Find the right immigration pathway for your situation

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Under the Canadian Experience Class, international students and temporary foreign workers with at least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled Canadian work experience can apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system.

Minimum requirements

• At least 1 year of full-time (or 2 years part-time equivalent) skilled work experience in Canada within the 3 years before applying.
• Meeting the required language levels on an approved test.
• Planning to reside outside Quebec.

Work experience gained while enrolled as a full-time student is generally not counted, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation. Selection is competitive and based on your Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.

Federal Skilled Trades Class

This stream suits people seeking permanent residency based on qualification in a skilled trade, processed through the Express Entry system.

Minimum requirements

• Meet the required levels in English or French across speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
• At least 2 years of full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled trade within 5 years of application.
• Meet the job requirements for that trade under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC), with a full-time job offer of at least one year or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian provincial or territorial body.
• Planning to live outside Quebec.

Common eligible skilled trades

• Industrial, electrical, and construction trades.
• Maintenance and equipment operation trades.
• Technical trades in natural resources, agriculture, and production.
• Processing and manufacturing occupations, chefs and cooks, butchers and bakers.

There are more streams and combinations available than can be listed here. Contact us to walk through your specific occupation and background.

Parent & Grandparent Sponsorship

Under the family class, parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents can be sponsored for permanent residency. To be eligible, the sponsor generally must:

• Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, 18 years of age or older.
• Meet or exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program (spousal or common-law income can be included).
• Sign a sponsorship agreement committing to provide financial support to the sponsored relative.
• Demonstrate the minimum necessary income for multiple consecutive years via Notices of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

Think you qualify, or want the current income thresholds for your family size? These figures are updated periodically. Contact us for the current numbers.

Spouse & Partner Sponsorship

Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner to come to Canada as a permanent resident. Canada's family class immigration is built around reuniting families, and spousal sponsorship is one of its most common streams.

To qualify, both the sponsor and the sponsored person must be able to provide adequate proof of their relationship under one of three categories:

• Spouse
• Common-law partner
• Conjugal partner

There are two types of federal spousal sponsorship, inland and outland, each with its own benefits and trade-offs, and a number of provincial family class sponsorship programs may also apply. Choosing the right route depends on where you currently live and your timeline.

BC Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The BC PNP lets prospective immigrants with in-demand skills and experience apply for a provincial nomination, which supports an application for Canadian permanent residency, often with faster processing than some federal streams.

BC PNP accepts applications under two main categories:

• Skills Immigration
  • Skilled Worker category
  • Healthcare Professional category
  • International Post-Graduate category
• Business / Investor Immigration

Each category breaks down further into sub-streams. BC PNP uses a points-based system reflecting education, direct work experience, and other factors tied to labour-market success, and Express Entry BC can work alongside BC PNP to strengthen an applicant's overall chances.

Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

NSNP attracts prospective immigrants whose skills help address Nova Scotia's economic and demographic needs, offering several streams to professionals from a range of backgrounds.

• Nova Scotia Demand: an Express Entry stream for professionals in occupations the province needs.
• Nova Scotia Experience: an Express Entry stream for professionals already working in Nova Scotia.
• Skilled Worker: for applicants whose skillset makes employment in Nova Scotia highly likely.

Business & Investor Programs

Looking to start a business or invest in Canada? Business immigration programs assess your ability to become economically established within the Canadian economy, and if approved, your whole family can immigrate with you.

Two main classes

• Start-Up Visa
• Self-Employment

Applicants must generally show sufficient funds to support themselves and their family for at least one year, and selection weighs an applicant's ability to create employment. Both federal and provincial programs exist, each with different criteria.

Caregiver Immigration

Experienced caregivers, nannies, or those with relevant caregiving education may apply for permanent residence under one of two main categories:

• Child Care Program
• Medical Needs Program

Minimum requirements

• At least 2 years of relevant experience in Canada.
• Meeting minimum language and education requirements.

Refugee & Asylum Protection

This protection is meant for people with a well-founded fear of persecution, or at risk of torture or cruel and unusual punishment in their home countries. If you are under a removal order, you cannot make a refugee claim.

Decisions are made by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) based on set criteria, not everyone is eligible to seek asylum, and there are strict procedural deadlines. If you need to seek asylum, don't delay.

Two key programs

• Refugee and Humanitarian Resettlement Program
• In-Canada Asylum Program