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Express Entry is the Government of Canada's online system for managing permanent residence applications from skilled workers. It covers three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program for people with skilled work experience outside Canada, the Canadian Experience Class for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program for qualified tradespeople.

Once you meet the basic rules of one program, you create an online profile and receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score out of 1,200 points. Your score is based on your age, education, language test results and work experience. Extra points can come from a provincial nomination, a Canadian degree or diploma, strong French skills or a brother or sister living in Canada.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) holds regular draws and sends an Invitation to Apply (ITA) to the highest ranked people in the pool. Some draws are open to everyone, while category based draws invite people with experience in in-demand jobs or strong French. These categories change over time, so we always check the latest ones for your profile. After you receive an invitation, you have 60 days to send a complete application.

Almost every province and territory runs its own Provincial Nominee Program to choose newcomers who fit local job needs. Quebec has its own separate selection system. A provincial nomination is one of the strongest ways to secure permanent residence.

Some streams are linked to Express Entry. These are called enhanced nominations and add 600 points to your CRS score, which almost always leads to an invitation. Other streams are base nominations, where you apply to IRCC outside the Express Entry system after the province nominates you.

Here in Ontario, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has streams for workers with a job offer, international graduates and Express Entry candidates. Other provinces look for people in specific in-demand jobs, graduates of local schools, entrepreneurs or people with family in the province. We compare the streams across Canada to find the ones you can qualify for.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who are 18 or older can sponsor certain family members to become permanent residents. The most common case is sponsoring a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner. You can also sponsor dependent children, who are generally under 22 and not married or in a common-law relationship.

Parents and grandparents can be sponsored through the Parents and Grandparents Program, but the government limits how many new applications it accepts, and intake is sometimes paused. Sponsors in this program must meet a minimum income for several years in a row.

For many families, the Super Visa is the faster choice. It lets parents and grandparents stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, and the visa can be valid for up to ten years. The child or grandchild in Canada must meet an income requirement, and the visitor needs medical insurance. In every sponsorship, the relationship must be real and well documented, and this is where careful preparation makes a big difference.

Most people who are not citizens or permanent residents need a work permit to work in Canada. An employer specific work permit lets you work for one employer, in one job and one location. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer in Canada.

Many employer specific permits need a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The employer applies to Employment and Social Development Canada to show that hiring a foreign worker will not hurt the Canadian job market. Some jobs are LMIA exempt, for example under free trade agreements, intra company transfers or International Experience Canada.

Open work permits are available in certain situations, such as the Post Graduate Work Permit for eligible graduates of Canadian schools, and for some spouses and partners of students and workers. The rules for spouses have become stricter in recent years, so it is important to check before you apply. Canadian work experience can later help you qualify for permanent residence.

To study in Canada for more than six months, you usually need a study permit. First you need a letter of acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI), which is a school approved by a provincial or territorial government to host international students.

Most new students also need a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL) and must show they can pay for tuition, living costs and travel. A clear study plan that explains why the program fits your education and career goals is one of the most important parts of the application.

Many students can work a limited number of hours during classes and full time during scheduled breaks. Graduates of eligible programs may qualify for a Post Graduate Work Permit, and the Canadian work experience they gain can lead to permanent residence through the Canadian Experience Class or a provincial program.

Visitors from many countries need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV), also called a visitor visa. Travellers from visa exempt countries who fly to Canada usually need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) instead, which is a simpler online approval.

A strong visitor application shows the purpose of your trip, enough money for your stay, and ties to your home country that show you will return, such as a job, a business, property or family. Many refusals happen because these points are not explained or supported well.

Business visitors can come to attend meetings, conferences or training without a work permit, as long as they do not enter the Canadian job market. Parents and grandparents of Canadians and permanent residents can apply for the Super Visa for much longer stays.

Canada welcomes entrepreneurs and investors who want to start or buy a business and create jobs. Options include federal business programs and entrepreneur streams run by many provinces. Program rules and intake limits change often, so the right choice depends on the latest updates and on your own plans.

Provincial entrepreneur streams usually ask for a minimum personal net worth, a set investment, business management experience and an active role in running the business. Many of them start with a temporary work permit and lead to permanent residence once you meet the terms of your business agreement.

Permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship once they have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days, which is three years, in the five years before they apply. You must also have filed your taxes, if you were required to, for at least three years in that period.

Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show they can speak English or French and pass the citizenship test on Canada's history, values, institutions and symbols. After your application is approved, you take the Oath of Citizenship and become a Canadian citizen.

Citizenship gives you a Canadian passport, the right to vote and run for office, and the security of a status you cannot lose by living outside Canada. We check your travel history, count your days carefully and prepare a complete application so it moves forward without delays.

Find the situation that sounds most like yours to see which programs are worth exploring first. Many people qualify for more than one option, and a free assessment will show you the strongest one.

Every program has its own list, but most applications for permanent residence ask for the documents below. Starting early saves weeks, especially for police certificates and education assessments.

• Valid passportFor you and every family member included in your application.
• Language test resultsIELTS General, CELPIP or PTE Core for English, or TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French.
• Education assessmentAn Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you studied outside Canada.
• Work reference lettersLetters from employers with your job duties, hours, salary and dates.
• Proof of fundsBank statements showing the money you need for your program.
• Police certificatesFrom each country where you lived for six months or more since age 18.
• Medical examDone by a doctor approved by IRCC, called a panel physician.
• Civil documentsBirth, marriage or divorce certificates, and photos that meet IRCC rules.

We send you a personal checklist for your program, so you only collect what you actually need.