FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Canada is known for its multiculturalism, natural beauty, thriving economy, and world-class education system. These are just some of the reasons immigrants choose to move to Canada. Moving to a new country is a huge life decision that requires planning and a financial commitment.
There are many ways newcomers can immigrate to Canada. A number of immigration programs are available that lead to permanent residency, including:
- Express Entry (EE): This is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada, due to its quick processing times.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): This is aimed at individuals who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to a specific province or territory.
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP): This program is for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to live and work in Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
- Start-up Visa (SUV): Entrepreneurs with the skills to build innovative businesses in Canada, create jobs for Canadians, and compete on a global scale, can apply for a Start-up Visa.
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP): This is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in a participating community.
- Family Sponsorship: Family sponsorship provides a route for spouses, partners, children, parents, grandparents, and in certain cases, other relatives to live, work and study in Canada as PRs.
- Quebec-selected Skilled Workers: This program is for skilled workers who wish to move as PRs and live and work in Quebec.
- Caregivers: Caregivers can come to Canada to become a PR or work temporarily through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot or Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP).
- Self-employed: The Self-employed Persons Program allows individuals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person.
- Agri-food Pilot: This program helps address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector and can be a pathway to PR.
Your family may be able to immigrate with you to Canada if they are processed for PR as your dependents. This includes:
- Spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent child
- Your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
- A dependent child of a dependent child
In order to be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must:
- Be a permanent resident
- Filed your taxes for at least three years
- Pass a citizenship test
- Prove your language skills in English or French
- Not have a criminal record
The Express Entry (EE) program is one of the most sought after and popular ways to immigrate to Canada. Express Entry is an online immigration application system that allows prospective newcomers to be considered as a skilled immigrant. A EE profile will determine your ranking and can be used to apply for:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program: This program is for applicants with significant foreign work experience and/or a high level of education who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program: This program is for skilled tradespeople who want to immigrate to Canada.
- Canadian Experience Class: This program is for foreign nationals who have been working in Canada for a period of at least one year to apply for Permanent Residence (PR).
Job Seeker
You may need a permit, depending on the type of work you will do in Canada
Foreign nationals will need a work permit to be allowed to work in Canada. However, sometimes you may be eligible to work in Canada without a work permit.
There are two types of work permits:
- Open work permit: This allows you to work for any employer in Canada and you can only get an open work permit in specific situations.
- Employer-specific work permit: Also called a closed work permit specifies the name of the employer you can work for, location, and for how long you can work.
The other way individuals from other countries can legally work in Canada is to apply for International Experience Canada (IEC) which is also known as a Working Holiday Visa. Learn more about IEC, check eligibility, and get information on processing times and fees on the government website.
International students in Canada may also be eligible to work. Some study permits list a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus while in school. However, once you graduate, you’ll need to apply for a work permit in Canada or apply for a Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP), or apply for permanent residence.
Searching for a job in a new country can feel daunting. Get job-ready by preparing a Canadian-style resume and cover letter ahead of time. Remember that most Canadian employers will want to know if you are legally allowed to work in Canada. This often translates to being a permanent resident (PR), having a work permit, being an international student who is allowed to work in Canada, being the spouse of an international student, or being a Canadian citizen.
- Search job websites: This is a good starting point for many job opportunities. Popular sites include the Canadian government’s Job Bank, LinkedIn Jobs, Indeed, Monster, and Workopolis.
- Network and volunteer: As many as 65-85 per cent of jobs aren’t posted online. Networking or volunteering is one way to tap into Canada’s hidden job market. LinkedIn is an excellent tool to connect with other people in your industry.
- Look for a mentor: A mentor can provide advice and coaching on the local job market, grow your professional network, and help find career opportunities.
- Immigrant-serving organizations: Government funded organizations such as ACCES Employment and COSTI can help newcomers find employment. Many of these organizations also organize job fairs.
- Contact employment agencies and recruiters: Specialized employment agencies and recruiters can help you find a job in your field. Search for recruiters on LinkedIn or through a web search. Some of the top employment agencies in Canada include Robert Half, Randstad Canada, and Hays Canada.