VISAS & RESIDENCE
Canada’s main settlement routes include skilled immigration, provincial nomination and family sponsorship. Short visits use a visitor visa or, where applicable, an eTA. Immigration assessment starts with language, work experience, education and family ties.
The system manages Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applications. These address qualifying skilled experience, trades or Canadian work experience. A profile needs an invitation before a PR application.
Provinces set streams around local needs, often considering occupation, employment or provincial ties. Some use Express Entry and others a separate process. Applicants must intend to settle in the nominating province.
Eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor qualifying spouses, partners and dependent children. Sponsors accept specific obligations; other relative categories have their own eligibility and intake rules.
For tourism and family visits. The required travel authorisation depends on nationality, travel documents and mode of arrival. Study or employment generally needs separate permission.
Skilled routes usually start with approved language tests, employment evidence and an educational credential assessment (ECA) where required. Funds, police certificates, medicals and family records follow the category checklist; sponsorship focuses on the relationship and sponsor.
Budget for application fees, applicable biometrics, language tests, credential assessment, medicals, translation and professional services. Some skilled routes require settlement funds; these are available savings, not an investment paid to the government.
Review language, education, work and family factors to choose a stream.
Create an Express Entry profile, pursue provincial nomination or prepare sponsorship as applicable.
Submit when the route permits, complete assessment and, if approved, confirm PR under IRCC instructions.
No. Entering the pool is separate from receiving an invitation. Selection depends on the round and profile; a subsequent application still undergoes eligibility and admissibility checks.
At the 1 October 2026 review, IRCC marks the programme as paused. It is not presented here as an open route; existing cases follow the applicable IRCC instructions.
Source review: . General programme information, not individual legal advice.
YOUR NEXT CHAPTER
