• Gather Documents: Including your PR card if you are renewing it, valid passport or travel document, photos, translation of documents if they are not in English or French.
• Fill out application form: Complete the Application for a Permanent Resident Card and Document Checklist form.
• Pay the fees:  The fee for a PR card is $50 CAD and Biometrics fee is $85 CAD per person or $170 CAD per family. Include payment receipt with your application.
• Send your application:  Online or mail

A permanent resident (PR) is someone who has been given permanent resident status but is not a Canadian citizen. When foreign nationals receive permanent residency, they are issued a PR visa in their passport. It  provides approved individuals a one-time entry to Canada and has a validity period during which individuals are expected to travel to Canada and complete their landing formalities. The most sought way to settle as a PR in Canada is through immigration streams such as Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Refugees can also become permanent residents through the Government-Assisted Refugee Program or the  Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program.

There are many ways  one can immigrate to Canada. A number of immigration programs are available that lead to permanent residency, including: Express Entry (EE), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP), Start-up Visa (SUV), Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), Family Sponsorship, Quebec-selected Skilled Workers, Caregivers, Self-employed and Agri-food Pilot.

Your family may be able to immigrate with you to Canada if they are processed for PR as your dependents. This includes Spouse or common-law partner, Dependent child, Your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child and a dependent child of a dependent child
However, your dependents are not permitted to arrive in Canada before you.
You can also sponsor eligible family members through the  Family sponsorship program. This allows family members to live, work, and study in Canada. As a sponsor, you need to prove you will:

• Meet basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing for your family member.
• Be able to support the family member financially  for a period of time.
• Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability

The Express Entry (EE) program is one of the most sought after and popular ways to immigrate to Canada. Express Entry is an online immigration application system that allows prospective newcomers to be considered as a skilled immigrant. A EE profile will determine your ranking and can be used to apply for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program and Canadian Experience Class.

In order to create an Express Entry profile, you’ll first need to create an  Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) account then submit your profile to formally enter the Express Entry pool of candidates. To create your profile, you’ll need:

• National Occupational Classification (NOC) number: This is the system the Canadian government uses to classify various jobs and occupations.
• Education credential assessment (ECA): This report verifies that your foreign degree, diploma, certificate, or other credentials are valid and equal to a Canadian one.
• Approved language test:  Test results can be for either English or French. This test evaluates your language skills in speaking, reading, listening, and writing.

The Government of Canada has an  online tool that will help calculate your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. CRS is the points-based system Canadian immigration uses to assess and rank your profile in the Express Entry pool. Some factors the tool assesses are:

• Skills
• Education
• Language
• Work experience

This score (up to 1,200 points) can be used to check if you rank above the minimum required points from the  most recent round of invitations.

Express Entry manages applications for the Federal Skilled Worker program, Federal Skilled Trades program, and Canadian Experience Class. You can compare the various programs and your eligibility for EE on the  Government of Canada site.

Foreign nationals will need a work permit to be allowed to work in Canada. However, sometimes you may be eligible to work in Canada without a  work permit.

There are two types of work permits:

• Open work permit: This allows you to work for any employer in Canada and you can only get an open work permit in  specific situations.
• Employer-specific work permit: Also called a closed work permit specifies the name of the employer you can work for, location, and for how long you can work.

The other way individuals from other countries can legally work in Canada is to apply for International Experience Canada (IEC) which is also known as a Working Holiday Visa. Learn more about IEC, check eligibility, and get information on processing times and fees on the  government website.
International students in Canada may also be  eligible to work. Some study permits list a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus while in school. However, once you graduate, you’ll need to apply for a work permit in Canada or apply for a  Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP), or apply for  permanent residence.

The best way to prepare for the IELTS is to familiarize yourself with the test format, questions, and tasks for each section. Once you have done this, you can practice writing, reading, listening and speaking in English. Depending on why you are moving to Canada, newcomers can also practice answering sample test questions for both the IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training test. To most closely simulate the actual test, practice under timed conditions then review your answers compared to the model answers shown on the IELTS website. 

To  study in Canada as an international student, you need to apply for a study permit:

• Enroll at a  Designated Learning Institution (DLI).
• Get your documents ready, including  proof of acceptance,  proof of identity, and  proof of financial support.
• Apply for a student permit online or via mail.
• Prepare for arrival once your student permit has been approved. You will need to have the following documents:
  • Passport and travel documents, including  a letter of introduction.
  • Valid  eTA or  temporary resident visa.
  • Valid letter of acceptance from a school.
  • Proof of funds to support yourself in Canada.
  • Any other letters of reference.
  • Proof of leaving Canada at the end of your stay.