A guide to apply for Canada PR from India

by Mansi Sahai Published on 14/Sep/2022

Canada has set an ambitious immigration plan of welcoming millions of newcomers in the next three years. As per the 2022-2024 immigration level plan, over 60 per cent of immigrants will come under economic class programs, including Express Entry and the PNP.

With each passing year, the Canadian government increases immigrants' intake in various fields and industries as the country is in constant need of skilled and talented people.

In the process, one nation which remained a top source for immigrants to Canada is none other than "India". Over the last few years, there has been a substantial increase in Indian nationals who apply for Canada PR from India and successfully obtain Canadian permanent residence status.

Federal Express Entry System- A faster Canada PR pathway

Most of India's skilled professionals choose to apply for permanent residency in Canada through the Federal Express Entry system. It is not only the most popular program but is one the fastest as well.

Through Express Entry, it takes approximately 12-18 months to complete the entire process, which includes:

Confirming your eligibility for one of the three EE programs, Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and Canadian Experience Class
Creating Express Entry profile online
Entering the pool of candidates by meeting minimum eligibility criteria for language proficiency, level of education and skilled work experience
Gathering relevant documents to submit as and when asked by the IRCC
Receiving an ITA (Invitation to Apply) for Canada PR by meeting minimum CRS (Comprehensive Ranking Score) requirement as per individual Express Entry draw conducted by the IRCC on a bi-weekly basis
Accept an ITA and submit a final and complete PR application, i.e. eAPR (Electronic application for permanent residence), along with supporting documents and required fees.
Respond to any request by the IRCC for additional document or information in a timely fashion
Wait for your PR approval as the IRCC generally takes around 4-6 months of processing time for complete PR applications.

Federal Skilled Worker Program- A suitable Canada PR pathway from India

The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is ideal for skilled foreign workers who aspire to move to Canada permanently. An aspiring immigrant can qualify for FSWP even if he/she don't have any prior connection to Canada regarding past studies, past work experience, any relative living in Canada, etc.

To qualify and enter the EE pool candidates under FSWP, an applicant needs a minimum of one year of work experience in a skilled occupation gained in the last ten years. There is no mandatory requirement of having a prior job offer from a Canadian employer or prior work experience gained in Canada before applying for a Canada PR visa via FSWP.

It uses a highly competitive, two-step points-based selection system, and the IRCC select the most deserving candidates for immigration via FSWP. In the year 2020, the maximum number of ITAs issued via Express Entry were sent to Indian nationals, and most of them were under the Federal Skilled Worker program.

To qualify under FSWP, you must:

Score a minimum of 67 points out of 100 on an FSW point-grid
Have a minimum of 1 year of a full-time or equal amount of part-time skilled work experience gained in the last ten years in an occupation listed under Canada's NOC (National Occupation Classification) skill level O, A or B.
Take approved English or French language tests and score minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four language abilities
Have a certificate, diploma or degree secondary or post-secondary institution and submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove that the education obtained outside of Canada is equal to Canadian standards.
Have enough proof of funds to settle down in Canada with family
Be admissible to Canada

Applicants who qualify for FSWP and get an Invitation to apply for permanent residence are required to gather and submit supporting documents along with their final PR application, which includes: