CanadaPermanent residence through work

Federal skilled workers in Canada

The Express Entry economic stream for specialists who want permanent residence without a job offer from a Canadian employer. The candidate is assessed on knowledge of English or French, education, experience in their occupation, age and adaptability, and is then entered into a common pool. Invitations to apply go to those whose scores are among the highest. It is not suitable for those heading for Quebec: the province selects specialists itself.

Residence

730 days in Canada in every 5 years. Fall short and resident status is taken away.

Yes, it leads to permanent resident status

Source: canada.ca — Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program

Who can be in line for an invitation

All candidates go through the same selection on six factors, but their actual position differs depending on whether they have a job offer in Canada.

Without a job offer in Canada

They reach the pass mark on their own through language, education, experience, age and adaptability
They have foreign education confirmed by an educational credential assessment (ECA) where they studied outside Canada
They must show settlement funds for the whole family unless an exception applies

With an arranged job offer

They receive additional points for an offer from a Canadian employer for at least a year
They are exempt from proving settlement funds where they hold a valid work permit
They go through the same six-factor selection but start from a higher score thanks to the offer

When this programme is not suitable

You plan to settle in the province of Quebec

Quebec selects skilled workers itself, outside Express Entry — its separate provincial procedure has to be followed.

The language test result is below CLB 7 in even one of the four abilities — speaking, listening, reading or writing

The language test has to be retaken at the required level, or a provincial nominee programme with different selection criteria considered.

Less than a year of continuous paid work experience in a skilled occupation (1,560 hours)

It is worth building up the required experience first, or obtaining a job offer in Canada and applying later through the Canadian Experience Class.

The qualification was obtained abroad and a positive assessment (ECA) cannot be obtained

Without a credential assessment the application will not be accepted — recognition of the educational document has to be resolved before the profile is submitted.

What it costs

Application processing — principal applicant	990 CAD
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	600 CAD
Spouse or partner — processing and RPRF togetherPayable where a spouse or partner is included in the application	+1 590 CAD
Dependent child — application processing	+270 CAD
Biometrics — one applicant	+85 CAD
Biometrics — a family of two or more applicants (maximum for all of them together)A single cap on the fee where several family members give biometrics under one application	170 CAD
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table. “Spouse or partner — processing and RPRF together” adds 1 590 CAD; “Dependent child — application processing” adds 270 CAD; “Biometrics — one applicant” adds 85 CAD. Charges with no official price list are in the list below.	1,590–3 535 CAD

Paid separately

The educational credential assessment (ECA) — Paid directly to the organisation designated by IRCC to carry out the assessment, not as part of the government fee
The language test — Paid to the test centre (IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada, TCF Canada) separately from the application
The medical examination — Paid directly to the panel physician; the amount is not fixed by IRCC
Certified translation of documents — Paid to a certified translator where documents are not in English or French

Documents to gather

After the invitation the system generates a personalised checklist, but the main set of documents is known in advance.

A passport or travel document
The results of an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada or TCF Canada) no more than 2 years old at the time the profile and the application are submitted
An educational credential assessment (ECA) for education obtained outside Canada
Proof of settlement funds, unless an exception applies
Police certificates from the countries of residence
The results of a medical examination by an authorised panel physician
Reference letters from employers confirming the work experience
The letter with the job offer from a Canadian employer, where there is one
The provincial nomination certificate, where applicable
Marriage, birth or divorce certificates for family members, where applicable

How the process runs

The application is filed online through the IRCC account and goes through several consecutive stages.

1
Preparing the documents and data for the profile
Before the profile is created the language test must be taken, an educational credential assessment (ECA) obtained where necessary and, if required, proof of settlement funds prepared.
2
Creating the Express Entry profile and entering the pool
up to 60 days to complete and submit the profile
The candidate creates a profile in the IRCC account and enters details of language, education and experience; the system awards points and adds them to the common pool of candidates.
3
The invitation to apply (ITA)
At the regular draws from the pool, invitations go to candidates with some of the highest scores; being in the pool does not in itself guarantee an invitation.
4
Filing the permanent residence application
60 days from the date of the invitation
The applicant completes the electronic form, attaches the personalised list of documents and pays the fees; this must be done strictly within 60 days, otherwise the invitation expires.
5
Giving biometrics
30 days from the date of the request letter
Applicants aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photograph; it is recommended to pay the fee at the same time as filing the application so as not to delay processing.
6
The medical examination
The applicant is examined by an authorised panel physician; the results must remain valid both at the time of filing and at the time status is granted.
7
Consideration of the application and the decision
the standard is 6 months; as at 30 November 2025 the actual processing time for this programme was about 5.8 months
IRCC checks the documents and the payment of fees and communicates the decision through the account; where the application is approved, the confirmation of permanent residence is issued.

Timelines and rights

Work

A permanent resident works for any employer without a work permit and lives in any province.

Who you can bring with you

A spouse or partner and dependent children must be declared in the application whether or not they move with the applicant.

A spouse or common-law partner

Included in the application either as an accompanying family member (moving together) or as a non-accompanying one — either way their existence must be disclosed.

A dependent child under 22

Counted as a dependant if they are not married and not in a common-law relationship; a child over that age may remain a dependant if they depend on their parents because of their state of health.

Renewal and the grace period

Permanent resident status is indefinite and does not expire in itself, but the PR card — the document confirming that status — is normally issued for 5 years. The card has to be renewed if less than 9 months remain before it expires or if it has already expired; the fee for renewing or replacing the card is CAD 50.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Federal skilled workers	Asylum and refugee status	Refugees referred by the UN
Visa term	A profile lives in the pool for 12 months and an invitation for 60 days	Not a status that is renewed; if the claim is accepted the person becomes a protected person	Arrivals come straight in as permanent residents (PR)
Grounds	Selection under a six-factor system: 67 points or more must be scored	Persecution	Persecution
Work	A permanent resident works for any employer without a work permit and lives in any province	The 2026 reforms speed up the issue of a work permit	As a PR — the right to work immediately, with no permit
Residence	730 days in Canada in every 5 years	The claim is made from inside Canada or at a port of entry	The PR obligation: 730 days in every 5 years

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to citizenship

A citizenship application is made after 1,095 days of presence within 5 years. Applicants aged 18 to 54 sit the knowledge test and prove language at CLB 4.

Frequently asked questions about Federal skilled workers

How many points have to be scored, and on what criteria?

Selection runs on six factors: proficiency in the first official language — up to 28 points, education — up to 25, skilled work experience — up to 15, age — up to 12, an arranged job offer in Canada — up to 10, and adaptability (a spouse's language, Canadian study or work experience, relatives in Canada) — up to 10. To be in line for an invitation, 67 points or more must be scored.

Is proof of funds for the move needed if there is already a job in Canada?

No — proof of settlement funds is not required where the applicant already has a valid authorisation to work in Canada and a validated job offer from a Canadian employer, or where the application is made under the Canadian Experience Class. In every other case the amount depends on the size of the family.

What happens if the application is not filed within 60 days of the invitation?

The invitation (ITA) is valid for exactly 60 days from the date it is issued — within that time the electronic form must be completed and all the documents attached. If the deadline is missed the invitation expires, and status can only be sought again after a new draw from the pool of candidates.

How does the biometrics stage work, and how long is allowed for it?

Applicants aged 14 to 79 give fingerprints and a photograph. 30 days are allowed from the date of the request letter. The biometrics fee is CAD 85 per person, or a maximum of CAD 170 for a family of two or more applicants; it is advisable to pay it at the same time as filing the application.

Is it necessary to live in Canada permanently after obtaining permanent resident status?

No, but a residency obligation applies: the person must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every five years, and those days do not have to be consecutive. Some time abroad may be counted — for example where the person worked for a Canadian company or a government body, or accompanied a spouse who is a Canadian citizen.

Other ways to move to Canada

Every route in one list — migration programmes: Canada.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.