Apply for Permanent Residence

Start Your Application

You can apply online using the Permanent Residence Portal or send forms by mail or courier. Your lawyer has an authorized permanent resident portal.

You can be fully represented and your lawyer file’s the application for you. You can also fill the application yourself, and ask a lawyer to review your application.

How to start your application on the PR Portal

• Create your account.  
• Sign in to your account.
• Select the following in the drop-down menus:
  • Program under which you are applying: Permanent Residence, including Refugee Resettlement.
  • Program under which you are applying (2): Refugee
  • Category you’re applying under: In Canada – Protect person
• Fill out your profile information.
• Proceed to your application.

Prepare the documents

To apply, you must prepare:

• Document Checklist (IMM 5286 E)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008DEP-E)
• Protected Persons and Convention Refugees (IMM 0008: Schedule 14)
• Background/Declaration (IMM 5669 E : Schedule A)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406 E)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476 E)
• Copy of the Notice of Decision giving you Convention Refugee or Protected Person status in Canada
• One recent two-sided digital photo (passport size stamped at the back by the studio)
• Photocopies of your identity documents that were taken from you:
  • passport (even if it is expired), 
  • travel documents,
  • translated birth certificate, and
  • other identity documents such as a translated marriage certificate.

Dependants

If you have dependants inside or outside Canada, you must fill out a separate set of forms for them. You must prepare:

• Document Checklist (IMM 5286 E)
• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008 E)
• Protected Persons and Convention Refugees (IMM 0008: Schedule 14)
• Background/Declaration (IMM 5669 E : Schedule A)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406 E)
• Declaration from non-accompanying parent/guardian for minors immigrating to Canada (IMM 5604 E), if applicable
• Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM 5409 E)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476 E), if applicable
• One two-sided digital photo (passport size)
• Photocopies of their passport, travel documents, or identity documents
• Photocopies of documents that prove their relationship to you, such as birth certificates, marriage certificates, or common-law declaration (Form 5409)

Translate documents

For any document (including any stamps and seals) that is not in English or French, you must send in:

• The English or French translation. See the IRCC website to follow their requirements to translate documents.
• The translations must be accurate. If you cannot get a certified translator for your identification documents, you can use a non-certified translator. You need:
  • an affidavit from the person who did the translation, and
  • a certified copy of the original document. It must be certified in Canada by a notary public, a commissioner of oaths, or a commissioner for taking affidavits.

Affidavit

An affidavit for a translation is a document that states that the translation is an accurate version of the original. The translator swears this in front of a professional who can take oaths in the country where they live. The person must speak English or French well in order to take the oath.

Who can prepare an affidavit?

In Canada:

• a notary public.
• A lawyer.
• a commissioner of oaths.
• a commissioner for taking affidavits.

Outside Canada:

• a notary public or someone with an equal position.

You or any of your family members cannot commission your affidavit. Even a member of your family who is a lawyer, notary public, or certified translator is not allowed to prepare your affidavit. (This includes a parent, guardian, sibling, spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner, grandparent, child, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew and first cousin).

Pay fees

You must pay a fee when you apply for PR for yourself and for any family members. You will pay all fees online inside your representative’s portal or your portal. You will need to save your receipt and upload it onto the permanent residency portal. In order to pay the fees yourself, you will need:

• An email address to set up a login and password,
• Access to a computer to save your receipt,
• Access to a printer (to print the receipt), and
• A credit card, Debit MasterCard® or Visa® Debit card.

When you are ready to pay:

• Go to Online Payment.
• Follow the instructions.
  • At the end, click on the button to print the IRCC official receipt with a barcode.
  • Print two copies.
  • Save a copy on your computer.
  • Email yourself a copy.
  • Attach a printed copy of this receipt to your application.
  • Keep the other copies of the receipt for your records.

Biometrics

After you have applied for permanent residency and paid your biometric fees, you will receive a biometric instruction letter (BIL) informing you it is time to make an appointment to give biometrics (such as fingerprints).

The letter will contain a link to designated Service Canada locations for biometric collection service points to choose from where you can give your biometrics in Canada and overseas.

Send in your application

Apply and send in your forms through the online Permanent Residence Portal  or otherwise, send your paper application in the mail or via courier.

Mailing address

Protected Persons in Canada application
Box 12153 STN A
Sydney, NS
B1P 0L1

Courier address

Protected Persons in Canada application
3050 Wilson Avenue
New Waterford, NS
B1H 5V8

Final steps

If you properly submitted the required information and documents for your PR application, you will receive a letter from IRCC that tells you if you are approved for PR. 

Your PR card will arrive in the mail. It is important to keep your address updated with IRCC. 

Sometimes, IRCC asks to interview you. They may want you to confirm facts or send them more information. Once IRCC has what they need, you could also obtain your PR status at a final interview.