Canadian permanent residence
Understand the program before you choose the pathway.
A bilingual, source-based guide to Canada’s work-based, regional, family, protection, business and special permanent-residence options—including programs that are paused or closed.
01 — Programs
Explore by immigration category.
Start with the category that matches your goal. Closed and paused programs remain clearly marked so old information is not mistaken for a current opportunity.
Express Entry
Canada’s online system for managing skilled-worker applications under three federal immigration programs.
Read the complete guideMedical Doctors
A complete guide to permanent residence, licensing and faster work-permit options for internationally trained and Canadian-experienced medical doctors.
Read the complete guideProvincial Nominee Programs
Economic immigration streams through which provinces and territories nominate candidates who can meet regional needs and intend to settle there.
Read the complete guideRural & Community Immigration
Current Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots connect eligible workers with designated employers and participating communities.
Read the complete guideAtlantic Immigration Program
A permanent-residence program for eligible skilled workers and Atlantic Canadian graduates with an offer from a designated employer.
Read the complete guideQuébec Immigration
Québec selects many of its own economic immigrants. Successful candidates generally complete both a Québec selection stage and a federal permanent-residence stage.
Read the complete guideQuébec Business Immigration
Québec-selected permanent-residence pathways for eligible businesspeople who intend to settle and conduct business in Québec.
Read the complete guideFamily Sponsorship
Permanent-residence pathways through which eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor qualifying family members.
Read the complete guideRefugees & Asylum
Information about asylum claims in Canada, refugee resettlement, private sponsorship and related protection processes.
Read the complete guideFrancophone Immigration
Federal, provincial and community pathways that use strong French ability or Francophone settlement as an eligibility or selection factor.
Read the complete guideCaregiver Pathways
Canada’s permanent-residence caregiver pilots are currently closed to new applications while IRCC processes existing files.
Read the complete guideFederal Business Programs
The federal Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons permanent-residence programs are currently paused for new general intake.
Read the complete guideSpecial PR Programs
Time-limited or circumstance-specific permanent-residence pathways that sit outside Canada's regular economic and family programs.
Read the complete guideHumanitarian & Compassionate
A discretionary request for permanent residence based on exceptional humanitarian and compassionate circumstances.
Read the complete guideAgri-Food Pilot (closed)
The federal Agri-Food Pilot ended on May 14, 2025 and no longer accepts new applications.
Read the complete guidePaused & Closed Programs
A current-status guide to permanent-residence programs and temporary public policies that no longer accept general new applications.
Read the complete guide02 — Essentials
Before choosing a program
Six checks that can change the result in almost every pathway.
NOC and TEER
A job title is not enough. Actual duties, the NOC code and TEER affect eligibility and points.
Open the guideLanguage and score conversion
Verify the accepted test, result validity and required CLB/NCLC for the exact program.
Open the guideEducation assessment (ECA)
Many economic routes need an immigration-purpose ECA for foreign education. An ECA is not a professional licence.
Official sourceFunds and admissibility
Proof of funds differs from settlement cost. Medical, criminal, security and misrepresentation screening also apply separately.
Official sourceActive public policies
Temporary exceptions are not general programs. Read the eligibility, effective date and expiry for the exact policy.
Open the guideLive intake status
Open, paused, closed, EOI and invitation are different. Check the live program status before spending money.
Open the guide03 — Sources
Official-source standard
Clear information, linked to the authority.
IRCC and the responsible province or territory are the primary sources. Ghasedak summarizes the rules in original, plain language and links you back to the official page.
Open official sourceYour next step
Your profile needs an individual assessment.
Program information can explain the rules, but it cannot determine eligibility without reviewing your age, language, education, work history, family situation and evidence.
Assess my options