WHICH TEST DO YOU NEED TO PASS FOR CANADA PERMANENT RESIDENCY

WHICH TEST DO YOU NEED TO PASS FOR CANADA PERMANENT RESIDENCY

To apply for Canada PR (permanent residency), you will need to prove your English proficiency by taking an IELTS test.

There are two different versions of IELTS: IELTS Academic and IELTS General Training.

To apply for Canadian permanent residency, you will need to take IELTS General Training. IELTS General Training evaluates your abilities to use English in everyday contexts.

IELTS General Training Test Format

There are four parts to the test and you must take them all. The total test time is approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes.

Reading (60 minutes – 40 questions)

The Reading section consists of 40 questions divided into three sections that are designed to test a wide range of reading skills.

Section 1 (social survivor) may contain two or three short texts or several shorter texts that are relevant to basic linguistic survival in English such as notices, advertisements, college brochures and accommodation lists.

Section 2 (workplace survival), focuses on the workplace context, so texts might include job descriptions, contracts, work policies, manuals, staff development and training materials.

Section 3 (general reading) contains one longer and more complex text of general interest. Text types include newspaper and magazine articles, book extracts or internet texts about a variety of topics.

Each answer is worth 1 mark and you will not be penalized if you leave an answer blank.

Writing (60 minutes)

There are two tasks in this part: Task 1 and Task 2.

Task 1: Letter writing

You will be presented with a situation and asked to write a letter requesting information, or explaining the situation. The letter may be personal, semi-formal or formal in style, and it should be of at least 150 words. Your writing will be assessed on four criteria: task achievement, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy.

Task 2: Essay writing

You will be asked to write a discursive essay in response to a point of view, argument or problem. Topics are of general interest and the text should be of at least 250 words. Your writing will be assessed on task response, coherence and cohesion, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy.

Listening (approximately 30 minutes – 40 questions)

In this part of the test, you will listen to recordings of native English speakers with a variety of accents and write your answers to a series of questions on the question paper as you listen.

You can listen to the recordings only once and if you take IELTS on paper, you will be given ten minutes at the end of the test to transfer your answers to an answer sheet.

You will hear four recordings:

Recording 1 – a conversation between two people set in an everyday social context.
Recording 2 – a monologue set in an everyday social context, e.g. a speech about local facilities.
Recording 3 – a conversation between up to four people set in an educational or training context, e.g. a university tutor and a student discussing an assignment.
Recording 4 – a monologue on an academic subject, e.g. a university lecture.

Each answer is worth 1 mark and you will not be penalized if you leave an answer blank.

Speaking (between 11 and 14 minutes)

The Speaking test is a face-to-face interview with an examiner. It is divided into three parts and each part gives you the chance to demonstrate your English-speaking skills in different ways.

Part 1 (4 to 5 minutes) – The examiner asks you questions about your daily life and other everyday topics such as work, study, hobbies, likes and dislikes and so on.
Part 2 (1 to 2 minutes) – The examiner gives you a topic to talk about on a task card and you are given 1 minute to prepare your talk, which should last between one to two minutes. Again, the questions are on familiar, everyday topics.
Part 3 (4 to 5 minutes) – The examiner starts a discussion with you that is related to the topic you talked about in Part 2. You will be asked to give opinions about things and justify them.

Your speaking will be assessed on fluency and coherence, lexical resource, grammatical range and accuracy, and pronunciation.

4 easiest provinces to get PR in canada in 2022

There are countless nominee programs, each with its own unique eligibility requirements. PNPs let provinces respond to their own unique immigration needs. Generally, PNPs are designed to fill gaps in the labour force, so they will target candidates with experience in high-demand occupations.

We are often asked which Canadian Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is the easiest to immigrate to for overseas candidates. While many PNPs require a connection to their province – such as a job offer, work experience, or an educational credential – to apply for nomination, there are some programs that invite candidates solely based on their ability to fill labour or demographic gaps.

These are the four provinces that are considered the easiest for overseas applicants to get PR in Canada in 2022:

#1 – Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker: Occupation In-Demand and Express Entry

Located in Canada’s prairie region, the province of Saskatchewan has become a popular destination for immigrants due to its strong economic growth and job opportunities.

The Occupations In-Demand and Express Entry streams of Saskatchewan’s International Skilled Worker PNP are designed to recruit workers with experience in the province’s in-demand occupations. These International Skilled Worker streams hand-select candidates using an Expression of Interest (EOI) system.

To submit an EOI, applicants must have at least one year of experience in an occupation not on SINP’s Excluded Occupations List. Interested candidates must have also completed a post-secondary educational credential of at least one year and speak English or French. Any candidate that meets Saskatchewan’s minimum eligibility criteria, including scoring a minimum of 60 points on their Points Assessment Grid, may submit an EOI profile. Submitted profiles are then considered in one of SINP’s EOI draws. Only candidates with the most competitive SINP score and in-demand occupations are invited in SINP EOI draws.

Candidates eligible for Express Entry can apply under the Saskatchewan Express Entry stream for expedited processing of their permanent residence application. However, the Saskatchewan Occupations In-Demand stream is also available to those that don’t qualify to submit an Express Entry profile.

#2 – Alberta’s Express Entry Stream

Canada’s western province of Alberta is home to some of Canada’s thriving cities, such as Calgary and Edmonton. With a growing job market and great education system, Alberta is a noteworthy province for prospective newcomers.

The Alberta Express Entry stream selects candidates from the federal Express Entry pool to apply for provincial nomination. One major benefit of this stream is that they consider Express Entry candidates with CRS scores as low as 300, which means more candidates in the pool will have a chance at receiving a Notification of Interest from the province.

It is worth noting that a CRS score above 300 does not guarantee an invitation from Alberta’s Express Entry stream. The Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program releases the CRS score of the lowest-ranking candidate from each round of invitations but does not release the additional targeted criteria. The following factors may increase a candidate’s chances:

A qualifying relative that is a permanent resident or citizen living in Alberta;
A job offer or work experience in Alberta; and
A completed credential from a Canadian post-secondary institution

Alberta’s Express Entry stream operates through the federal Express Entry system. That means that receiving a provincial nomination will increase an applicant’s CRS score by 600 points, virtually guaranteeing they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR in the next Express Entry draw.

2. Easiest Ways to Immigrate to Canada in 2022

The easiest way to immigrate to Canada will depend on your own unique profile or connections to the country. With Canadian immigration targets higher than ever, now is the time to start your immigration journey.

It should be noted that there is no one simple way to immigrate to Canada. While some programs may be easier for you to apply to, the process is long and involves many steps.

While immigrating to Canada does require a significant financial and emotional investment, the end result is worth it. Canada consistently ranks among the best countries for quality of life and is known for its positive attitude toward immigration.

These are the four of the most popular ways for overseas applicants to immigrate to Canada in 2022:

#1 – Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s fastest and most popular immigration program. Candidates that apply through the Express Entry system can receive permanent residence status as soon as six months.

By 2025, Canada plans to invite half a million newcomers. Of which a large percentage will come through one of the three streams of Express Entry:

The Express Entry system involves submitting an online profile that is scored by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). To submit an Express Entry profile, you must first be eligible under one of Canada’s above three federal streams. The Canadian government then issues invitations to apply for permanent residence to the highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool.

The Express Entry process may be the easiest way to come to Canada for certain candidates eligible to submit a profile. It can be difficult to meet the CRS cut-off in the federal draw. However, just by being in the pool of candidates, you could be nominated for permanent residence by a province.

The cost of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry is typically about $2,300 CAD for a single applicant, or about $4,500 CAD for a couple. This does not include the settlement funds that must also be shown as part of the eligibility requirement, which will vary by family size.

Visit our Express Entry page to learn more about submitting a profile and how to increase your ranking in the pool.

#2 – Provincial Nominee Programs

Throughout the pandemic, provinces continued to nominate overseas workers for Canadian permanent residence. By 2025, Canada plans to welcome 117,500 new immigrants through PNPs.

There are countless nominee programs offered by Canada’s ten provinces and three territories. Each PNP has its own unique eligibility criteria. Many PNPs require a connection to the province to apply for nomination. However, there are some programs that invite overseas candidates solely based on their ability to respond to the province’s labour market needs.

Each PNP has its own application processing time. After receiving a nomination, PNP candidates must apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence. The time it takes to process the permanent residence application will depend on whether the PNP operates using the Express Entry system.

The cost of immigrating to Canada through a PNP is usually the same as Express Entry, with some additional fees, depending on the province. Certain provinces don’t charge a fee to process PNP applications, while others, such as Ontario, can charge up to $1,500 CAD.

#3 – Business Immigration

If you have experience managing or owning your own business, the easiest way to immigrate to Canada could be through a federal or provincial business immigration program.

The federal government offers immigration programs for individuals that plan to be self-employed in Canada or start up a business in Canada.

There are also several PNPs specific to overseas candidates interested in starting a business in a certain Canadian province.

Business immigration programs typically require a significant investment in the company you intend to start in Canada. The amount required will depend on the program you are interested in. Many PNPs have regional entrepreneur programs that require a lower investment for candidates interested in starting a business in a less populated area.

3. FSW Program

What is the FSW program?

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is managed under the Express Entry system and uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidates who wish to settle permanently in Canada. Unlike the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, Federal Skilled Workers are not required to have Canadian work experience to enter the Express Entry pool. Instead, candidates must meet a minimum points requirement based on factors such as work experience, language ability, and education. Once in the pool, applicants with the most competitive CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

Who is eligible to apply under the FSW program?

In order to qualify for the FSWP, a candidate must meet certain minimum requirements regarding years of experience, level of education, age, and English or French language proficiency:

Work Experience
- At least 12-months of continuous, full-time, skilled work experience completed within the previous 10 years (or an equal amount in part-time experience).
  - Skilled work experience refers to experience classified under NOC Skill Level 0, A, or B.
Language Proficiency
- Reach a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 on an approved English or French language test.
Education
- A minimum of a Canadian high school diploma or the equivalent in foreign education.
Financial Support
- Enough funds to support themselves and any spouse and/or children in their settlement in Canada.
Residence in Canada
- Must intend to live outside of the province of Quebec.

If a candidate meets the requirements listed above, they must also demonstrate that they score a minimum of 67 out of 100 points on the FSW eligibility points grid.

Provided a candidate meets these requirements, they will be eligible to submit an Express Entry profile for the Federal Skilled Worker program. However, candidates should note that they must meet Canada’s basic admissibility requirements. Certain criminal offences and medical conditions may make a person inadmissible to Canada.

How can I apply under the FSW program?

Interested candidates must submit an Express Entry profile to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Submitting an Express Entry profile does not guarantee a candidate will receive Canadian permanent residence. Only after submitting an Express Entry profile will a candidate be assigned a CRS score and be considered in future Express Entry draws for Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence.

When submitting your Express Entry profile, an FSW candidate will need to provide the following documents:

Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA)
In order to claim points for education, an FSW candidate must provide a valid ECA report attesting to the value of foreign education by Canadian standards. There are five organizations in Canada authorized to issue ECA reports. This is not required for educational credentials obtained from a Canadian educational institution.
Language Proficiency Test Results
All candidates under the Express Entry programs must provide results from an approved language test taken within the previous two years. Accepted tests for English include the IELTS exam, and the CELPIP exam (only available in Canada). Accepted tests for French include the Test d’Évaluation de Français (TEF) and the Test de connaissance du français pour le Canada (TCF Canada).
Identification Documents
Candidates will be required to provide information from identification documents. Ideally, a candidate and all accompanying family members should possess passports valid for travel.

If a candidate is successful in receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residence, they will move onto the second stage of the application process. In this second stage, the applicant will have 60 days to prepare and submit an electronic Application for Permanent Residence (eAPR). This application requires further documentation.

Since the Express Entry system launched in 2015, the lowest ranking FSW candidate to receive an ITA held a CRS score of 413 points. If an applicant’s CRS score is below this score, they should actively pursue options for improving their score.

How long does it take to process an FSW application?

A Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Express Entry profile will remain valid in the pool of candidates for a period of 12 months.

If, while in the pool of candidates, you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), you will have 60 days to submit a full application and documentation to the Government of Canada.

The standard processing time for Express Entry applications is six months from the time the application is received by the Canadian authorities to the issuance of a permanent residence visa.

Additional factors may affect your processing time, including:

The complexity and/or completeness of your application
The ease with which the officer can confirm the information provided in your application
Adding an additional family member to your application.

4. Comprehensive ranking System Score

What is the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score?

In order to rank immigration candidates, the Canadian government developed a merit-based points system that assigns a score to each candidate in the Express Entry pool. This points system is called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the score assigned to each candidate is called the CRS score. Express Entry manages three programs:

Any person who submits a profile to the Express Entry pool of candidates is assigned a CRS score out of 1200 points. Approximately every two weeks, the Canadian government conducts an Express Entry draw, where they issue a round of Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residence to the highest-ranking candidates. Note that IRCC does not disclose information regarding the date of the draw, the number of ITAs that will be issued, or the minimum required CRS score in advance of each draw.

How can I increase my CRS score?

There are many ways an applicant can increase their CRS score once in the Express Entry pool. CRS points are largely tied to the applicant’s language ability, education, work experience, and age. Additional points can also be claimed for having a sibling in Canada, speaking French at a high level, receiving a job offer in the country, or securing a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Securing additional points from one of these factors can substantially increase one’s chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in one of Canada’s upcoming Express Entry draws.

How can a Provincial Nominee Program increase my CRS score?

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) provide pathways to permanent residency for candidates with low CRS scores in the Express Entry pool. Receiving a nomination from a province could result in an additional 600 points toward one’s CRS score, essentially guaranteeing an invitation to apply for permanent residence (ITA).

Each province sets their own criteria for nominee programs; while many require some type of connection to the province to be eligible to apply, others look for candidates that fill labour market or demographic gaps. Candidates invited under a PNP are expected to settle in the province they are nominated under.

What CRS score is required for PNPs?

Each province sets their own eligibility requirements for Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Some of these programs use the Express Entry system to find their potential nominees. While many of these programs use their own points system, some provinces may use a candidate’s CRS score, among other factors, to decide whether they will be issued an invitation to apply for nomination.

Although these CRS scores may change from draw to draw, some provinces state the minimum CRS score required to be considered for nomination. For example, Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream does not send invitations to candidates with a CRS score lower than 400, and Alberta’s Express Entry stream will only consider candidates with a CRS score of at least 300.

Keep up to date on the latest PNP draw requirements using our Provincial Nominee Program Updates Tracker.

Do I get more CRS points if I apply with a spouse?

Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points are awarded differently, depending on whether the applicant is married or single.

If a spouse or common law partner is listed as non-accompanying in an application or is already a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, the applicant will earn points as a single applicant.If an applicant is married and has an accompanying spouse, the spouse should provide language results and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report for all post-secondary education. This will enable a candidate to secure the maximum number of points when including a partner on their application.