Work Permit to PR Canada: Become a Permanent Resident

Federal Skilled Worker Program to permanent residency

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is a pathway toward Canadian permanent residency. If you are granted this visa, you will be eligible to stay permanently in the country. This is not straight from a work permit though, however, you can skip the work permit process and go straight to PR with this route.

To meet the requirements of the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the below criteria should be met:

• Applicants have at least two years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade.
• The experience was gained within the last five years
• The experience was gained following certification to practice the trade in their home country.

A skilled trade can fall under the following groups according to the National Occupational Classification code:

• Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical, and construction trades
• Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades
• Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture, and related production
• Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing, and utilities supervisors and central control operators
• Minor Group 632: Chef and cooks
• Minor Group 633: Butchers and bakers

Where an applicant holds the appropriate amount of work experience, they should meet these additional eligibility criteria:

• Hold a formal offer of employment from a Canadian employer for a role that lasts for at least 12 months.
• Achieve at least level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark on an approved English or French language test.
• Intend to live in Canada (not in Quebec)

The next step after fulfilling these criteria is to submit an Express Entry profile. There are additional admissibility criteria that must be met in addition to this.

If you receive an invitation to apply based on your Express Entry profile, you will be notified of this and you may then submit your application.

Applying to become a permanent resident on the Provincial Nominee Programs

Becoming a permanent resident of Canada via the Provincial Nominee Program is another popular route for those seeking to immigrate and obtain Canada PR. With this route, your work experience can show a province that you will be valuable to its labour market.

The territories consist of:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Notably, Quebec is excluded from the list as it does not have a provincial nominee program.

There is no centralised system to apply for this program and you must submit an application via the official website of each territory.

To submit your application via the program, follow the below steps:

1. Submit your online application
2. Provide your biometric information (fingerprints and facial photograph).
3. Pay the biometrics fee when your application is submitted.
4. If you are currently working in Canada, identify whether you are eligible for a bridging open work permit.
5. Submit a medical exam certificate
6. Submit a police or criminal record certificate

If your application is accepted, the next stage is confirming your PR.

This means that you must submit your passport and pay your right of PR fee.

Following payment, you can expect to receive the following:

• Confirmation of permanent residence (COPR)
• Permanent residence visa
• Letter with information outlining your immigration status and conditions of stay

Applying to become a permanent resident on the Quebec Experience Class

If you have work experience in Quebec, or you have studied there, you may qualify for the Quebec Experience Class (also known as the Programme de l’expérience Quebecoise (PEQ)).

There are two stages in applying for permanent residence via this route:

1. Applicants must submit an application for an Immigration Quebec Selection Certificate
2. Applicants must then submit an application to receive their Canadian immigration visa from the federal government (based only on security, criminal, and medical background checks)

Individuals must be aged over 18 years old and intend to settle permanently in Quebec.

The foreign student stream requires that applicants meet the below criteria:

• The student graduated or intends to graduate from a school in Quebec while studying a course lasting at least two years
• The course ended no later than 36 months from the date of the visa application
• The student has adequate funds to support themselves and any spouse/ dependent children for at least three months after being granted permanent residency
• They have at least advanced intermediate level of oral French language skills

While the foreign worker rules stipulate the following:

• Individuals undertook at least twelve months of eligible work in a managerial, professional, or skilled role within the last two years prior to the application
• The job is on the list of occupations relevant to this program
• The applicant is currently working and has legal status as a temporary resident of Quebec
• They have at least advanced intermediate level of oral French language skills
• They are able to support themselves and their spouse/ dependent children (where relevant) for at least three months after being granted permanent residency

In the majority of cases, applicants may receive a decision on their application in less than one month.

Alternatively, you can apply for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, which also leads to PR.