I Got PR in 18 Months – Here’s My Timeline (2026)

The 18-month journey from student to Canadian PR (Permanent Resident).

Hi, I’m Arjun from India. In January 2025, I landed in Toronto with a student visa. By June 2026, I had my Canadian Permanent Residency (PR). No agent. No lottery. Just smart planning.

In this post, I’ll share my exact month-by-month timeline — including mistakes, wins, and documents that got me approved.

📌 Key Stats: CRS Score: 485 → 565 (after PNP)
Total Cost: CAD $2,200
Processing Time: 6 months after ITA

Month 1–6: Student Life & Foundation

• Jan 2025: Arrived in Canada for 2-year Computer Programming diploma at Seneca College (DLI: O1939567).
• Feb 2025: Opened bank account (RBC), applied for SIN, got health card.
• Mar 2025: Took IELTS again – improved from 6.5 to 8.0 (CLB 10).
• Tip: Use free campus resources – language labs, career services!

Month 7–12: PGWP + First Job

• July 2025: Graduated → applied for 3-year PGWP within 90 days.
• Aug 2025: Started part-time job as IT Support (NOC 22220) – $24/hr.
• Oct 2025: Switched to full-time role after PGWP approval.
• CRS Score: 420 (too low for Express Entry draws).

⚠️ Don’t waste PGWP time! Work in a skilled job (NOC TEER 0–3) – unskilled jobs won’t help your PR.

Month 13–15: PNP Strategy

• Jan 2026: Created Express Entry profile (CRS: 420).
• Feb 2026: Applied for Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – International Student Stream.
• April 2026: Received Notification of Interest (NOI) from Ontario.
• May 2026: Submitted PNP application → approved in 30 days!

✅ PNP added 600 points → CRS jumped to 1,020!

Month 16–18: PR Approved!

• June 2026: Got Invitation to Apply (ITA) in next Express Entry draw.
• July 2026: Submitted e-APR with all documents.
• Dec 2026: PR approved! Landed immigrant status granted.

3 Lessons That Saved My PR Journey

1. Choose public college + in-demand program (IT, Healthcare, Engineering).
2. Apply for PNP early – don’t wait for high CRS.
3. Keep job consistent – gaps hurt your application.

💡 Free Resource: Download my “PR Timeline Tracker 2026” (Google Sheets) – includes document checklist & milestone alerts. [Your Link]

If I can do it, so can you. Start today — your Canadian dream is closer than you think.