Canada permanent residence route guide

Enhanced Provincial Nominee Program - Express Entry

Each province or territory sets its own occupation, offer, local experience, education, language, connection and invitation criteria. The applicant must identify an active enhanced stream and also qualify for one of the applicable federal Express Entry programs.

Spouse, Partner or Dependent Child Sponsorship

A Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered person may sponsor an eligible spouse, partner or dependent child for permanent residence. The relationship must be genuine and the sponsor normally undertakes financial responsibility for the applicable period.

Express Entry - Canadian Experience Class

For applicants with qualifying recent Canadian skilled work experience. The experience must generally be authorized paid work in an eligible occupation and meet the program's language and other requirements; a settlement-fund requirement normally does not apply.

Express Entry - Federal Skilled Trades Program

For eligible skilled trades occupations. The applicant generally needs recent qualifying trade experience and either a valid Canadian job offer or a Canadian or provincial trade certificate, together with the required language level.

Base Provincial Nominee Program - non-Express Entry

For provincial or territorial non-Express Entry streams such as skilled work, employer, graduate and business categories. The applicant first obtains a valid nomination and then submits a separate permanent residence application to IRCC.

Atlantic Immigration Program

A designated employer in one of Canada's Atlantic provinces provides an eligible offer, and the province endorses the applicant before the permanent residence application. Work experience, education, language and settlement-fund rules depend on the offer and applicant category.

Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots

Community-driven permanent residence pilots for participating communities. Applicants need a priority occupation offer from a designated employer, a community recommendation and the applicable experience, education, language and settlement-fund evidence.

Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Program to federal permanent residence

Applicants intending to settle in Quebec use Quebec's selection process rather than federal Express Entry or provincial nomination. After invitation, Quebec selection and a CSQ, the applicant submits the federal permanent residence application to IRCC.

Provincial entrepreneur and business nominee streams

Entrepreneurs generally compare active provincial streams rather than a single federal route. Streams may use an EOI competition and require verified assets, active investment, management experience, a business plan, job creation and a performance period.

Start-up Visa Program - intake paused

This entry prevents a paused route from being recommended as a new application. New commitment certificates are no longer issued under the stated pause; only the transition rules for applicants with qualifying prior certificates or submitted applications should be checked.

Canadian permanent resident card renewal or replacement

The PR card is the travel and identity document used by a permanent resident; renewing or replacing it does not create or renew permanent-resident status. The application requires the current form, identity and status evidence, photographs and any applicable residency explanation.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Permanent resident travel document for return to Canada

A permanent resident outside Canada without a valid PR card may need a permanent resident travel document to board transport and return. The document supports travel; it is not a new PR grant and does not replace the residency-obligation assessment.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.

Family sponsorship permanent residence: spouse, partner or child

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor an eligible spouse, partner or dependent child for permanent residence when the relationship and sponsor requirements are met. Sponsorship approval and permanent-residence approval are separate decisions; the route is not an automatic status conversion.

Timing：Check the official residence-period rule.