How permanent residence works
Almost every economic route follows the same shape, whoever runs it. You are assessed against fixed criteria, you enter a pool or a queue, you are selected, and then Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada makes the final decision.
What differs is who does the selecting. On federal routes Canada selects you directly, usually by ranking candidates against each other. On provincial routes a province nominates you first, according to what its own labour market needs, and you then take that nomination to the federal government. A nomination is not status. It is a strong endorsement that still has to clear federal medical, security and criminal admissibility.
Two questions decide most cases. Do you meet the criteria, and is anyone currently selecting people like you? They are not the same question, and the second one changes far more often.
The four routes
Skilled worker
Based on your work, skills, education and language. Federal programmes run by Canada, and provincial nominee streams run by each province.
Explore → bBusiness and entrepreneur
Based on a business you will start, buy, or already run. Assessed on the business rather than on a job offer.
Explore →Family sponsorship
Based on a relationship with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident who can sponsor you.
In preparationCaregivers
Routes for people providing care work in Canadian homes.
In preparation