Be prepared and know what to expect if your application is approved.
On this page:
If you’re already in Canada
If you’re outside Canada
If you’re already in Canada
Confirm your permanent resident status virtually
In most cases, we can confirmpermanent resident (PR) status
without in-person interviews
through a secure online portal
You don’t have to do anything until we contact you using the email or phone number you provided.
Confirm your PR status through the Permanent Residence Portal
You’ll get emails from a mailbox ending in cic.gc.ca
asking you to confirm your email address
asking you to confirm that you’re physically in Canada
with information about the Permanent Residence Portal (and options if you can’t use it)
The portal is separate from your IRCC secure account. Don’t create your own account in the portal as this can delay the process. Follow the instructions in the email we send and we’ll create an account for you.
Learn more about the Permanent Residence Portal.
You must tell us if you leave Canada before we grant you PR status.
Get your permanent resident card
Once you become a permanent resident, we’ll make an electronic confirmation of permanent residence (e-COPR) available to you in the portal so that you can provide proof of your new status in Canada. In this portal, we’ll also ask you to provide a photo so we can start the process of issuing your first permanent resident card. You don’t need to apply for your first PR card.
While you wait for your PR card, you can use your printed and signed e-COPR to
prove that you’re a permanent resident in Canada
apply for government benefits and services for which you’re eligible (for example, to apply for yoursocial insurance numberso you can work)
If you’re outside Canada
Prepare for life in Canada
There are things you can do to prepare for life in Canada:
Use free pre-arrival services, which help you
find out more about living and working in Canada
take steps to get recognition in Canada for your
education
work experience
professional licences/certificates
Read about living and finding work in Canada.
What to bring with you
You must have the following documents with you:
your valid passport or travel documents
Your passport must be a regular, private citizen passport.
You can't immigrate to Canada with a diplomatic, government service or public affairs passport.
your COPR or your valid permanent resident visa (if we gave you one)
proof that you have the funds to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada
When you arrive in Canada, you’ll be greeted by an officer from the CBSA.
The officer will
make sure you’re entering Canada before or on the expiry date shown on your visa
ask to see your passport and other travel documents
check your identity to make sure that you’re the same person who was approved to travel to Canada (we may use your biometrics to do this)
ask you a few questions to make sure you still meet the terms to immigrate to Canada
The questions will be similar to the ones you answered when you applied.
To help speed up your entry to Canada, keep your passport and other documents with you at all times. Don’t pack them in your luggage.
We won’t allow you in Canada if you
give false or incomplete information
don’t convince the officer that you meet the conditions to enter Canada
If the officer finds that you’re not admissible to Canada, you won’t be allowed to enter Canada. If you came by air, you’ll have to take a return flight to where you came from.
If you’re admissible and there are no problems when you arrive, the officer will
allow you to enter Canada as a permanent resident
confirm your Canadian mailing address where we’ll mail your permanent resident card
If you change your address within 180 days of arriving in Canada, you must you must tell us using our web form.
Disclose your funds
If you arrive in Canada with more than CAN$10,000, you must tell the CBSA officer. If you don't, you could be fined, and your funds could be seized. These funds could be in the form of
cash
securities that belong to you (for example, stocks, bonds, debentures, treasury bills)
bankers’ drafts, cheques, travellers’ cheques or money orders
After you arrive in Canada
Once you arrive in Canada
find immigrant services to help you settle and adapt to life in Canada
read the Welcome to Canada guide to help you adjust
Non-Express Entry linked applications, also called paper-based applications, usually take between 1-2 years to process at the federal stage. You can use this tool to check Provincial Nominee Program processing times at the federal level.
The first step is to apply to the province or territory for nomination under the non-Express Entry stream. If you meet the eligibility requirements and qualify through the individual In-demand Occupation Lists of some provinces, you will get a nomination from the province if your occupation is on the list.
Express Entry is a fast-track system, points-based, managed by the federal government whereas non-Express Entry may have different criteria, managed by provinces/territories or federal programs. Processing times for Express Entry tend to be much shorter than for non-Express Entry streams.
Longer Processing Times: Compared to Express Entry, PNP applications generally have longer processing times. The two-step process (provincial nomination followed by federal approval) can take several months or even over a year to complete.
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
PEI PNP is the easiest immigration option for skilled workers to attain PR in Canada. Once you get the nomination, your chances of receiving an Invitation to apply for PR from the federal government increase significantly.
Yes.You can submit an Express Entry profile and also apply directly to a PNP stream at the same time. One of the benefits of entering the Express Entry pool is you make yourself visible to provinces and territories who can review your profile and decide to provide you with an invitation to apply to their PNP.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Tailored Immigration Solutions. PNPs offer another avenue for obtaining Canadian PR without a job offer. These programs are designed by individual provinces to address their specific labour market needs and economic priorities.
They must be fluent in either English or French as both languages are equally spoken in Canada. However, it is important to know that while mandatory language testing is no longer a requirement, it is still recommended that you know one of the two languages very well.
Though the PNP is primarily concerned with addressing particular province labour market needs, both programmes have the potential to lead to permanent residency in Canada. However, the Immigration Express Entry System is more competitive and takes into account broader variables.
Since every province has its own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), each with many different streams, it can be a challenge to sort through them all to find which ones you're eligible for. This is made even more complicated by the fact that provinces often change requirements and open and close streams.
Things to Consider Before Moving to Another Province
So as a permanent resident, you must stay there for at least 2 years. If you relocate to a different Canadian province after taking permanent residency through a PNP program, it may be problematic for you at the time of applying for citizenship.
Particularly notable is the Alberta PNP- Express Entry stream, which targets candidates with relatively low CRS scores. In 2024, the AINP Express Entry stream stands out for its exceptionally low CRS score requirement, with the lowest requirement recorded at just 302 points this year.
The province or territory will let you know whether you must apply through the Express Entry system or through regular application process: Nomination under an Express Entry PNP stream: If you are not already in the Express Entry pool, you will need to complete an Express Entry profile and be accepted into the pool.
Can I apply for a PNP outside of Canada? Yes, you may apply for PNP from overseas either by contacting your chosen province and requesting a PNP nomination or by being nominated by the province itself as a foreign national, the latter of which would be followed up by a self-creation of an Express Entry online profile.
Also, you have to meet the unique eligibility requirements of each stream to get a provincial nomination and become a permanent resident. Quebec: The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is among the most notable immigration pathways in Quebec, and it does not require an Express Entry profile.
Introduction: My name is Melvina Ondricka, I am a helpful, fancy, friendly, innocent, outstanding, courageous, thoughtful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
