How to Get Canada PR From India: Guide to Check Eligibility, Application Process and Requirements

Canada has emerged as one of the most popular destinations for Indian students, not only for its world-class education but also for its promising pathway to Permanent Residency (PR). According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), over 226,450 Indian citizens became permanent residents in Canada between 2015 and 2022, with a steady rise in numbers each year

For students, gaining PR status means long-term stability, access to healthcare, better job opportunities, and a potential path to citizenship. There are several routes to obtain PR, such as Express Entry, Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and the Quebec Skilled Worker Program.

This blog is a comprehensive guide for Indian students aspiring to settle in Canada. It covers eligibility, application processes, timelines, and cost breakdowns across different PR pathways.

How to Get Canada PR from India?: Overview

Canada PR or Permanent Residency, is a legal status granted to immigrants who are not Canadian citizens but have the right to live and work in Canada indefinitely. PR holders can also apply for Canadian citizenship after fulfilling the required residency period.

There are multiple immigration programs through which one can apply for PR. Each pathway has specific eligibility criteria, application steps, and processing times.

Pathway	Meant For	Application Mode
Express Entry	Skilled professional & Graduates	Online
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)	International Students with Canadian work experience	Online
Provincial Nominee Program	Students settled in specific provinces	Online / Offline
Quebec Skilled Worker	Students in Quebec	Online / Offline

Key Highlights:

• Different pathways are for people wishing to apply for different provinces, people with different education and backgrounds or other reasons. Sometimes universities ask to apply from a specific route. Otherwise apply according to the eligibility requirements.
• Most programs assess candidates through a points-based system considering age, education, work experience, and language proficiency.
• The majority of the PR application process is conducted through online mode (IRCC's official portal).
• In most of the cases, having a job is not a mandatory requirement to apply for a Canada Permanent Residency.
• PR grants access to almost all social and economic benefits available to Canadian citizens, including free public healthcare.

Canada PR from India: Eligibility and Pathways

Before applying for Canada PR, you must be wondering if you are eligible for a specific pathway. In the table above, we discuss which pathway is designated to what kind of people. Now, if you’ve decided to apply for a specific pathway, let's also know what are the eligibility requirements for that.

Pathway	Eligibility Criteria	Estimate Time	Estimated Fees (CAD)
Express Entry	Exams: ECA, CLB 7+; 1 year skilled work exp. CRS Score	6-8 Months	1300 - 2000 CAD
Canadian Express Class	12 Months NOC; O,A or B job in Canada, CLB Score: 5-7	6-8 Months	1300 - 2000 CAD
PNP	Nomination by Province, Relevant Education / work / connection with province	12-18 Month	2000 - 3000 CAD
Quebec Skilled Worker	CAQ + QSWP, may require french language proficiency	12-18 Month	2000-3000 CAD

Getting Canada PR leads you to the way to Permanent Citizenship. Learn about How to Get a Canadian Citizenship in 2025.

Express Entry Pathway for Canada PR from India

Canada’s Express Entry System is an online application management system, designed for the skilled workers seeking for permanent residency in Canada. To apply for the Express Entry Pathway, first you need to know the eligibility requirements.

Eligibility Criteria for Express Entry Pathway

1. Complete an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) from a recognized body such as WES.
2. Score at least CLB 7 in IELTS (equivalent to 6.0 in each band).
3. You must have at least 1 year of full-time work experience in a skilled job under NOC categories 0,A or B.
4. Meet the minimal Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cutoff. The required range is about 480-490.

Step by Step Process

1. Before creating your profile, you must take a language proficiency test like IELTS and meet the minimum score requirements (CLB 7 or higher). This is a mandatory step for all Express Entry programs.
2. You need to obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove that your education outside Canada is equal to a Canadian credential.
3. After securing your IELTS score and ECA, create a profile on the IRCC portal. You’ll be entered into the Express Entry pool, where you’ll be ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
4. If your CRS score meets or exceeds the cutoff in the next round of invitations, you’ll receive an ITA to apply for permanent residency.
5. Once you receive the ITA, submit the full PR application online within 60 days. You must complete the application with all required documents, including medical exams, police certificates, and proof of funds.
6. Undergo medical exams and submit police clearance certificates. These are required to ensure you are admissible to Canada on health and security grounds.
7. Await final approval and receive Confirmation of PR (COPR). If everything checks out, IRCC will issue your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, allowing you to become a Canadian permanent resident.

Fees and Timeline

Given is the overall fees required in applying for Canada PR from express entry system.

Component	Fee (in CAD)	INR conversions
PR Application Fee	950	59632
Right of Permanent Residence Fee	575	36100
IELTS Exam	~320	20100
ECA through WES	256	16000
Biometrics (per individual)	85	5335
Medical Exams	200-300	12500 - 18800
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	37	2300

If all costs are added, you’ll get around INR 1,52,000 - 1,59,000.

Tips for Students

• Apply during your PGWP validity period to gain Canadian work experience.
• Consider boosting your CRS through higher IELTS bands or additional education.
• Use the Express Entry CRS tool to check your eligibility in advance.

PR Process through Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

The Canadian Express Class immigration is one of the three federal programs managed by the Express Entry system. It aims at granting PR to skilled workers who have gathered at least one year of work experience in Canada while being temporary residents with the authorization to work.

Eligibility and Requirements

• Applicant should have at least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in Canada under NOC 0, A, or B.
• Application should be applied within 3 years of job completion.
• Language requirement: CLB 7 for NOC 0/A, CLB 5 for NOC B.
• Valid work permit (usually PGWP).

Step by Step Process

1. Complete one year of skilled employment in Canada: Work in a full-time, paid job classified under NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. This must be achieved within the last three years under a valid work permit, typically a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
2. Take the IELTS exam based on your NOC level: Based on the job category, you will need to meet specific Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels. For example, CLB 7 is needed for NOC 0 or A, while CLB 5 is sufficient for NOC B.
3. Create Express Entry profile under the CEC category: Register on IRCC’s Express Entry portal, selecting CEC as your application class. You’ll be assessed through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
4. Receive ITA: If your CRS score meets the minimum required score for a CEC-specific draw, you’ll receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.
5. Submit your PR application along with required documents: Submit personal identification, language scores, employment letters, police certificates, and undergo a medical exam.
6. Complete medicals and biometrics: Attend your medical appointment and biometric collection at approved centers.
7. Await approval: If your application is complete and meets all requirements, you will receive Confirmation of PR (COPR).

Fees and Timeline

Component	Fee (in CAD)	INR conversions
PR Application Fee	950	59632
Right of Permanent Residence Fee	575	36100
IELTS Exam	~320	20100
ECA through WES	256	16000
Biometrics (per individual)	85	5335
Medical Exams	200-300	12500 - 18800
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	37	2300

From the time of application, you’ll have to wait for processing of your application. The current processing time is approximately 5 months.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) Pathway Process

The Canadian Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another way to apply for Canada PR after study in 2025. Under this program, certain provinces of Canada are allowed to nominate individuals for Canada Permanent Residency based on their needs and labor market demands. 

The program’s purpose is to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs and other individuals to contribute to the economic growth of that specific province or territory. 

Eligibility and Requirements

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to settle in a specific region. Many provinces have streams aligned with Express Entry, while others have their own systems.

Key eligibility requirements include:

• A valid job offer or strong connection to the province (such as studying or working there).
• Meeting specific educational and language benchmarks (varies by province).
• Express Entry profile (for EE-linked PNPs) or direct application to the province.
• Intent to reside in the nominating province.

Popular provinces for Indian students include Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.

Step-by-Step Application Steps

1. Determine eligible PNP stream: Visit provincial websites to identify suitable immigration streams.
2. Apply for provincial nomination: Submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) or application directly to the province.
3. Receive Provincial Nomination Certificate: This boosts your CRS score by 600 points if aligned with Express Entry.
4. Submit PR application via Express Entry or paper-based route: Based on the stream type.
5. Medical and background checks: As part of the standard IRCC PR process.
6. Receive Confirmation of PR (COPR).

Fees and Timeline

Component	Fee (in CAD)	INR conversions
PR Application Fee	250 - 1500 (varies by province)	15700 - 94150
Right of Permanent Residence Fee	575	36100
IELTS Exam	~320	20100
ECA through WES	256	16000
Biometrics (per individual)	85	5335
Medical Exams	200-300	12500 - 18800
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	37	2300

The processing time depends on the online / offline mode. For online mode, its 8 months whereas for offline mode it is 19 months.

Quebec Skilled Worker Pathway Process

The Quebec-Selected Skilled worker program (QSWP) is an immigration program for skilled workers trying to settle in Quebec for study and work opportunities. It has its own distinct immigration process, separate from the Federal immigration process like Express Entry or PNP.

Eligibility and Requirements

Quebec manages its own immigration programs, separate from Express Entry. Indian students who study in Quebec or have French language skills can apply through QSWP.

Basic eligibility criteria:

• Certificate of Acceptance of Quebec (CAQ) for studies.
• Education and work experience aligned with Quebec’s labour market.
• French language proficiency (optional but beneficial).
• Sufficient settlement funds.

Application Steps

1. Submit an “Expression of Interest” declaration on Arrima platform. It is totally free of cost. 
2. You’ll get an invitation to apply for permanent selection in Arrima message. The invitation is based on the profile and how well it fits with the program’s needs. You’re allowed to accept it within 30 days. 
3. Start submitting the application for Permanent Residency. 
4. Wait for approval 

Fees and Timeline

Component	Fee (in CAD)	INR conversions
PR Application Fee	921	57812
Right to Permanent Residence Fee	575	36100
IELTS Exam	~320	20100
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)	256	16000
Biometrics (per individual)	85	5335
Medical Exams	200-300	12500 - 18800
Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)	37	2300

The processing time for the process is approximately 9 months.

Total Cost of Getting Canada PR from India

While applying for Canada PR, there are other expenses other than application fees. We’ve already discussed the cost for every pathway, but here’s a general one for every pathway combined.

• The application fee is CAD 1525 for Express entry and CEC, CAD 921 for Quebec skilled worker pathway and ranges from CAD 250 - 1500 for PNP process. So all application fees fall in CAD 250 - 1525 range.
• Other costs such as IELTS exam fees, ECA fee, Biometrics, medical exam and PCC combined is around CAD 900 - 1000.

Therefore the total cost of getting Canada PR falls in the range of CAD 1150 - 2525 or INR 72,200 - 1,58,500.

Processing Time for Canada PR

Processing times vary depending on the pathway:

• Express Entry & CEC: approximately 5 months
• PNP (non-Express Entry): 8 to 19 months
• Quebec Skilled Worker Program: approximately 9 months

Note: These estimates can change based on IRCC backlogs, profile strength, and completeness of the application.

Conclusion

The move of getting Canada PR from India for an Indian student can be life changing and it may result in the demand of career development, permanent settlement and an improved quality of life. Students have a choice since many labels of immigration such as Express Entry, CEC, PNP, and Quebec programs exist, depending on their education, work experience, and commanding language. Knowing how you can and can not lose a lottery, what is the step-by-step process, when things have to happen and how much it actually will cost you is likely to make your chances much better. When you start your studies in Canada, it is advisable to start preparing early before you find yourself in a fix as you change your status as a temporary resident to permanent resident in Canada.