The process to apply for Canada PR from India under the Express Entry is an easy 9-step process.
STEP 1: Get your ECA done
You would first be required to get your academic credentials assessed by a Canadian regulatory body such as WES, ICAS, and CES. Getting an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) report is necessary to check whether or not your academic credentials meet Canadian standards.
STEP 2: Take your IELTS
For Canadian permanent residency under the Express Entry system, you would need to have a minimum language proficiency of Canadian Benchmark Level (CLB) 7 – or a minimum of 6.0 in each section of the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) i.e., Listening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking.
STEP 3: Create an Express Entry profile
You will now need to register yourself under the federal Express Entry program online. Create an Express Entry profile and fill in the mandated requirements. If you surpass the 67-point threshold, your profile will be placed in the Express Entry pool – alongside other qualifying candidates.
STEP 4: Get an Invitation to Apply (ITA)
Once in the pool, your profile will be ranked on factors such as Age, Education, Work Experience, Language Proficiency, etc. – all adding to a final score in the CRS points calculator. If you meet the minimum CRS cut-off scores, you will be issued an ITA to apply for Canada PR from India in the subsequent Express Entry draw.
STEP 5: Apply for a Provincial Nomination (optional)
If you fail to meet the minimum CRS score, this is for you. Canada has 10 provinces, each with its Express Entry linked Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Getting nominated from a Canadian province effectively guarantees a successful Canada PR. A PNP adds another 600 points to your final CRS score.
STEP 6: Go through police and medical background checks
To prove that you hold no criminal background history, you would be mandated to provide a police background check certificate alongside your supporting documents. Furthermore, a medical clearance report justifying that you are in good condition to travel to Canada must also be provided.
STEP 7: Application audit by the IRCC
Upon submitting a complete Express Entry application alongside the supporting documents – Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will now review your profile and authenticate the information provided by you.
STEP 8: Receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR)
If the audit is successful, the IRCC will now send you a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) on the email ID you used to create your Express Entry profile. You can now use this COPR to apply for Canada PR from India.
STEP 9: Apply for a Canada PR status
Immigrating to Canada from India
Other permanent residency options to Canada you may discover when exploring how to get Canada PR from India includes Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Business Investor Program, and the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program. Indian citizens account for 30.82% of the total number of immigrants that received Canadian permanent residency in the first quarter of 2022. With a plethora of benefits offered by the Canadian government to Indian immigrants – these numbers are sure to rise drastically.
