Canada immigration: permanent residence pathways for skilled workers

Most skilled workers become permanent residents of Canada through Express Entry or a Provincial Nominee Program. This page explains both pathways, the current targets and who may give you paid advice on a Canadian application.

Canada immigration for skilled workers mainly happens through two pathways to permanent residence (PR): Express Entry, a federal points-based system, and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), where a province or territory chooses people it needs. Both suit people with skilled work experience, good English or French and solid education, including people now living in Australia. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) makes every final decision.

Important: Under Canadian law, only an authorised representative may charge a fee for advice on, or representation in, a Canadian immigration application. That means a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC), a lawyer or paralegal of a Canadian law society, or a notary of the Chambre des notaires du Québec. Our migration agent is registered in Australia, not Canada. We give general information about Canadian programs and help with study admissions only. IRCC may return or refuse an application made through an unauthorised paid representative.

Canada's economic immigration at a glance

Canada sets yearly targets for new permanent residents in its Immigration Levels Plan. The plan announced on 5 November 2026 keeps the total at 380,000 a year. It gives slightly fewer places to Express Entry in 2027, and more to provincial nominees.

Permanent resident admission targets (Levels Plans of 4 November 2025 and 5 November 2026)
Category	2026 target	2027 target
All new permanent residents	380,000	380,000
Economic immigration	239,800	244,700
Federal high skilled (mostly Express Entry)	109,000	100,000
Provincial Nominee Program	91,500	95,000

The same plan cuts new temporary residents (workers and students) to 370,000 a year from 2027, down from 385,000 in 2026. It also sets rising targets for French-speaking newcomers outside Quebec. Targets for 2028 and 2029 are notional and may change.

Canada PR pathways: Express Entry and PNP

Express Entry manages three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades program. You create an online profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. IRCC then invites the highest-ranked candidates in regular draws, many of them for set categories such as French speakers, healthcare, STEM, trades and education.

The CRS changed on 3 November 2026. A job offer no longer needs a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and points for a job offer now depend on the occupation being high-wage. Draws were paused while IRCC recalculated scores, so older cut-off scores may not be a good guide.

The Provincial Nominee Program is run by 11 provinces and territories. Quebec has its own selection system and Nunavut has no PNP. A nomination through an Express Entry-linked stream adds 600 CRS points. Each province sets its own streams and intake dates, and these change often.

Who these pathways suit, including Canada PR from Australia

You are more likely to be competitive if you have most of the following:

At least 1 year of skilled paid work in a TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job (Canada's skill levels for professional, managerial, technical and trade jobs).
Strong English or French. Express Entry accepts IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General and PTE Core for English, not IELTS Academic or PTE Academic. Results must be less than 2 years old.
A degree or diploma, with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you studied outside Canada.
Settlement funds if you need them: CAD 15,263 for one person under Express Entry (since 7 July 2025), unless you are exempt.
Canadian study or work experience, which can add points, though it is not required.

Living in Australia does not count against you, and Australian work experience can count as foreign skilled experience. If you are deciding between countries, compare these rules with Australian skilled migration. Some people study in Canada first. A study permit is for genuine study, so choose a course for its own value; read study in Canada for the current rules.

How to check a Canadian immigration representative

Ask for their full name and licence details An authorised representative will give these without hesitation.
Search the official register Check consultants on the CICC public register (opens in a new tab). Check lawyers and paralegals with the relevant provincial or territorial law society.
Confirm they are in good standing If they are not a member in good standing, IRCC advises you not to use them.
Be careful with offers to sell job offers or LMIAs Anyone who asks you to pay for a job offer or an LMIA is showing a common sign of fraud.

How Immi Solution helps

We explain how Canadian programs work as general information, so you can compare Canada with Australia and other options. For students, we help with course choice and admission applications through our education counselling service. For paid advice on an Express Entry, PNP or study permit application, we will refer you to an authorised representative.

Canadian immigration programs

Questions people ask

How many immigrants will Canada accept in 2027?

Canada's Levels Plan of 5 November 2026 sets a target of 380,000 new permanent residents in 2027, the same as 2026. About 244,700 places are for economic immigrants, including about 100,000 federal high-skilled places (mostly Express Entry) and 95,000 provincial nominees. The 2028 and 2029 figures are notional and will be reviewed in late 2027.

What is the minimum CRS score for Canada PR?

There is no fixed minimum. Each Express Entry draw sets its own cut-off. For example, the Canadian Experience Class draw on 15 October 2026 needed 519 points, and the French-language draw on 27 October 2026 needed 407. The CRS changed on 3 November 2026, so check the latest rounds on the IRCC website before you rely on any number.

Can I apply for Canada PR from Australia?

Yes. You can create an Express Entry profile from anywhere if you meet a program's rules. Skilled work in Australia can count as foreign work experience. You will need an approved English or French test, such as IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core. PTE Academic results are not accepted for Express Entry.

Can a registered Australian migration agent lodge my Canadian application?

Not for a fee. Only licensed RCICs, Canadian lawyers and paralegals, and Québec notaries may charge for Canadian immigration advice or representation. Registration in Australia does not count. We can explain how Canadian programs work and help with study admissions, and we can refer you to an authorised representative for your application.

Official sources

We check this page against the official information below and last reviewed it on 14 November 2026. Rules, fees and processing times change, so confirm the current position before you apply.