Canada and Australia both offer permanent residency (PR) programs—a key pathway to live, work, study, and access social benefits. These programs exist to attract skilled immigrants, support economic growth, and address demographic challenges like aging populations.
In 2025, both countries are adjusting their PR systems to meet changing labour market demands, streamline eligibility, and improve fairness—all while managing public concerns around immigration.
Who it affects:
Skilled professionals, tradespeople, students, and families seeking long-term residency.
Employers aiming to fill skill shortages.
Current temporary residents planning to extend their stay.
Problems it addresses:
Addresses key industries facing shortages (e.g., tech, healthcare, construction).
Provides clarity on pathways for skill-based immigration.
Offers potential PR holders access to education, healthcare, and social benefits.
Backlogs & processing delays: IRCC reports made ~156,450 PR decisions and welcomed ~132,100 PRs from Jan–April 2025 reuters.com+14youtube.com+14immigrationhotspot.com.au+14immi.homeaffairs.gov.au+15canada.ca+15immigrationnewscanada.ca+15theaustralian.com.au.
Skilled class backlog: Median “final decision to eCOPR” for Express Entry is ~65–70 days. 90th percentile can reach ~80 days reddit.com.
Processing changes (June 2025):
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) remains ~5 months.
Federal Skilled Worker (FSWP) increased to ~6 months.
PNP via Express Entry is ~8 months; non‑Express Entry PNP ~19 months canada.ca+12immigrationnewscanada.ca+12iccimmigration.ca+12.
Work-permit issues: Migrants are losing legal status amid record delays—LMIA processing jumped from 58 to 165 business days by March 2025 youtube.com+15reuters.com+15youtube.com+15.
Temporary policy (since May 27, 2025): Allows foreign workers to switch jobs before obtaining new work-permit approvals timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Migration Strategy (late 2024): New “Skills in Demand” visa introduced, with simplified labour market testing; launched Dec 7, 2024 fragomen.com+1immigrationhotspot.com.au+1.
Temporary Graduate Visa (TGV) changes: Age limit now 35 (with exceptions); stay includes 2–3 years depending on degree immigrationhotspot.com.au+11thinkvisa.com.au+11visasavenue.com+11.
July 1, 2025 reforms:
Higher student-visas requirements—financial proof (≈ AU$29,710) and AUD$2,000 fee.
Stricter work limits for students and increased skilled visa salary thresholds.
Partner visa processing simplified immigrationnewscanada.ca+6bansalimmigration.com.au+6timesofindia.indiatimes.com+6.
Political context: Government cutting net migration and raising minimum salary thresholds for skilled workers theaustralian.com.au+1timesofindia.indiatimes.com+1.
Express Entry (EE):
Covers FSWP, CEC, and FSTP.
Points-based system (CRS), evaluating age, education, work experience, language proficiency, etc.
Federal draws held weekly; median eCOPR time is ~65–70 days iccimmigration.ca+1immigrationnewscanada.ca+1reddit.com+1reuters.com+1.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP):
Provinces nominate skilled individuals in demand.
Express Entry PNP ~8 months; non‑Express PNP ~19 months immigrationnewscanada.ca+1iccimmigration.ca+1.
Family, business, and other streams:
Spouse/common-law PR ~11 months for outside applications; parents/grandparents ~36 months (48 months in Quebec) iccimmigration.ca+1immigrationnewscanada.ca+1.
Temporary-to-PR pathway:
Study and work channels can lead to PR (CEC, PNP).
New public policy allows job switching without waiting for a new permit reddit.com+8spscanada.com+8cictimes.com+8jamesonlaw.com.au+14bansalimmigration.com.au+14timesofindia.indiatimes.com+14.
SkillSelect & Points-Tested Visas:
Subclass 189, 190, 491 for skilled workers.
Points allocated for age, education, work, English, etc., with new “Skills in Demand” stream from Dec 2024 fragomen.com.
Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485):
Allows degree holders to stay 2–3 years post-study.
Updated age cap of 35 and duration rules based on level of degree thinkvisa.com.au.
Partner & Family visas:
July 2025 reforms simplify partner visa rules (details awaited) bansalimmigration.com.au.
Student Visas (subclass 500):
Stronger financial proof (AU$29,710) and higher fees (AU$2,000).
Work limitations tightened bansalimmigration.com.au.
Quota & salary thresholds:
Government reviewing net migration targets; plans to reduce permanent skilled visas from 185,000 to 140,000 over two years theaustralian.com.au.
Here are practical tools to support your PR application in 2025:
IRCC Processing Times page – Live updates on application timelines canada.ca+6canada.ca+6youtube.com+6
Express Entry CRS Calculator – Estimate your points.
Provincial nomination websites – Check targeted occupations and nomination requirements.
Job Bank – Helps employers find skilled workers.
Post‑eCOPR checklists – Guides after receiving Confirmation of PR (e.g., PR‑card steps) iccimmigration.careddit.com.
SkillSelect tool – Submit Expression of Interest (EOI) and check visa invitation odds.
Subclass 485 Calculator – Estimate length of stay based on degree.
DIBP financial requirement checker – For student visa funds.
Migration agent directories – Professional guidance (optional).
Visa fee estimator – Check updated costs, including AU$2,000 student-visa fee.
| Feature | Canada PR (EE/PNP) | Australia PR (Skilled Streams) |
|---|---|---|
| Points System | CRS: age, English, experience, etc. | Points test: age, skills, English, etc. |
| Processing Time (EE) | ~5–6 months (final to eCOPR ~65–70 days) | Varies by stream; standard often ~6–12+ months |
| Pathway from Study/Work | CEC & PNP allow direct pathway | 485 → Skilled subclass possible |
| Changes in 2025 | Backlogs, LMIA delays, job-switch policy | Salary threshold up; student/partner visa rules updated |
| Family Stream Delays | ~10–11 months (spouse), ~36–48 months (parents) | July 2025 reforms aim to simplify partner visas |
| Net Migration Controls | No fixed cap, but backlogs slow intake | Quota to reduce PR visas from 185k→140k |
It depends on your profile and pathway. Canada can be faster for Express Entry applicants (median ~5–6 months), but backlogs in PNP and family streams exist. Australia offers new “Skills in Demand” streams but has introduced stricter financial and salary criteria.
Canada: Yes—study → work → CEC or PNP is a common path.
Australia: Yes—subclass 485 post-study visa → skilled PR, though higher fees and financial thresholds may pose hurdles.
Yes.
Canada awards more points to applicants under 35.
Australia also favours younger candidates—especially under 33 for skilled streams and under 35 for the Temporary Graduate visa.
Canada: Skilled-class backlog persists; LMIA delays can disrupt work-permit status, though new policy allows job-switching before approvals thinkvisa.com.au+9immigrationnewscanada.ca+9iccimmigration.ca+9iccimmigration.cayoutube.com+2fragomen.com+2iccimmigration.ca+2reuters.com.
Australia: Processing times vary; July 2025 reforms aim to simplify partner visas and align intake with labour demand bansalimmigration.com.au.
Canada: Costs include processing fees, IELTS/PTE testing, proof of funds (~CAD $13,000–$25,000 depending on family size), and settlement costs.
Australia: Post-July 2025 student visas require ~AU$29,710 proof and AU$2,000 fee. Skilled applicants must meet higher salary thresholds.
Eligibility and profile matter most. If you score high on age, education, work experience, and language, Express Entry (Canada) offers a clear path. Australia favors targeted skilled migrants, especially via new streams, but with tighter financial rules.
Processing speed is evolving. Canada’s skilled PR streams remain moderate in timelines (~5–6 months), but family and PNP are slower. Australia’s timelines vary—family and partner visa reforms may improve processing.
Policy changes in 2025 introduce new challenges—job transition policies and LMIA delays in Canada; financial and salary thresholds and quota reductions in Australia.
Consider your long-term goals. Both countries offer PR leading to citizenship. Weigh factors like healthcare, employment prospects, family reunification, and costs.
Here’s a simplified side-by-side view:
| Category | Canada (Express Entry / PNP) | Australia (Skilled/Graduate Streams) |
|---|---|---|
| Processing Time | ~5–6 mo (skilled), ~8–19 mo (PNP) | 6–12+ mo (varies per stream) |
| Cost | Test fees + IRCC + proof of funds | Visa fees + fee increases + funds proof |
| Age Limit | Best under 35 | Points test (35+ reduces score) |
| Recent Reforms | Backlogs, LMIA work policy | Visa cost up, partner visa simplified |
| Best For | Skilled workers with high CRS | Skilled/graduate with strong salary/job |