Permanent Residency (PR) – Express Entry
Express Entry is Canada's main system for managing applications for permanent residence (PR) under three federal immigration programs.
Programs under Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Selection Factors (CRS points):
- Age
- Education
- Work Experience
- Language
- Job Offer
- Provincial nomination
- Spouse's Qualifications
Process:
- Eligibility
- Profile creation
- Enter pool of candidates
- Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) if your CRS is high enough
- Apply within 60 days
- Get PR decision within 6 months (average)
Work Permits (Temporary)
Work permits allow foreign nationals to work in Canada temporarily. They do not directly lead to PR, but they can support an Express Entry application by giving Canadian work experience or a job offer
Types of Work Permits:
Employer-Specific Work Permit (Closed)
- Tied to one employer
- Requires Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in most cases
- LMIA shows that no Canadian is available to do the job
Open Work Permit
- Not tied to any employer
- Spouses of skilled workers/students
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for international students
- Bridging Open Work Permit (for those waiting for PR)
Relation to Express Entry:
- Canadian work experience gained via work permit can help qualify for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- A valid job offer supported by LMIA gives 50–200 extra CRS points
- Certain jobs or provinces lead to Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) aligned with Express Entry
- Bridging Open Work Permit (for those waiting for PR)
Canada Immigration Programs
1. Express Entry (Federal Economic Programs)
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) — for skilled workers from outside Canada. Government of Canada+2
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) — for tradespeople. Government of Canada+1
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC) — for people with work experience in Canada.
2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) Canada Citizenship Immigration Services+2myfuturecanada.com+2
- British Columbia PNP (BC PNP) Canada Citizenship Immigration Services+1
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) Canada Citizenship Immigration Services+1
- Manitoba PNP (MPNP) Canada Citizenship Immigration Services+2myfuturecanada.com+2
- Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon, etc
3. Regional & Pilot Programs
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) Government of Canada+2Arnika Visa+2
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Government of Canada+2Arnika Visa+2
- Agri-Food Pilot
4. Business / Entrepreneur / Self-Employed Programs
- Start-up Visa Program Government of Canada+1
- Self-Employed Persons Program
5. Family Sponsorship
If you have close family in Canada who are citizens or permanent residents, they can sponsor you (spouse/partner, parent/grandparent etc.).
6. Quebec Immigration Programs
Quebec has its own selection process and immigration programs, separate from many federal ones.