Immigration to Canada

An overview of immigration to Canada

The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the Canadian federal immigration authority, accepts 300,000 immigrants to Canada every year, mainly in the economic and family reunification categories.

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Family class

Under the family reunification category, current sponsorship policies promote the reunification of Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada with their close relatives.

Relatives who are eligible for sponsorship programs are:

  • A spouse or a common-law partner” of 18 years of age or more.
  • Unmarried children under the age of 22.
  • Parent or grandparent.
  • An orphan’s brother, nephew, niece or grandson, unmarried and under the age of 18. Or any other relative if the sponsor does not have any of the relatives or family members mentioned above, in Canada or abroad.

IRCC has created a special visa for parents and grandparents who want to visit their loved ones called Parents and Grandparents Super Visa. This is a multiple entry visitor visa valid for 10 years which allows its holder to stay in Canada for up to two years without having to leave the country.

The economic category

Professionals and skilled workers who want permanent residence in Canada must demonstrate a strong possibility of economic stability in Canada. That is why the main selection factors for all economic programs are adequate education, work experience in a much-needed profession, and language abilities in one of Canada’s official languages.

IRCC operates federal skilled worker immigration programs in Canada using the Express Entry system. Under this system, applicants who meet the basic criteria submit an online profile to the Express Entry Pool, known as an Expression of interest, under one of three federal Canadian immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class, or a participating Provincial Nominee Immigration Program.

Candidate files are grouped against each other under a comprehensive classification system. The highest-ranked candidates are considered to be invited to apply for permanent residency under regular draws. Candidates who receive a call to apply must quickly submit a complete application within a relatively short delay. The government aims to handle cases in just 6 months.

The Province of Quebec runs its own immigration programs for Skilled Workers in Quebec and (Quebec Experience Class). In addition, the economic category includes various commercial and investment programs. Some business immigration programs also offer permanent admission to Canada such as the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP), the Quebec Entrepreneur Program, Quebec Self-Employed Program, the Federal Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Program (IIVC) and the Federal Start-up Visa Program.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Programs follow a two-step process for obtaining permanent residency: applicants are first selected or nominated by the province if they meet the program requirements. Based on this choice or nomination, they can apply to the Canadian Department of Citizenship and Immigration for permanent residency.

Wealthy business immigrants can also buy or establish a new company in Canada and qualify for a temporary work visa, under federal “owner-operator” policies. After a period of time, applicants may become eligible to apply for permanent residency under the Provincial Candidate Category Program, or under the Express Entry system.

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