Canada Immigration FAQ: Answers to Common Questions

A licensed immigration consultant (RCIC) assesses your options, prepares and files your application, writes submission letters, talks to IRCC for you and helps if something goes wrong, such as a refusal or a request for more documents.

Check the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). A licensed consultant has an RCIC number. Only RCICs, lawyers and Quebec notaries can charge for immigration advice.

No. You can apply on your own. A consultant helps you avoid mistakes, choose the best program and present your case clearly, which matters most for complex files, refusals and family or business cases.

No. Only IRCC decides. Anyone who promises a guaranteed visa or job is a red flag.

Yes. Fill out our free assessment and a licensed consultant reviews your options. There is no obligation.

Express Entry is the online system Canada uses to manage applications for three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. You create a profile, get a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and may be invited to apply in a draw. Read the Express Entry guide.

There is no fixed score. Each draw has its own cut-off, and category draws for jobs such as healthcare, trades and French speakers often have lower scores than general draws.

No. Since March 25, 2025, a job offer no longer adds CRS points. Canadian work experience, language scores and education still matter most.

Each province picks immigrants that meet its own needs. A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points in Express Entry or lets you apply directly to IRCC through a base stream. See the PNP guide.

Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades applicants must show settlement funds unless they already work in Canada with a valid job offer. Canadian Experience Class applicants do not need proof of funds. The amount depends on family size and is updated every year.

For English: IELTS General Training, CELPIP General and PTE Core. For French: TEF Canada and TCF Canada. Results are valid for two years.

Yes, with an open work permit such as the Post-Graduation Work Permit, a spousal open work permit, an International Experience Canada working holiday or a bridging open work permit. See work permit options.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document a Canadian employer gets to show that hiring a foreign worker will not hurt Canadian workers. Most employer-specific work permits need one. Read the LMIA guide.

The employer. The $1,000 government fee per position and any advertising costs are the employer's. It is illegal to charge a worker for an LMIA.

Spouses of workers in TEER 0 or 1 jobs, or some TEER 2 or 3 jobs, with at least 16 months left on their permit, may get an open work permit. Spouses of master's (16 months or longer), doctoral and some professional students also qualify.

No. The temporary policy that allowed this ended on August 28, 2024. Visitors must qualify and apply under the normal rules.

For study permit applications from September 1, 2026, one student must show $23,448 for living costs plus first year tuition and travel, outside Quebec. See the study permit guide.

Most college and undergraduate students do. From January 1, 2026, master's and doctoral students at public institutions are exempt.

Up to 24 hours a week off campus during classes and full time during scheduled breaks.

Yes, if your program and school are eligible. The Post-Graduation Work Permit can be up to three years, and you need CLB 7 for university or CLB 5 for college programs.

US citizens need only a passport. Citizens of visa-exempt countries need an eTA to fly in. Citizens of visa-required countries need a visitor visa. Check what you need.

Usually up to six months. The border officer decides. You can apply to extend your stay before it ends.

A visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents that allows stays of up to five years at a time. The host must meet a minimum income and the visitor needs private medical insurance. Read the Super Visa guide.

The most common reasons are weak ties to your home country, unclear funds and an unclear purpose. Get the officer's notes before you reapply so you can fix the real problem.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse or partner and dependent children. Parents and grandparents can be sponsored when the program opens, and some other relatives in limited cases. See family sponsorship.

Canadian citizens can, if they show they will live in Canada when the spouse becomes a permanent resident. Permanent residents must live in Canada to sponsor.

It depends on where the application is processed and how complete it is. IRCC posts current processing times online. A complete, well documented relationship file avoids delays.

At least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada in the five years before you apply. Some days before you became a permanent resident can count as half days, up to 365 days. See citizenship rules.

If you are 18 to 54, you must show CLB 4 in speaking and listening in English or French. Many people use a past IELTS or CELPIP result, or a diploma taught in English or French.

Yes. Canada does not require you to give up another citizenship, but your other country may have its own rules.

It depends on the program. For example, a visitor visa is $100, a work permit $155 and a study permit $150, plus $85 for biometrics. Permanent residence and citizenship fees are higher. Check the IRCC fee list for current amounts.

Each application type has its own processing time, and it changes often. IRCC updates times on its website. We tell you the current estimate during your assessment.

Depending on the case, you can reapply with stronger evidence, ask for reconsideration or apply to the Federal Court for judicial review. Deadlines for court review are short, so get advice quickly.

If you apply to extend your permit before it expires and stay in Canada, you can keep your status under the same conditions until IRCC decides. This is called maintained status.