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The route most people from Russia take, the mistake to avoid, and the facts that change because you are applying from Russia, each read from the official page it links.
Most Russian citizens who become permanent residents of Canada qualify through economic programmes. In the admissions data of IRCC, Canada's immigration department, nomination by a province has been the largest single category every recent year, and most others come as skilled workers or through spouse sponsorship. Express Entry is the online system in which IRCC invites the skilled workers with the most points to apply for permanent residence; within it, the Canadian Experience Class is for people who have already worked in Canada, and the Federal Skilled Worker Program for skilled work done abroad. Under the Provincial Nominee Program, a province nominates people whose skills its economy needs and who want to live there.
Plan the English test first, because it probably means a trip: IDP paused IELTS testing in Russia in 2022, and Pearson, which runs PTE, suspended its services there, so expect to sit an English test Canada accepts in another country. The police certificate comes from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through a regional Information Centre, a Multifunctional Service Centre or the Gosuslugi government portal, and from abroad through a Russian embassy's consular section. IRCC's page for Russia says only the original paper certificate is accepted, not an electronic one or a printout of an online search, nor one from a local police office, and it must show every name you have used in Russia.
The mistake to avoid is expecting to finish the whole process inside Russia. Since January 28, 2026, visa application centres in Russia no longer accept passports or documents, although they still take biometrics, the fingerprints and photo IRCC collects. When IRCC asks for your passport, you must choose a centre outside Russia that accepts documents, and some centres take passports only by mail or courier. Pick that centre, and plan the trip or delivery, before the request arrives.
Express Entry asks a single applicant to show CAD 15,263 in settlement funds, about RUB 913,989 at the latest cached exchange rate; larger families need more.
A qualification from Russia is assessed for Canada by one of these organisations: World Education Services (WES), International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS), International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS), International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) and Comparative Education Service (CES).
A criminal record certificate (Spravka o nalichii (otsutstvii) sudimosti) from Russia's Ministry of Internal Affairs: apply at a regional Ministry Information Centre, a Multifunctional Service Centre, or online on the Gosuslugi government portal; from abroad, at a Russian embassy's consular section.
Canada has no youth mobility agreement with Russia today, so citizens of Russia can join International Experience Canada only through a recognized organization that accepts them.
Tests Canada accepts with centres in Russia include TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
In the 2021 census, 54% of immigrants born in Russia lived in Ontario, more than in any other province or territory.
Compared with other immigrants, those born in Russia are most concentrated in Manitoba, among the places where at least 5% of them live.
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