Canada Immigration: Explore Your PR Visa Options | CanadaVisa


Canada has set a target of welcoming 500,000 new immigrants by 2025.

Canada offers one of the world’s most open and dynamic immigration systems. There are over 100 different Canadian immigration pathways for skilled workers, business people, and families. This comprehensive CanadaVisa page helps you explore which options may be best for you.

Overview

Do you want to immigrate to Canada? Then you have come to the right place. CanadaVisa will help you figure out how you can make your Canada dream come true.

People choose to immigrate to Canada for many reasons. Whether it’s to pursue a high-quality education, to feel secure with free universal healthcare, or to benefit from Canada’s high quality of life, Canada’s got it all.

There are over 100 different ways to immigrate to Canada. For that reason, everyone’s path to Canadian immigration will be unique.

For example, there are many different ways for professionals and workers to qualify for a Canada Immigration permanent resident visa. The most prominent option is through Express Entry, which is Canada’s main pathway for economic class skilled workers. Your best bet to be eligible under Express Entry is to meet the requirements of either the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Canada’s second largest pathway for skilled workers is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Nearly every province and territory operates the PNP so they can select immigrants that meet the needs of their local job markets. The third major option is immigrating to the province of Quebec, which operates notable pathways such as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program and the Quebec Experience Class. 

If you want to obtain Canadian permanent residence as a business immigrant, you have a number of options such as the Federal Self-Employed Program, the Start-up Visa, and entrepreneur programs operated under the PNP and by Quebec.

Canada offers a number of family class sponsorship programs. Through these programs, Canadian citizens and permanent residents may sponsor family members and loved ones for Canadian immigration.

LGBTQ2 individuals and couples are afforded the same rights and opportunities as other persons when it comes to immigration to Canada.

Complete our FREE assessment to find out if you are eligible to immigrate to Canada

Why Does Canada Need Immigrants?

Canada welcomes immigrants under three classes: the economic class, family class, and refugee and humanitarian class.

Skilled workers are welcomed under the economic class to support Canada’s high living standards. Canada has an aging population and low birth rate which is why most of the immigrants it welcomes are skilled workers. Canada needs these skilled workers to support its labour force and economic growth. These skilled workers arrive with strong language skills, work experience, and education, and desire to succeed. Hence, they play a vital role in Canada’s efforts to support economic growth and social services such as education and universal health care.

The second largest immigrant class arrives through family sponsorship. Canada welcomes the loved ones of Canadian citizens and permanent residents since strong families are the bedrock of Canada’s society and economy. Allowing close family members to build a life in Canada provides families with the emotional support they need to thrive in the country’s society and economy.

The third largest class are welcomed as refugees and for humanitarian purposes. As one of the world’s most privileged nations, Canada has a moral obligation to provide safety to those fleeing persecution and other hardship, and Canada has a long tradition since the end of the Second World War of demonstrating humanitarian leadership. In 1986, the United Nations awarded the people of Canada the Nansen Medal, which is the UN’s highest honour for those who demonstrate excellence in helping refugees. Canada remains the first and only country to receive the Nansen Medal.

Why Do Canadians Support Immigration?

One of the most unique things about Canada is it reports some of the strongest levels of public support for immigration in the world. Since the early 1990s, public support for immigration in Canada has steadily increased. Today, some 80 per cent of Canadians agree that immigration is beneficial to the economy. The strong public support allows the Canadian government to target the arrival of 500,000 new immigrants per year.

Public support for immigration in Canada is due to the following factors:

History: Canada has a history of immigration. British and French settlers joined Canada’s Indigenous peoples to build the country. Since Canada’s Confederation in 1867, it has welcomed millions of immigrants from all corners of the globe. Hence, other than Canada’s Indigenous peoples, all Canadians are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. As the saying goes at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, “A Canadian is an immigrant with seniority.”

Geography: Canada is able to exercise great control over who enters the country since it is surrounded by vast bodies of water and only shares its border with one country, the United States. The strong control allows Canada to screen people before they enter the country to make sure they meet Canada’s policy goals.

Policy: Canada invests billions of dollars each year in welcoming immigrants and providing them with settlement supports such as job training. In addition, Canada invests billions on education, health care, infrastructure, and other important areas to keep living standards high for Canadians and immigrants.

Politics: Canada’s largest cities and provinces have high levels of immigration. Politicians need support from immigrants in order to win democratic elections.

Skilled Worker Immigration Pathways

Under its Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome well over 400,000 immigrants every year. Some 60 per cent of these immigrants arrive as skilled workers. The main way skilled workers can immigrate to Canada is through the Express Entry application management system. The second main way is through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), followed by Quebec’s skilled worker programs, and then a few other targeted federal programs.

Skilled Workers Can Move to Canada with their Family

Skilled workers can also bring close family members with them to Canada. These family members also gain permanent resident status. 

Close family members include:

  • your spouse or common-law partner
  • dependent children
  • dependent children of your spouse or common-law partner
  • dependent children of dependent children

Dependent children are:

  • under 22 years old and not a spouse or common law partner
  • 22 years of age or older, depended significantly on financial support from their parents before the age of 22 and can not support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition

Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s main way of managing skilled worker applications through the three main economic class immigration programs:

Candidates who are eligible for Express Entry can upload their profile onto the federal government’s website.

Candidates receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on criteria such as their age, education, language skills, and work experience.

Approximately every two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence.

IRCC aims to process permanent residence applications in six months or less.

Under its Immigration Levels Plan, Canada seeks to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants through Express Entry each year.

Find out more about Express Entry

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), Canada’s provinces and territories can nominate people who wish to immigrate to Canada and reside in a particular province. Canada seeks to welcome over 100,000 immigrants per year under the PNP.

All provinces and territories, except for Quebec and Nunavut, has its own PNP. Each province determines its own criteria for choosing eligible candidates. PNPs operate Expression of Interest (EOI) systems, similar to Express Entry, and invite the highest scoring candidates in regular draws.

You do not need to have an Express Entry profile to apply. You can apply directly to a PNP stream. These are called ‘base’ streams.

You can also apply to PNP streams that are aligned with Express Entry. These are called ‘enhanced’ streams. The benefit of applying to an enhanced stream is that it gives you more options.

Receiving a provincial nomination through these streams awards Express Entry candidates an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This practically guarantees receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence in a subsequent Express Entry draw.

Learn more about the PNP

Quebec Immigration

The province of Quebec has its own immigration system with its own selection criteria that is separate from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) programs and also separate from the PNP. Applicants who are selected to immigrate to Quebec are given a Quebec Selection Certificate, or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). This is a document that is issued by Quebec’s Immigration Ministry.

You are able to apply for a CSQ through one of Quebec’s immigration programs.

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Quebec and become permanent residents of Canada.

The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) is popular among international students who have completed their post-secondary education in Quebec. This program is also for foreign skilled workers with work experience in the province.

Quebec also boasts business immigration programs aimed at entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals who wish to run a business in Quebec, as well as those who want to obtain permanent residence in the province as immigrant investors.

Explore Quebec Immigration

Atlantic Immigration Program

Atlantic Canada has its own immigration program called the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The AIP that allows employers to attract and retain foreign talent. Atlantic Canada includes four provinces:

  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Prince Edward Island

Employers who wish to benefit from the AIP must find a suitable candidate and offer them a job. They do not need to conduct a Labour Market Impact Assessment. Once the candidate accepts the offer, the employer must connect the candidate with a designated organization that will help him or her develop a settlement plan. Employers who wish to quickly fill the position may also have access to a temporary work permit.

Read More on the AIP

Other Federal Skilled Worker Programs

Additional targeted federal skilled worker programs exist that help certain immigration candidates gain permanent residence. The additional federal programs include:

The RNIP allows small and remote communities across Canada to attract and retain foreign workers. Participating communities take the lead in attracting new immigrants and matching them with suitable jobs. 

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot provides a pathway to Canadian permanent residence to eligible temporary foreign workers in the Agriculture and Agri-Food industry. In order to be eligible, candidates need to have completed 12 months of work experience, hold a high school diploma and meet minimum language requirements.

The remaining immigration programs provide pathways to permanent residence for foreign caregivers, including childcare providers and home support workers. Caregivers are required to have at least two years of work experience relevant to the program they are applying for. 

Business Immigration

Business people have several options that may allow you to fast-track the Canadian immigration process.

For example, you may be able to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Start-Up Visa Program, or the Federal Self-Employed Persons Program.

If you wish to immigrate to Quebec, the province also has its own business immigration programs. Many PNP streams also have immigration streams specifically for entrepreneurs and other business people.

Discover your Business Immigration Options

Moving to Canada from the U.S.

If you are a U.S. citizens or resident, you have plenty of options to consider if you wish to live in Canada. Many move north to Canada from the U.S. each year to work, study or immigrate. Learn how you can be among them by visiting our dedicated page for those in the U.S.

Candidates who wish to work in Canada can choose between various options depending on their situation. For example, there is a facilitated process to help U.S. citizens work in Canada temporarily under the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) which is formerly known as NAFTA. The agreement also helps with intra-company transfers as well as CUSMA traders and investors.

Candidates who have a spouse or common-law partner in the U.S. may sponsor them to come to Canada. In addition, U.S. citizens and residents have many options if they wish to immigrate to Canada to start a new business or purchase an already existing business.

 Learn about Moving to Canada from the U.S

Family Class Sponsorship

The Canadian government is committed to keeping families together. As such, Canada aims to welcome over 100,000 new immigrants every year to join their family. 

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their spouses or common-law partners, parents and grandparents, and dependent children.

You will need to sign an ‘undertaking’ in order to sponsor your family. This means that you will be financially responsible for the person you will sponsor. For example, if they require social assistance, you may have to pay it back.

For parents and grandparents, there is also the Super Visa program option.

Explore Family Class Sponsorship

Find the Right Canadian Immigration Program

 I am a skilled worker

Your best options are:

Canada values your education and work experience and takes it into consideration for many of its Canadian immigration programs. There are many immigration programs that you may be eligible for. Many of these programs assign a point value for your education. You may receive more points if you have an advanced degree such as a Master’s or a PhD.

Candidates for Canadian immigration who have at least one year of skilled work experience are deemed more likely to be able to integrate into the Canadian labour market. Once again, many programs assign a point value for your work experience. You may receive additional points for more work experience, depending on the program.

Learn more about Skilled Immigration