Permanent Residence

Make Canada Your Permanent Home

Permanent residence (PR) is the goal for many people who come to Canada temporarily—it allows you to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada indefinitely, access healthcare and social services, and eventually apply for Canadian citizenship. Whether you're already in Canada as a temporary worker or international student, or you're applying from outside Canada, there are multiple pathways to achieve permanent residence.

The most common pathway to PR is Express Entry, Canada's electronic application system for skilled workers. Express Entry manages three federal economic immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). Candidates are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the highest-ranking candidates receive invitations to apply for permanent residence.

If you don't qualify for Express Entry or want to improve your chances, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet their specific labour market needs. A provincial nomination significantly boosts your CRS score and increases your chances of receiving an invitation through Express Entry.

At Fireweed Immigration, we help skilled workers navigate the permanent residence process—from assessing your eligibility and improving your CRS score to preparing complete applications and supporting you through to PR approval.

Becoming a permanent resident is a life-changing achievement. We're here to help you get there.

Permanent Residence Services

We provide PR application services for:

• Skilled workers with work experience in Canada or abroad

• International students who have graduated from Canadian institutions and want to transition to PR

• Temporary foreign workers in Canada seeking permanent status

• Foreign nationals outside Canada who meet skilled worker requirements

• Provincial Nominee Program candidates who have been nominated or are exploring provincial pathways

• Individuals wanting to improve their CRS scores through education, language testing, or work experience

• Families applying for PR together (including spouse and dependent children)

Express Entry: Canada's Main Pathway for Skilled Workers

Express Entry is an online system that manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs. If you're a skilled worker, Express Entry is likely your best pathway to Canadian permanent residence.

How Express Entry Works

Step 1: Create an Express Entry Profile You submit an online profile detailing your age, education, work experience, language ability, and other factors. If you meet the minimum requirements for at least one of the three programs, you enter the Express Entry pool.

Step 4: Submit PR Application After receiving an ITA, you submit your full application with supporting documents, pay fees, undergo medical exams and police checks, and wait for IRCC to process your application.

Step 2: Receive a CRS Score Your profile is ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which awards points based on factors like age, education, work experience, language proficiency, and Canadian connections. Scores range from 0-1,200 points.

Step 5: Permanent Residence Granted If approved, you become a permanent resident of Canada.

Step 3: Invitation to Apply (ITA) IRCC conducts regular draws from the Express Entry pool and invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence. If you receive an ITA, you have 60 days to submit a complete PR application.

Processing time: Most Express Entry applications are processed within 6 months of receiving an ITA.

The Comprehensive Ranking System

Understanding your CRS Score

CRS points are awarded for:

CRS points are awarded for:

• Age (maximum points for ages 20-29)

• Education (higher education = more points)

• Language ability (higher CLB levels = more points)

• Canadian work experience

• Foreign work experience

• Provincial nomination (+600 points - virtually guarantees an ITA)

• Valid job offer (50-200 points depending on NOC level)

• Canadian education

• Sibling in Canada (who is a citizen or PR)

• French language proficiency (additional points)

Ways to Improve your CRS score

• Retake language tests to achieve higher results

• Obtain additional education or credentials

• Gain more work experience

• Explore Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) for +600 points

• Pursue French language training for bonus points

Your CRS score determines your ranking in the Express Entry pool. IRCC invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply for PR. Understanding how the CRS works helps you strategize to improve your score.

Current CRS cut-offs vary depending on the draw type (general, occupation-specific, etc.). We can provide current cut-off information and help you strategize for a better score.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

We help you:

• Assess which provincial programs you may qualify for

• Understand provincial labour market needs

• Prepare provincial nomination applications

• Leverage provincial nominations to boost your Express Entry score

How PNPs work:

• Each province has its own PNP with specific streams targeting workers, students, entrepreneurs, or other categories

• If you're nominated by a province, you receive +600 CRS points in Express Entry (almost guaranteeing an ITA)

• Some PNP streams are "enhanced" (linked to Express Entry), others are "base" (separate application to province)

Provincial Pathways to Permanent Residence

Provincial Nominee Programs allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who want to immigrate to Canada and are interested in settling in a particular province.

We help with PNP applications for:

Alberta

• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)

• Streams for workers, international graduates, and others

• We have particular experience with Alberta PNP applications

British Columbia

• BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

• Skills Immigration and Express Entry BC streams

Ontario

• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)

• Human Capital streams (including Express Entry-linked)

Manitoba

• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)

• Skilled Workers in Manitoba and Skilled Workers Overseas streams

Other Provinces & Territories

• We can assess your eligibility for PNPs in Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon, and Nunavut

Beyond Express Entry and PNPs, other pathways to permanent residence include:

Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)

The Atlantic Immigration Program helps employers in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador) hire foreign workers and international graduates who want to live in Atlantic Canada.

Key features:

• Employer-driven program (requires job offer from designated employer)

• Lower language requirements than Express Entry (CLB 4 or 5 depending on job)

• Does not require LMIA

• Faster processing

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)

We can help with AIP applications for candidates with Atlantic Canadian job offers.

For workers with experience in specific agriculture and food processing industries.

Agri-Food Pilot

The RNIP is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers.

Participating communities include towns in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Other Permanent Resident Pathways

Home Child Care Provider & Home Support Worker Pilots

For workers providing care for children, elderly, or persons with disabilities in private homes.

We can assess whether these programs are appropriate for your situation and provide guidance accordingly.

Are You Eligible for Permanent Residence?

Eligibility depends on which program you're applying through. Generally, successful PR candidates have:

• Skilled work experience (in Canada or abroad)

• Education (post-secondary preferred)

• Language ability in English or French (demonstrated through IELTS, CELPIP, or TEF tests)

• Sufficient funds to support yourself and family (unless working in Canada)

• Admissibility to Canada (no serious criminal record, good health)

Not sure if you qualify? Book a consultation or take our free assessment to understand your options.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Express Entry?

Express Entry (EE) is a Government of Canada immigration online system that manages applications for individuals interested in becoming permanent residents of Canada. EE has three immigration programs: 1) Canadian Experience Class, for persons who have at least 12 months of work experience in Canada, 2) Federal Skilled Worker Program for applicants who have Canadian or foreign work experience and 3) Federal Skilled Trades Program, which targets workers with a skilled trade. EE allows you to create a profile at no cost, and it remains active for 12 months.

What are the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)?

The PNPs allows provinces and territories to nominate applicants who want to live in their province permanently. Quebec and Nunavut do not currently have PNPs, and Quebec has a separate immigration system that functions largely separate from federal immigration programs. Each province and territory has similar but distinct programs tailored to their specific economic and labour needs.

What is the Comprehensive Ranking System Score (CRS)?

The CRS score ranks applicants in the Express Entry system. The factors that contribute to your score include age, work experience, language proficiency, education, and other relevant factors. Applicants with the highest ranking scores based on the IRCC priority immigration pathways are issued an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.

Do I need to have a job offer to apply for PR?

Not necessarily. A job offer can increase your CRS ranking, but it is not a requirement.

Can I increase my CRS score?

Yes, you can increase your CRS score with a higher level of education, more work experience, improved language test scores and if you receive a provincial nomination for PR. You can also increase your score if you have close relatives studying or living permanently in Canada, including those who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

What is the minimum CRS score to receive an ITA?

The minimum score to receive an ITA varies for Express Entry and provincial nominations. For a greater chance of receiving an ITA, pursue all the possible factors used to calculate your CRS score.

After submitting my Express Entry profile, can I update it?

Yes, you can update your Express Entry profile any time before you receive an ITA.

Ready to Apply for Permanent Residence?

Whether you're exploring Express Entry, considering a Provincial Nominee Program, or want to understand your eligibility for Canadian permanent residence, we're here to help.