Canada PR from Australia

Canadian permanent residence status is the term given to individuals who have obtained the right to reside in Canada on a permanent, indefinite basis.

Permanent residency is not the same as citizenship, although Canadian permanent residents do have the option to apply for citizenship after a certain period of time.

There are multiple immigration programs that will allow you to become a Canadian permanent resident. These include (but may not be limited to) the following:

• Express Entry pathways, including:
  • Federal Skilled Worker Program
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program
  • Canadian Experience Class
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Family Sponsorship

These routes to permanent residency are outlined in more detail below.

Page Contents

• Overview of Canada PR from Australia
• What Are the Benefits of Canadian Permanent Residency?
• What is Express Entry?
• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Family Sponsorship
• How Do I Apply for Permanent Residency?
• What Documents Will I Require?
• How Much Does Permanent Residency Cost?
• How Can Total Law Help?
• Frequently Asked Questions

Obtaining permanent residence status carries with it a significant number of benefits that non-permanent residents do not have access to.

These include the following:

• Access to social welfare and benefits
• Free access to the Canadian healthcare system
• The ability to live, study and work anywhere in Canada without restrictions
• Protection under Canadian law and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
• The ability to travel to and from Canada without restriction
• The ability to apply for Canadian citizenship

Note, however, that Canadian permanent residents cannot:

• Vote in Canadian elections
• Run for public office
• Work certain jobs that need a high-level security clearance

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) are an alternative route to Canadian permanent residency.

Immigration via PNP works via two stages:

• You apply to your preferred Canadian province or territory for nomination
• After receiving nomination, you then apply to Immigration, Refugees, Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence status

The PNP is unique in that the eligibility requirements vary greatly based on which province or territory you wish to apply with. However, the basic eligibility criteria for PNP applications may include (but not be limited to) the following:

• You should have a valid job offer from an employer based in that province or territory
• You have the required work experience, educational qualifications and English or French language skills
• You intend to live in that province or territory permanently
• You have enough money to support yourself and your family

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is similar to the PNP in that it focuses on individual regions of Canada. However, as the name suggests, only the four Atlantic provinces of Canada participate in this program. These are:

• New Brunswick
• Nova Scotia
• Prince Edward Island
• Newfoundland and Labrador

Similarly to other permanent residency routes the AIP requires applicants to:

• Have enough valid work experience, unless you’re a graduate from a valid post-secondary institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces
• Meet the minimum educational requirements
• Meet the minimum English or French language requirements
• Have enough money to support yourself and your family

You must also have a valid job offer from a designated employer in an Atlantic province in order to be eligible.

One potential route of Canadian permanent residency form Australia is if you already have relatives who live in Canada.

You can generally apply for this route if you are the spouse, partner or dependent child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

If you are the brother, sister, cousin, aunt or uncle of a Canadian, you may be eligible for this stream in very specific circumstances. However, note that the eligibility criteria in this case can be very narrow.

Generally speaking, the eligibility requirements for family sponsorship are as follows:

• Your sponsor must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered as Indian under the Canadian Indian Act
• Your sponsor must be over 18
• Your sponsor can provide for your basic needs when you’re in Canada and support you financially

There are also a number of eligibility requirements depending on what type of relation you have with your sponsor. For example, if your sponsor is your non-married partner, you must have been living together for at least 12 consecutive months with no long periods of living apart.

The specific documents you will require for your PR application will depend on the specific route you have chosen to apply for.

However, the documents you’ll need to apply for PR may include (but not be limited to) the following:

• A valid passport or travel document
• Proof of either foreign or Canadian work experience
• A Canadian educational qualification or an educational credential assessment report
• A written job offer from a Canadian employer
• Proof of nomination from a Canadian province
• Proof of family link, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate
• Proof of funds
• English or French language test results
• Medical exam certificate
• Police certificate

The specific fees for Canadian permanent residency will vary based on your chosen route and your own specific circumstances.

As a broad overview, however, the application fees for PR routes are outlined below:

Additional fees may also include CAD$85 to give your biometrics information and fees to have your official documents translated into English or French if necessary.