Canada Permanent Residence Eligibility

Permanent Residence In Canada For Pakistanis

A permanent resident of Canada is a foreign national who has been authorized to live and work in Canada on a permanent basis like an international students and foreign worker. Permanent residents are not Canadian citizens, but they have many of the same rights and responsibilities as citizens, such as access to healthcare, education, and social services. There are several reason why people want to obtain permanent residence in Canada like better work opportunities, better quality of life, social benefits etc. After successfully getting permanent residence in Canada, you may also need permanent residence (PR) card. That PR card will indicate that you are a permanent resident of Canada while you are travelling.

What You Can Do As Permanent Resident in Canada

As a permanent resident of Canada, you are entitled to many of the same rights and privileges as Canadian citizens. Here are some of the things that permanent residents can do in Canada:

Permanent residents are authorized to live and work in Canada on a permanent basis.
Permanent residents are eligible for public healthcare and other social services in Canada.
Permanent residents can study in Canada without needing a study permit.
Permanent residents can travel in and out of Canada freely, subject to certain residency requirements.
After living in Canada for a certain period of time, permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship.
Permanent residents are protected under Canadian law and are entitled to the same legal protections as Canadian citizens.
Permanent residents are required to pay taxes on their income and assets to the Canadian government.

What You Cannot Do As Permanent Resident in Canada

As a permanent resident of Canada, you are granted many rights and privileges, however, there are some things that permanent residents are not allowed to do in Canada. Here are a few examples:

Permanent residents are not allowed to vote in federal elections.

Some jobs in Canada require a high-level security clearance like police and investigation departments
Permanent residents cannot run for political office in Canada.
Permanent residents must meet certain residency requirements to maintain their status. If you leave Canada for too long, you may risk losing your permanent resident status.
Permanent residents can be deported if they commit certain crimes, such as serious criminal offenses or immigration fraud.

Canadian Permanent Resident Categories

You may fit into one of several categories of permanent residence, work experience in Canada is required for some of these categories. The main categories of permanent residence through which you can apply are:

Canadian Experience Class requires minimum 1 year of work experience either from full time or part time job.
Federal Skilled Worker Program is a good option for you if you have at least continuous work experience of 1 year in one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories ( engineering and medicine field)
Provincial Nominee Program is suitable for if you want to live in a specific territory or province of Canada.

Requirements For Permanent Residency In Canada

Here are some other common requirements for permanent residence in Canada:

You must demonstrate proficiency in one of Canada's official languages, either English or French.
You must have a minimum level of education, which varies depending on the immigration program you are applying for. Generally, a post-secondary education or equivalent is required.
You must have work experience in a skilled occupation, which is typically defined as a position that requires a certain level of education or training.
There is no specific age requirement for permanent residency.
You must pass a medical exam and background check to ensure you are not a risk to Canadian security or public health.
You must demonstrate that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members when you arrive in Canada.

Application Method For Canadian Permanent Residence

First of all you have to create an IRCC account to register yourself.
Now apply for the permanent residence under Express Entry.
Make sure to upload all the requested document such as i.e. passport, medical certificate, English proficiency test scores, proof of funds and your photos etc.
Answer all the question and fill out all the mandatory fields to successfully submit your application.
You can save your application in middle and continue it later if currently don’t have any document.
Your Express Entry application will be saved in the portal for only 60 days that’s why you should complete your application as soon as possible otherwise you have to start from the beginning.

Application Fees For Canadian Permanent Residency

Permanent residence fee depends upon the permanent residence category you are applying for. Candidates have to pay a fee for their Permanent residence applications. Following is the fee structure of work experience based application including express entry:

Definition	Fee
Application processing fee with right of permanent residence	1,365 $CAN
Application processing fee without right of permanent residence	850 $CAN
Permanent residence (PR) card	50 $CAN

Permanent Residence Application Processing Time

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) receives a large number of Express Entry applications every year, and each application is unique and requires thorough processing. Within 5 to 6 months of receiving the complete application, IRCC process most Express Entry applications. This time also include the time you need to provide your biometrics. The processing time for the permanent residence (PR) card will be 37 days.

Validity Of Canadian Permanent Residency

A permanent resident status in Canada is generally valid indefinitely, as long as the individual meets the residency obligations set by the Canadian government.
To maintain permanent resident status in Canada, a person must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days (or two years) out of every five-year period.
If they have committed a serious crime, or they have misrepresented themselves in their application for permanent residence or citizenship, they may be deemed inadmissible and may lose their status.

Canadian Citizenship

Canadian citizenship is the legal status of being a citizen of Canada. And people who gain Canadian citizenship successfully enjoy a range of rights and privileges, including the right to vote in federal and provincial elections, the ability to travel with a Canadian passport, access to government services, and the ability to work and study in Canada without the need for a visa or work permit. If you are a student in Canada, you’re not currently a permanent resident or a citizen of Canada. When you finish your studies, you have to start the immigration process to become a citizen. First, you will need to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. It means you have to:

Apply for Canadian permanent resident status
Remain a citizen of your home country
When your immigration process is finished, you can become a Canadian citizen.

Who Are Eligible To Apply For Canadian Citizenship

To become a Canadian citizen, all applicants must:

Be a permanent resident of Canada
Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years (1,095 days) (doesn’t have to continuous)
Have been paying their taxes
Pass the Canadian citizenship Test
Provide language proficiency scores in English or French

Application Fee For Canadian Citizenship

Candidates can apply for the Canadian citizenship by submitting online application or by submitting a paper application. The fee for an adult Canadian Citizenship application is CAD $630. This includes the processing fee of CAD $530 and CAD $100 right of citizenship fee.

Applicaion Process For Canadian Citizenship

Candidates have to create their account on the official website of IRCC by answering some questions.
Your answers to those questions will determine that you are eligible to apply or not.
After creating the account, you will get an application package.
The instruction manual and all of the required forms are included in the application package. Make sure you don't miss anything by using the document checklist and the instruction guide.
Submit all the requested documents and answer all the asked questions.
Submit your fee online through online banking system or by using your master or visa cards.
Sign your citizenship application form.
Mention the date of signing on the form (don not use a date in past or future)
Submit the application online or send the entire application package, including the completed form to IRCC’s case processing center as soon as possible
IRCC will send an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email to candidates once their application has been received. Due to comprehensive checking process this may take some time.
Only candidates who receive the acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email can check their application status online.

Canadian Citizenship Application Processing Time

The processing time for your application begins on the day that IRCC receives your complete application, and ends when a decision has been made. If you choose to apply by mail, the processing time will begin once your application reaches the IRCC office. However, if you apply online or in-person, the processing time will begin when you submit your application. The standard processing time of Canadian citizenship application is 22 months but due to the Government of Canada labor disruption, expect some delay.

After Submitting Canadain Citizenship Application

While your Canadian citizenship application is being processed, you can start preparing for your Canadian citizenship test and interview. IRCC conducts the Canadian citizenship test and interview to assess your knowledge and understanding of Canadian history, laws, economy etc. IRCC will first conduct the test and then the interview.

1. Canadian Citizenship Test

Candidates will be called out for the Canadian citizenship test weeks after they receive their acknowledgement of receipt (AOR). IRCC will send you the test notice through your email with the date, time, and location approximately one to two weeks prior to the test date. Adult from 18 to 54 years of age mandatorily have to appear in the test. Candidates of year 55 or above doesn’t have to take the test but they have to appear in the interview. You can prepare for your Canadian citizenship test from the Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship guide. The test will consist of total 20 Mcqs and true or false questions out of which candidates have to get the 15 question right under 30 minutes to pass the test.

The IRCC will ask you 20 questions about the following Canadians and Canada’s:

History
Economy
Geography
Laws
Government

What To Bring To Your Citizenship Test

Permanent residence PR Card (if have any)
2 personal identification proofs; one can be your driver license or health card with your picture and sign and second can be your foreign ID documents must be issued by the government.
Your printed test notice (notice to appear).
Passport and all travel documents that you mentioned in your application.
A language proficiency test score certificate (English or French)
IRCC might request additional documents in your notice to appear letter

What If You Fail Your Citizenship Test

IRCC will schedule you for a second test if you fail the first citizenship test but meet the other citizenship requirements. The second test normally happens 4 to 8 weeks after the main test. IRCC will send you a notice instructing you to attend a hearing with a citizenship official if you fail the second test too. The hearing: It will last anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes and can be conducted in person or via videoconference. It can be used to evaluate one or more citizenship requirements, such as:

Knowledge of Canada
Language
Your application will be rejected if you fail the test three times. You can re-apply from the start to try again. If you miss your first test you can contact IRCC with a valid reason for missing the test and get a new test date.

2. Canadian Citizenship Interview

You will have an interview with a citizenship official after the test. In that interview the citizenship official will:

Give you the result of you citizenship test
Check your English language proficiency if you are between the age of 18 and 54
Will verify your citizenship application and your provided documents
Ask you any questions IRCC may have about your application
Ensure that you meet all citizenship requirements.
All candidates (adult and minor) must appear for the citizenship interview except in some cases.
If you pass and meet the other requirements for the Canadian citizenship, IRCC may give you the citizenship oath ceremony date on the same day of interview or send you an email or letter with the date and time of your ceremony after few days.

Citizenship Oath Ceremony

Your final step toward becoming a Canadian citizen is to take the Oath of Citizenship at a citizenship ceremony. Citizenship ceremonies occur consistently throughout the year. Most applicants will be invited to a (virtual citizenship ceremony through zoom. Some applicants may be invited by IRCC to an in-person ceremony. Usually ceremony takes place 4 to 6 months after the citizenship test. Candidates will get the ceremony notice 1 to 2 weeks before the oath ceremony through Email. You have to send an email or letter with valid reasons to IRCC if you are not available on the day of your ceremony to request a new date.

What to Bring To Your Oath Ceremony

A printout of your Citizenship Ceremony Invitation Letter
Permanent residence Card (even if it’s not valid anymore) or documents confirming that you are a permanent resident of Canada.
2 personal identification proofs; 1. Your driver license or health card with your picture and sign and 2. Your government issued foreign ID documents. Translated foreign ID documents must be submitted with an affidavit if your documents are not in English or French.
Minors are not required to prove identification.
Passport and all travel documents (current and expired) that you listed in your application.
A Holy Book of your choice if you want to swear the Oath of Citizenship with one. This is completely optional.

What Happens at Citizenship Oath Ceremony

The Oath of Citizenship will be administered by a citizenship judge or official. The oath will be taken by many people at the same time. The oath will be taken in French and English by the official of the ceremony. After the official, you will all repeat the oath's words together. You have to repeat the oath in at least one of the official languages (English or French). As a sum up, you will do the following during the oath ceremony: