Permanent residence in Canada grants individuals the right to live and work anywhere in the country indefinitely. As a permanent resident, you receive many of the same benefits as Canadian citizens, including access to healthcare, social services, and protection under Canadian law. Permanent residents can also apply for Canadian citizenship after meeting certain residency requirements. However, they must maintain their status by living in Canada for at least two years within a five-year period and are required to pay taxes and abide by Canadian laws. This status provides a pathway to fully integrating into Canadian society while enjoying its diverse opportunities and high quality of life.
For assistance finding the best pathway to permanent residence, complete our free assessments or contact us for consultation to discuss the best options for you.
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. Introduced in January 2015, it streamlines the application process for three main immigration programs: Federal Skilled Workers, Federal Skilled Trades, and Canadian Experience Class. Applicants submit an online profile detailing their skills, work experience, language proficiency, and education. Eligible candidates enter a pool and are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Those with the highest scores receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence, making Express Entry a competitive and efficient pathway to immigrate to Canada.
If you are qualified under the Skilled Worker, Skilled Trades, or Canadian Experience Class, and would like assistance to register for express entry, please contact us for a free assessment.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is managed under the Express Entry system, streamlining the process for skilled workers to gain permanent residence in Canada. Applicants must first create an Express Entry profile and meet a minimum of 67 points based on their qualifications. They are then ranked through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and only those with the highest scores receive invitations to apply. The FSWP requires at least one year of full-time paid work experience in a skilled job, proficiency in English or French, and an educational credential assessment (ECA) for foreign degrees. Applicants must also demonstrate settlement funds and plan to live outside Quebec. Canada continuously seeks skilled workers to address labor shortages across the country.
Contact us to book a consultation and find out how you may qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker program, for permanent residency status in Canada.
Since January 1, 2015, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) has been managed under the Express Entry system. Applicants create an Express Entry profile and are ranked based on qualifications. Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) invites the highest-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence. Eligible trades include industrial, electrical, construction, maintenance, equipment operation, natural resources, agriculture, processing, manufacturing, chefs, cooks, butchers, and bakers. Applicants need at least two years of full-time work experience, meet job requirements, achieve language proficiency, and have a job offer or a certificate of qualification. They must also plan to live outside Quebec. Canada seeks skilled trade workers to address labor shortages.
Contact us to book a consultation and find out how you may qualify under the Federal Skilled Trades program, for permanent residency status in Canada.
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration pathway designed for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who have gained skilled work experience in Canada. Managed under the Express Entry system, the CEC allows those with at least one year of Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence. Applicants must meet specific language requirements and plan to live outside Quebec. The CEC values Canadian work experience as a crucial factor, streamlining the transition from temporary to permanent status for eligible individuals.
Contact us to book a consultation and find out how you may qualify under the Canadian Experience Class program, for permanent residency status in Canada.
A Permanent Resident or Canadian Citizen can sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children, parents, grandparents and other eligible relatives for permanent residency.
After living in Canada for a period of time as a permanent resident, the family member may qualify for citizenship.
Basic Requirements to Sponsor:
If you have sponsored relatives to come to Canada in the past, and they have later asked the government for financial help, you may not be allowed to sponsor another person. Your relatives must also agree to try to support themselves.
Due to changes in Canada’s immigration law, if a spouse or partner sponsored you, you now cannot sponsor a new spouse or partner within five years of becoming a permanent resident.
Programs for Parents and Grandparents
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have two main programs to bring a parent or grandparent to Canada:
Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program
This is an annual program for Parents and Grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, who wish to sponsor their parents and grandparents.
If you want to sponsor your parents and grandparents, you must show your interest by submitting your interest online. The current interest to sponsor form is available as of noon EST on January 2, 2018, and will close at noon EST on February 1, 2018.
Submissions will be reviewed and there will be random selection and invitation to potential sponsors to apply to sponsor their parents and grandparents. If invited you will have 90 days to submit a full application.
If you do not receive and invitation, you will have the opportunity to show your interest to sponsor your parents and grandparents again next year.
You can sponsor your parents and grandparents if you’re 18 years of age or older, living in Canada and are a:
The program only allows you to apply for your own parents and grandparents. You can’t use your invitation to become a co-signer for your spouse or partner’s parents and grandparents. If you live in Quebec, you must also meet Quebec’s immigration sponsorship requirements after approved as a sponsor.
As a sponsor to a parent or grandparent you will need to meet certain minimum income requirements, support that person and their dependents and sign a sponsorship agreement.
There is a yearly cap on the number of applications that are accepted. The current cap for 2018 is 10,000 complete applications. Once this cap is reached, there is still the Super Visa Program which allows parents and grandparents to come to Canada on extended multi-entry visas that could last up to a total of 10 years.
The Super Visa
The Super Visa is a multiple entry visa designed for parents and grandparents that remains a fast and convenient option for holders wanting to spend longer periods of time with their families in Canada.
Need assistance, check eligibility and to learn more about the requirements for these programs, contact us today or complete our Family Sponsorship Assessment Form.
PNP programs are a way for high-demand foreign workers and experienced entrepreneurs to meet labour needs and gain permanent residency in their chosen province.
The PNP programs offer options for both skilled and semi-skilled workers. You may be able to apply on your own, or with your employer. Each province and territory has its own streams or immigration programs that target certain groups, and criteria for their PNP.
Greater consideration will be given to those individuals whose employment will fill a skills shortage. For example, Saskatchewan has a Health Professions Category, a Farm Owner/Operator Category and a Long Haul Truck Drivers Project which are all designed to facilitate immigration to their province.
Since January 1, 2015, many provinces and territories have launched new Express Entry streams.
To apply for the PNP you must:
If you are nominated under a non-Express Entry stream:
If you are nominated under a province or territory’s Express Entry stream, you must:
Minimum criteria and programs available within each province are constantly being updated.
Please refer to the links for the province you are interested in, for further information specific to their PNP and the streams they offer:
ALBERTA: Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program
BRITISH COLUMBIA: British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
MANITOBA: Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
NEW BRUNSWICK: New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR: Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES: Northwest Territories Nominee Program
NOVA SCOTIA: Nova Scotia Nominee Program
ONTARIO: Ontario’s Pilot Provincial Nominee program
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND: Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
SASKATCHEWAN: Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
YUKON: Yukon Nominee Program
Contact us to book a consultation and discuss the streams available and how you may qualify under a Provincial Nominee program.
Humanitarian and compassionate grounds apply to people with exceptional cases. Each application is assessed on a case-by-case basis.
Factors that are taken into consideration include:
Humanitarian and compassionate grounds are only considered if you are applying for permanent resident status in Canada, or for a permanent resident visa abroad. Requests are not considered from temporary resident applicants.
Risk factors such as persecution, risk to life, cruel and unusual treatment or punishment are not assessed.
You cannot apply for humanitarian and compassionate grounds if you have a pending refugee claim. If you want to apply, you must withdraw your refugee claim before your Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) hearing.
If you feel this option may apply to you, please contact us for a more detailed consultation to discuss the option further.
The pilot will allow 2000 additional immigrants and their families to come to the four Atlantic Provinces:
Provincial government staff will assist local employers to identify, hire and support foreign workers. In turn, successful candidates will be selected for permanent residency by the Federal government.
Businesses in these provinces can offer jobs to eligible non-Canadians. With a job offer, you can apply for permanent residence in Canada through one of three programs:
Employers interested in participating in the Pilot, must meet the following designation criteria:
Applicants interested in the program must meet the following eligibility requirements:
Contact us to book a consultation and learn more about this new Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, your next steps and its possible pathway to permanent residency status in Canada for you and your family.
Samantha Skerrett is authorised and regulated by The College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC)
