What are you trying to do in Canada?
Start with the outcome you want: a temporary visit, work or study, joining family, or permanent residence. Then note where you live, your current Canadian status if any, and where you hope to settle. A person applying from India does not have a special Canadian PR route simply because they live in India.
If you are already in Canada as a visitor and need more time, read how a visitor record can extend your stay before treating that as a permanent-residence question.
Canadian routes answer different questions. IRCC describes Express Entry as an online system for skilled-worker immigration applications. Provincial nomination, family sponsorship, and other applications have their own rules. This page helps you name the question; it does not decide eligibility or say a stream is open.
Which facts narrow your PR question?
Write down your work history, education, language test record, possible province or employer connection, family relationship in Canada, and any earlier Canadian application or decision. These facts help you choose which detailed page to read and what to ask next. They are not all required for every programme.
| What to note | Why it changes the question |
|---|---|
| Your goal and intended province | A federal and a provincial question may lead to different instructions |
| Work, education, and language history | Skilled-worker routes ask for specific evidence at different stages |
| Canadian employer or family connection | Work and sponsorship questions have their own owners |
| Earlier refusal or other decision | The actual letter and date may need attention before a new route is chosen |
What records show your work, study and language history?
Keep the dates and documents that support your summary. For Express Entry, IRCC's documents guide lists possible language results, education assessments, work evidence, funds, police certificates, and nomination records depending on the stage and situation. That guide is for Express Entry; it is not a checklist for every Canadian PR programme.
If your record has a gap or a document has changed, mark what needs checking instead of filling it in from memory. The purpose is to ask a more precise question, not to claim a score or predict an invitation.
Where does a provincial option differ?
A provincial nomination question can involve a province's criteria as well as a federal application. Some PNP pathways connect with Express Entry and others do not. Read the Express Entry and non-Express Entry PNP comparison for that decision. Current provincial criteria and availability must be checked before relying on a specific stream.
What should a previous decision change about your next question?
Bring the actual decision, any accompanying note, the date received, and the application record. A prior refusal may change what needs to be explained, but it does not by itself choose a PR pathway. If the refusal is the immediate problem, start with the IRCC refusal options. If family sponsorship is central, read the spousal sponsorship guide. A job-linked question belongs with work permit guidance or the employer overview.
Use Start the PR intake to share your goal, records, and any earlier decision. The suggested category is editable. You can then request a 15-minute call with Mehdi; the intake does not select a programme, confirm eligibility, or book a call.