Moving to Canada from India
Indian citizens move to Canada through the same routes as everyone else: Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, study then work, or sponsorship by a spouse. No route is reserved for India. IRCC has held no general Express Entry round since 2024, so a provincial nomination, worth 600 CRS points, is often the most practical path. An officer decides each application.
$15,263
Settlement funds for a single Federal Skilled Worker applicant, as of July 7, 2025
~7 months
IRCC’s processing time for Express Entry (FSW/CEC)
8 weeks
IRCC’s study permit estimate for applicants from India
32 days
IRCC’s visitor visa estimate for applicants from India
IRCC’s processing-time tool, as this site last checked it on November 11, 2026. The processing times dashboard shows the current estimates.
Which routes do Indian citizens use?
- Express Entry
- Manages three programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and Federal Skilled Trades (FST). Invitations to Apply (ITAs) are issued in rounds based on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. Indian applicants are eligible on the same terms as everyone, and India was the most common country of citizenship among candidates invited in 2024 (43% of invitations).
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Each province nominates skilled workers it needs. PNP streams exist for tech workers, healthcare, trades, agriculture, and more. Examples include BC PNP Skills Immigration and Alberta’s AAIP, whose Accelerated Tech Pathway is for candidates with an Alberta tech job offer. Ontario repealed its Human Capital Priorities stream along with its seven other streams on June 25, 2026. The province now runs a single employer-driven Ontario Workforce Priority stream. Many provinces also run streams outside Express Entry.
- Study-to-PR
- Study in Canada on a student permit, graduate, get a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), gain Canadian work experience, then apply through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). PGWP field-of-study requirements changed in 2024: the program and the DLI must both be PGWP-eligible.
- Spousal or family sponsorship
- A spouse or common-law partner who is a Canadian citizen or PR can sponsor you, and no CRS score is required. In most cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse or partner (IRPR s.133(4) sets one case). Parent and grandparent sponsorship has an income requirement (the minimum necessary income plus 30%), and IRCC has paused new interest to sponsor forms.
Which Express Entry rounds have invited candidates in 2026?
IRCC has not held a general (all-program) round since 2024. Through 2026 the rounds have been CEC, PNP, French-language, and category-based draws for transport, healthcare, physicians, trades, senior managers, and skilled military. CRS cut-offs vary draw to draw and are not fixed.
The 2026 rounds so far:
- CEC rounds, through the round of October 15, 2026, cut off between 507 and 523.
- French-language rounds have run far lower: through the round of October 27, 2026, they cut off between 382 and 435.
- Rounds for nominated candidates, through the round of October 26, 2026, cut off between 697 and 805.
- Category-based rounds rank candidates by CRS score within each category, and every one of them has cut off below the lowest CEC round of the year.
Without Canadian work experience, a provincial nomination, French, or a category-based draw, a candidate has had no 2026 round to be invited from.
Since November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer earns CRS points (100, 70 or 50) only if its occupation is on IRCC’s high-wage occupations list. That factor counts either your Canadian work experience or a high-wage job offer, not both.
Check the latest rounds-of-invitations data for current numbers. The draw tracker shows each round.
The rule
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points in Express Entry.
Which language tests does IRCC accept?
| Accepted test | Notes |
|---|---|
| IELTS General Training | One of the five tests IRCC accepts for Express Entry (the others are CELPIP-General, PTE Core, TEF Canada and TCF Canada). IRCC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake. |
| CELPIP General | Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program. Accepted by IRCC for Express Entry: take the CELPIP-General test. |
| PTE Core | IRCC accepts PTE Core, not PTE Academic, for Express Entry. |
Your test results must be less than 2 years old both when you create your Express Entry profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence. A result that turns 2 years old before you submit your application means a new test.
Which credential assessment and police certificate do you need?
The Federal Skilled Worker Program requires an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for education completed outside Canada.
- WES (World Education Services) is one of the five organizations IRCC designates to do ECAs. WES publishes its current processing times on its website.
- The other designated organizations are CES, ICAS, IQAS and ICES.
- Professional bodies: MCC (doctors in NOC 31100, 31101 or 31102), PEBC (pharmacists who need a licence) and CACB (architects who need a licence).
- The ECA report shows whether your Indian degree, diploma or certificate is valid and equal to a completed Canadian credential. The assessing organization decides which one.
India’s Police Clearance Certificate is applied for at your local district police station, a Passport office, an Indian embassy or consulate, or a BLS International Centre. Character Certificates are not accepted. If you live in India, it must be issued no more than 6 months before you submit your application, and IRCC may ask for updated certificates.
How long does IRCC take for applicants from India?
IRCC publishes processing times for each program, and for some programs by the country you apply from. The current figures for applicants from India:
| Program | IRCC processing time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry (FSW/CEC) | ~7 months | IRCC targets 80% within 6 months. Any single file can take longer |
| Spousal Sponsorship (outland) | ~18 months | IRCC tool, checked November 11, 2026, non-Quebec. Inland is ~26 months. Police certificate from India required |
| Student Visa (Study Permit) | 8 weeks | IRCC country-specific estimate for India |
| Visitor Visa (TRV) | 32 days | IRCC country-specific estimate for India. India is not visa-exempt |
How much money must you show?
IRCC requires Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) applicants to demonstrate proof of sufficient settlement funds. You do not need to show settlement funds if you are invited under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), or if you have valid authorization to work in Canada plus a valid job offer.
IRCC recalculates the minimums each year based on 50% of Statistics Canada Low Income Cut-Offs (LICO). The amounts in force took effect July 7, 2025: $15,263 for a single applicant, rising with family size. The Funds Calculator shows the amount for each family size.
These are regulatory minimums for proof of funds, not a realistic moving budget. IRCC assesses the amount in Canadian dollars, and exchange rates move.
Which free tool checks your own case?
- CRS CalculatorYour Express Entry points, factor by factor
- Express Entry DrawsEvery round and CRS cutoff, checked against IRCC
- Funds CalculatorProof of funds, super visa and sponsorship income
Free, with no account. What you enter in a tool stays in your browser.
What do people ask?
Can I move from India to Canada?
Yes, Indian citizens can move to Canada through the same general routes as everyone else. No fast track is reserved for one nationality. The main routes are Express Entry, a Provincial Nominee Program, study followed by the Canadian Experience Class, and sponsorship by a spouse or partner who is a citizen or PR. An officer decides each application. The Pathway Explorer lists every route and its published criteria.
Can I move to Canada from India without a job offer?
Yes. Since November 3, 2026, a job offer earns CRS points in Express Entry only if its occupation is on IRCC's high-wage occupations list, so an offer in any other occupation does not change your rank in the pool. An offer can still matter for some programs and PNP streams that need employer support. Without an offer and Canadian work authorization, Federal Skilled Worker applicants must show settlement funds. The Express Entry guide covers each program, and the CRS Calculator shows your score.
What is the checklist for moving to Canada from India?
The core checklist is a language test, a credential assessment, a police certificate, proof of funds and a chosen pathway. Take IELTS General Training, CELPIP General or PTE Core. Get an Educational Credential Assessment from a designated organization such as WES. Order your Indian police certificate early, because it must be recent. Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants show settlement funds. The Pathway Explorer helps you pick the route.
What is the cost of moving to Canada from India?
The fixed minimum is proof of funds: CAD 15,263 for a single Federal Skilled Worker applicant as of July 7, 2025, rising with family size. Canadian Experience Class applicants, and people with work authorization plus a job offer, do not need to show it. Real moving costs run higher: the first month's rent, a deposit, household setup and months of living costs. The Cost of Living by Province guide compares regions.
Which province should I choose when moving from India?
No single province is best: it depends on your occupation, the PNP streams open at the time, your language skills, family ties and living costs. Every province runs a PNP except Quebec, which selects its own skilled workers and issues a Québec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Nunavut runs no PNP. Taxes, wages and rents differ by province, so compare current local data. The PNP Guide 2026 breaks down each province.
Will I get free healthcare as soon as I land in Canada?
Not always on day one. Each province and territory runs its own health coverage, and it may take up to 3 months for coverage to start. IRCC suggests buying private insurance while you wait. Permanent residents must also meet a residency obligation under IRPA s.28, generally 730 days in Canada within a five-year period. The PR vs Citizenship guide explains that obligation.
Part of:Immigrating permanently
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Eligibility & How It Works
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): The 67-Point Grid
- Proof of Funds for Express Entry
The textbook on this subject
Volume 2: Immigrating to Canada $79
The economic and family pathways to permanent residence, explained from the published criteria.
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This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.