Is Canada Going to Close PR Visa? Latest Updates & Clarifications
2024-12-07 | Abroad Pathway Immigration | Leave a Comment
Increasing concern towards immigration to Canada, some rumors of the shutdown of Canada Permanent Residency (PR) visa program are anticipated to circulate. Nevertheless, there are no signals that Canada is planning to stop the issuance of the PR visa to the wannabes. However, Canada is increasing its immigration targets and aims to admit more than 1.2 million people as its permanent residents between 2024 and 2026.
This blog will help to continue the discussion on the topic, explain the official government policies as well as attitudes towards Canada and invite skilled workers, families and businesspeople through the PR points.
Is Canada Closing Its PR Visa Program?
The simple answer is No, Canada is not shutting down the PR visa program. However, it remains quite notable that Canada is raising immigration goals, and the priority is the skilled personnel and the best-equipped migrants for the Canadian economy and society.
The Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026 shows that Canada has been, and will continue to be, fully devoted to maintaining regular immigration. According to the plan, Canada aims to bring in the following number of permanent residents:
2024: Approximately 465,000 PR's
2025: Approximately 485,000 PR's
2026: Approximately 500,000 PR's
This can only mean one thing – there was a progressive increase in immigration targets and not a shutdown. The Canadian government acknowledges immigrants’ importance in countering the supply of workers, and managing an aging population, and economic development.
Why Are There Rumors About the Closure of Canada’s PR Visa Program?
The rumours of the PR visa closure are very frequent and likely to be a result of changes of policies or programs. Here’s why such misinformation spreads:
1. Change in CRS Cut-off Scores:
Sometimes, Canada re-establishes the scores in the CRS as part of Express Entry to choose candidates for PR in the country. For a CRS score that just went up, the candidates who will be left behind experience disappointment and make the wrong conclusions that the entry points for PR are narrowing
2. Updates to Occupation Lists
Canada reviews its list of the skilled occupations required for its programs such as Express Entry and PNPs from time to time. If some occupations are eliminated from the list, it can be mistaken for a cessation of PR programs in those fields
3. Tightening of Eligibility Requirements:
In order to avoid confusion and to keep it cost-effective the Canadian government tends to change the qualifications often. We see these changes as a rationalization and or as an attempt to focus on those applicants that Canada most needs. However, some people have made a mistake to conclude these changes show the shut down of PR pathways.
4. Misinformation on Social Media
Self published social media posts, blogging and forum posts are normally, pseudo information. By not consulting official sites such as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), many people may think that PR visa has been shut.
What Are Canada’s Current PR Visa Plans?
Canada is not shutting PR visa routes, but rather opening new ones to tackle workforce demands, reunites families, and boost the economy. Here are some of the key pathways for obtaining Canadian PR in 2024:
1. Express Entry System
Express Entry continues to be the most used and the quickest selection scheme for the skilled immigrants. This means that candidates are competing against each other on the basis of CRS; and the ones with high scores are offered the Invitation to Apply for the permanent residency. It meant that Canada’s Express Entry program is not being shut down but still being adapted to constantly select effective skill sets.
2. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
There are also the Provincial Nomination Programs through which the Canadian provinces and territories have their own systems of selecting workers possessing requisite skills essential in the provincial or territorial labor markets. The PNP lets provinces select workers as PR applicants. This program is being strengthened, with higher provincial quotas and the new up to date In-demand occupation lists.
3. Family Sponsorship
Canada believes in family reunification and allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring over their close family members to PR. This pathway will continue to be available for individuals in Canada in 2024 and beyond to reunite families and maintain family unity.
4. Start-Up Visa & Business Immigration
Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program, a new pathway to PR for the country, is intended for entrepreneurs, investors and other innovators who will help to create jobs in Canada. It is crucial for the growth of the Canadian economy, and its operation will be in 2024 as well.
5. Other Pathways
That said, there is still the Agri-Food Pilot, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), and the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) which will create PR possibilities for the skilled employees in the respective industries and regions.
How Is Canada Supporting Immigration Growth?
Canada has the challenge of a growing and ageing population and skills shortages, skills deficit in the labour market and thus immigration remains central to Canada’s economic approach. The government has outlined the following steps to support its immigration targets:
- Increasing Quotas: Canada has set a new record increasing the target numbers for new PR arrivals in the country to 500, 000 per year by 2026.
- Expanding Pathways: New pathways and pilot categories are being created to address hitherto demand for occupation-specific workers.
- Faster Processing: Currently, IRCC, through its digitization strategy, is using artificial intelligence in arriving at its decisions with a view of minimizing application backlogs as well as enhancing turnaround times in processing of these application
Of course, these steps underscore the increasing focus on immigration in Canada rather than its shutdown.
Should You Still Apply for a PR Visa to Canada?
I want you to know that if you are intending to apply for a Canadian PR visa, time is ripe for action. If the applicants firmly fall into the higher immigration targets and pass through an efficient processing system, they get a good chance of obtaining PR.
Here’s how you can improve your chances:
- Improve Your CRS Score — Raise your CRS number by repeating the IELTS or earning more work experience.
- Choose the Right Program — Applicants with low Comprehensive Ranking System scores can use Provincial Nominee Programs.
- Another tip is to submit correct and complete documents in your application among other things.
- Consult an Immigration Expert — Seek advice so that you do not make a wrong move which you will regret later when filing your application
Are you Ready to apply for Canadian PR?
Contact Abroad Pathway Immigration Consultant today for expert guidance on eligibility, documentation, and how to take advantage of the new PR pathways in 2025!
