Immigration
Whether you are a visitor, student or temporary worker, you are considered a temporary resident as soon as you enter Canada for a limited period of time. The border services officer will determine whether you meet the requirements to enter the country and obtain temporary resident status.
TEMPORARY RESIDENCY
Whether you are a visitor, a student or looking for work, let us guide you through the many steps to take.
Temporary residence
VISITOR
The temporary resident visa, also known as a visitor or tourist visa, is a government sticker affixed to the foreign national’s passport.
STUDENT
A foreign national generally needs a study permit to study in Canada. In addition, if he or she wishes to study in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) is required.
VISITOR
The temporary resident visa, also known as a visitor or tourist visa, is a government sticker affixed to the foreign national’s passport. It authorizes the foreign national to enter Canada.
Most foreign nationals need a visitor visa to enter Canada. In some cases, the foreign national may need a visa even for simple transit through a Canadian airport.
Nationals who do not require a visitor visa will need an electronic travel authorization.
Visitors already in Canada will, under certain conditions, be able to extend their stay as visitors.
Foreign nationals with temporary resident status in Canada who wish to travel abroad, must apply for a visitor visa if the one in their passport has expired.
STUDENT
A foreign national generally needs a study permit to study in Canada. In addition, if he or she wishes to study in Quebec, a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) is required.
To be eligible to apply for a study permit, the program must be offered by an educational institution recognized by the immigration authorities.
A study permit determines the level of study in which the national is authorized to enroll and sets a validity date for this authorization.
Minor children who are in Canada with parents authorized to study or work in Canada do not need a study permit if they want to attend a pre-school, elementary or secondary school.
In order to apply for a study permit, you must have a letter of pre-enrolment at an educational institution recognized by immigration authorities. This pre-enrolment letter, also known as the Letter of Acceptance, determines the level of the program of study, the title of the course, its duration and the amount of tuition fees. This information is required when applying for a study permit or, if applicable, when applying for a Quebec Selection Certificate.
Minor children who are in Canada with parents authorized to study or work in Canada do not need a study permit if they want to attend a preschool, elementary or secondary school.
WORKER
In order to work in Canada, foreign nationals must obtain either a work permit or, if permitted by law, a work authorization without a work permit.
In most cases, a work permit is required. In addition, Canadian law requires, in the majority of cases, a labour market impact assessment. This assessment must be conducted even before the application for a work permit is made.
Work permit with impact assessment
Before hiring a foreign worker, the Canadian employer will probably have to have his or her offer of employment validated by Employment and Social Development Canada. The positive impact assessment will confirm that no Canadian worker can be hired for the position and that the foreign worker is authorized to occupy the position.
A positive opinion will thus allow the foreign worker to begin the procedures for obtaining a work permit.
Simplified work permit procedure
The Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (Canada) allow the labour market impact assessment procedure to be waived in certain cases. A work permit may thus be issued to the foreign worker under standard conditions.
Examples of such cases include
- Intra-company transferees
- Personnel responsible for emergency repairs or repair of equipment that is no longer under warranty
- Live-in caregivers who have applied for permanent residence
- Certain holders of a Quebec Selection Certificate who reside in Québec
- Youth exchange programs
- Exchange professors, guest speakers
- Spouses or common-law partners of skilled workers
- Spouses or common-law partners of students … etc.
Permanent residence
RESIDENCE AFTER STUDY
Obtain the Quebec Selection Certificate for the purpose of applying for permanent residence in Canada.
INVEST
An investor under the immigration program is a foreign national who is at least 18 years of age and who:
- has a management experience of at least 2 years during the 5 years preceding the application in a lawful agricultural, commercial or industrial enterprise;
- has, alone or with his or her accompanying spouse, a net worth of at least $1,600,000 Canadian dollars legally obtained;
- comes to settle in the province of Quebec and invests $800,000 through a government-accredited financial institution.
The management experience condition is met if the candidate was, in the performance of his or her duties, for at least two years during the five years preceding the application for a selection certificate, in charge of planning, managing and controlling financial, human or material resources. This experience does not include experience acquired as part of an apprenticeship, training or specialization attested by a diploma.
The candidate must apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate as an investor and sign an investment agreement with a financial intermediary authorized to participate in the Immigrant Investor Program.
RESIDENCE AFTER STUDY
The Quebec Experience Program offers applicants who meet its requirements a simplified and accelerated procedure for obtaining the Quebec Selection Certificate for the purpose of applying for permanent residence in Canada.
This program promotes the selection of Quebec graduates and temporary foreign workers who hold skilled jobs in Quebec and who meet certain conditions, including knowledge of advanced intermediate oral French.
Quebec Graduate Candidates
Quebec degrees eligible for the Quebec Experience Program (QEP) are:
- a bachelor’s degree (undergraduate)
- a master’s degree (and MBA)
- a doctoral degree
- the Diploma of College Studies (DCS)
- the Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) of 1,800 hours or more
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the Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS) followed by an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS) certifying a minimum of 1,800 hours of continuous training leading to a given trade.
Skilled Worker Candidates in Quebec
Skilled jobs that meet the criteria of the Quebec Experience Program include legal and full-time jobs in Quebec in return for payment. A skilled job is a job at the managerial, professional or technical level, according to the Canadian Classification of Occupations.
Self-employed entrepreneurs working on their own account as well as people working for their own business are not eligible for the Quebec Experience Program.
SPONSOR
You can sponsor family members to come to Canada if you are at least 18 years of age and you are:
- a Canadian citizen;
- a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Indian Act;
- a permanent resident of Canada.
A sponsorship application essentially involves two applications:
- Sponsorship application made by the sponsor
- Application for Permanent Residence
You can therefore apply for sponsorship of:
- a spouse or common-law partner
- a dependent child
- a parent or grandparent
Other members of your family may be eligible to be sponsored under Canadian law.
Sponsors residing in Quebec must meet conditions specific to that province in addition to those required by the federal government.