Glossary
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses terms and abbreviations that can be hard to understand. This glossary contains some of the most commonly used terms. These are not legal definitions; they are based on IRCC’s glossary and expanded upon by Lighthouse Immigration Law.
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Pass mark (skilled worker)
The minimum number of points an applicant must get in order to qualify for selection for programs with a points grid. The pass mark is different depending on the program.
See Points
Passport
An official travel document that identifies the person who holds it and shows their citizenship. A passport gives the holder the right to leave and return to the country that issued it. A passport is the only reliable travel document that all countries accept.
See Travel document.
Permanent Resident Card Number
Your Permanent Resident Card number is located in the top right corner on the back of your card. The Permanent Resident Card number starts with two (2) letters followed by ten (10) numbers (Example: RA0302123456) or two (2) letters followed by seven (7) numbers (Example: PA0123456).
Permanent resident
Related terms:
Landed immigrant
PR
A person who has legally immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen.
For a more detailed definition, see the legal definition of permanent resident.
Permanent resident card
Related terms:
Maple leaf card
PR card
A wallet-sized plastic document issued to all new permanent residents (and to existing permanent residents, when requested) to confirm their status in Canada. The card includes identifying details and the signature of the person it was issued to.
Permanent resident status
The position of a person who has legally immigrated to Canada but is not yet a Canadian citizen.
Permanent resident visa
A document issued by an IRCC visa office overseas to a foreign national. It allows that person to travel to Canada to become a permanent resident.
Personal net worth
Related terms:
Net worth
Net assets
The fair market value of all assets of an applicant and their spouse or common-law partner, minus the fair market value of all their liabilities. Generally, this figure does not include personal assets, such as jewellery and automobiles.
Physical presence requirement (citizenship)
For applicants who apply on or after October 11, 2017, this is the amount of time a permanent resident must be physically present in Canada to be eligible for a grant of Canadian citizenship.
Applicants who apply under subsection 5(1) must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years immediately before the date of application. This includes time as a:
permanent resident (PR)
temporary resident (lawfully authorized to remain in Canada)
protected person
These requirements do not apply to children under 18 years old who apply under subsection 5(2).
Exceptions apply for certain Crown servants and certain family members of Crown servants.
Points
Refers to two things:
the scoring system used to assess eligibility for federal skilled workers and self-employed immigrants. Points are earned for six factors: education, English and/or French skills, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability. A person must have a minimum number of points to qualify in each category.
the unit of measurement used in the Comprehensive Ranking System to score Express Entry candidates.
See Pass mark
Police certificate
Related terms:
Police clearance certificate
Certificate of good conduct
Judicial record extract
An official copy of a person’s criminal record, or a declaration that they do not have a criminal record. Police authorities or government departments issue such certificates. Authorities use them to confirm whether visa applicants are criminally inadmissible.
Pool
People who meet certain criteria are put into one or more pools of candidates. This is a group of people that we may invite to apply for:
a work permit for International Experience Canada or
permanent residence through Express Entry.