Can One Apply for Multiple PR Programs at Once?

Canada offers more than 100 economic class immigration programs to choose from, it is extremely possible to qualify for more than one Canadian immigration program. So, it also raises the question that whether a person can apply for more than one PR program at once or not. In case you stand eligible for Express Entry, however, do not necessarily get shortlisted for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) and that base provincial Nominee Program (PNP) appears to be a little more interesting – even if it’s a long process. Can you apply for both programs?

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) state that one can have two applications at once, however one is required to withdraw one application before a decision can be made on the other and will not be offered any refund on any processing fees. IRCC official mentions, “The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and Regulations do not forbid multiple applications. However, the immigration official also recommends that before concluding one of the applications, the other application must be withdrawn. Also, while submitting multiple applications, the candidate must be aware that there will be no refund of the processing fees will be offered once the processing has begun.”

You can only have one Express Entry profile

Canadian immigration law does not permit one to have more than one profile at once. The website suggests that having more than one profile will not offer a better chance of being invited, nor permit you to be invited under another program.

One may include their spouse or common-law partner on their Express Entry application. Every application through Express Entry has a principal applicant, who is offered a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. The principal applicant can add a spouse and dependent children to their application.

While applying as a couple, only one partner can be the Principal Applicant. The couple may select which partner is PA as long as both partners stand eligible for at least one Express Entry-managed program. This rule is essential as one partner will likely have a CRS score higher than the other.

Having an Express Entry profile in the pool does not guarantee that one will receive an invitation to apply (ITA). One may get an ITA if the CRS score meets the minimum cut-off in a given Express Entry draw.