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Canada is one of the most popular destinations for people who want to move abroad. It is a country that offers a high quality of life, a diverse and multicultural society, a stable and democratic government, and a beautiful natural environment. Canada also has a strong economy, a well-developed health care system, and a welcoming attitude towards immigrants.

However, moving to Canada is not as easy as packing your bags and boarding a plane. You need to meet certain requirements and follow a specific process to obtain a visa or an authorization to enter and stay in Canada. Depending on your purpose and duration of your visit, you may need different types of visas or permits.

In this article, we will explain the different types of visas and permits that you may need to move to Canada, as well as the eligibility criteria, application process, fees, and documents required for each one. We will also provide some tips and resources to help you prepare for your move and settle in Canada.

 

Do You Need a Visa to Travel to Canada?

The first thing you need to know is whether you need a visa or not to travel to Canada. This depends on your country of citizenship, the length of your stay, and the reason for your visit.

Most people need either a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. Some people may only need their valid passport¹.

A visa is a sticker that is placed in your passport by a Canadian visa officer. It shows that you have met the requirements to enter Canada as a temporary resident (visitor, student, or worker)².

An eTA is an electronic authorization that is linked to your passport. It allows you to board a flight to Canada without a visa. It is only valid for short-term visits (up to six months) for tourism, business, or transit purposes³.

You can check if you need a visa or an eTA by answering a few questions on the official website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). You can also see the list of countries and territories whose citizens need a visa or an eTA to enter Canada.

What Type of Visa Do You Need to Move to Canada?

If you need a visa to travel to Canada, the next step is to determine what type of visa you need. This depends on the purpose and duration of your stay in Canada.

There are two main categories of visas: temporary resident visas and permanent resident visas.

Temporary Resident Visas

Temporary resident visas allow you to stay in Canada for a limited period of time, usually up to six months. They are also known as visitor visas or entry visas.

There are three types of temporary resident visas: visitor visas, study permits, and work permits.

Visitor Visas

Visitor visas are for people who want to visit Canada for tourism, family visits, business meetings, medical treatment, or other short-term purposes. They are also required for people who want to transit through Canada on their way to another country.

Visitor visas are usually valid for up to six months from the date of entry. However, the border officer may grant you a shorter or longer period depending on your situation. You can also apply for an extension before your visa expires if you want to stay longer.

To apply for a visitor visa, you must:

• Have a valid passport
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince an immigration officer that you have ties (such as a job, home, financial assets, or family) that will take you back to your home country
• Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your visit
• Have enough money for your stay
• Provide supporting documents (such as proof of travel plans, invitation letter, bank statements, etc.)
• Pay the application fee ($100 CAD)
• Submit your biometrics (fingerprints and photo) if required ($85 CAD)
• Undergo a medical exam if required

You can apply for a visitor visa online or on paper through a visa application centre (VAC) in your country. The processing time varies depending on the country and the type of application. You can check the current processing times here.

Study Permits

Study permits are for people who want to study in Canada at a designated learning institution (DLI). A DLI is an educational institution that is approved by the Canadian government to host international students.

Study permits are usually valid for the duration of your program plus 90 days. You can also apply for an extension before your permit expires if you want to continue studying or stay longer.

To apply for a study permit, you must:

• Have a valid passport
• Be accepted by a DLI
• Have enough money to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses, and return transportation
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies
• Provide supporting documents (such as proof of acceptance, proof of funds, academic transcripts, etc.)
• Pay the application fee ($150 CAD)
• Submit your biometrics if required ($85 CAD)
• Undergo a medical exam if required

You can apply for a study permit online or on paper through a VAC in your country. The processing time varies depending on the country and the type of application. You can check the current processing times here.

Work Permits

Work permits are for people who want to work in Canada temporarily. There are two types of work permits: employer-specific work permits and open work permits.

Employer-specific work permits allow you to work for a specific employer at a specific location and for a specific period of time. They are also known as closed work permits. You need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer and a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to apply for an employer-specific work permit. An LMIA is a document that shows that there is a need for a foreign worker and that no Canadian worker is available to do the job.

Open work permits allow you to work for any employer in Canada, except for those who are ineligible or who offer services such as escort services, erotic massage, or exotic dancing. You do not need a job offer or an LMIA to apply for an open work permit. However, you need to meet certain criteria, such as being a spouse or partner of a skilled worker or student, being a refugee claimant, being a participant in an international exchange program, or being eligible for one of the special programs (such as the International Experience Canada program).

Work permits are usually valid for the duration of your job contract or your passport validity, whichever is shorter. You can also apply for an extension before your permit expires if you want to continue working or stay longer.

To apply for a work permit, you must:

• Have a valid passport
• Have a job offer from a Canadian employer (for employer-specific work permits) or meet the eligibility criteria (for open work permits)
• Have enough money to pay for your living expenses and return transportation
• Be in good health
• Have no criminal or immigration-related convictions
• Convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your work
• Provide supporting documents (such as proof of employment, proof of funds, LMIA, etc.)
• Pay the application fee ($155 CAD)
• Submit your biometrics if required ($85 CAD)
• Undergo a medical exam if required

You can apply for a work permit online or on paper through a VAC in your country. The processing time varies depending on the country and the type of application. You can check the current processing times here.

Permanent Resident Visas

Permanent resident visas allow you to stay in Canada indefinitely as a permanent resident. Permanent residents have most of the same rights and obligations as Canadian citizens, such as the right to live, work, study, and access health care anywhere in Canada, and the obligation to pay taxes and respect Canadian laws. However, they cannot vote, run for office, hold some jobs that require high-level security clearance, or travel with a Canadian passport.

There are many ways to become a permanent resident of Canada, such as through family sponsorship, economic immigration, humanitarian and compassionate grounds, or refugee resettlement. Each category has its own eligibility criteria, application process, fees, and documents required.

Some of the most popular programs for economic immigration are:

• Express Entry: A system that manages applications for three federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. It ranks candidates based on their skills, education, work experience, language ability, and other factors. It invites the highest-ranking candidates to apply for permanent residence through regular draws.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): A program that allows provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet their specific economic and labour market needs. Each province and territory has its own streams and criteria. Some streams are aligned with Express Entry, while others are not.
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot: A program that helps employers in Atlantic Canada (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador) hire foreign workers who want to become permanent residents. It has three streams: Atlantic High-Skilled Program, Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program, and Atlantic International Graduate Program.
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: A program that helps employers in rural and northern communities attract and retain foreign workers who want to become permanent residents.

How to Apply for Permanent Residence through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

If you want to move to Canada permanently through the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP), you need to follow these steps:

1. Check your eligibility for the pilot. You need to meet the IRCC eligibility requirements and the community-specific requirements. You can find out more about the eligibility criteria here¹.
2. Find an eligible job in one of the participating communities. You need to have a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an employer in the community that you want to live in. The job offer must be at the same skill level, one level above, or one level below the skill level of your current occupation. You can find out more about how to find a job and the list of participating communities here².
3. Apply for a community recommendation. Once you have a job offer, you need to submit your application for recommendation to the community where your employer is located. The community will assess your application based on their specific criteria and needs. They will also verify your job offer and your intention to live in the community. If they approve your application, they will issue you a recommendation letter that you will need for your permanent residence application. You can find out more about how to apply for a community recommendation and the community-specific processes here².
4. Apply for permanent residence. After you receive a community recommendation, you can apply for permanent residence to IRCC. You need to submit an online application through your IRCC account and pay the required fees. You also need to provide supporting documents, such as your passport, proof of work experience, proof of language ability, proof of education, proof of funds, police certificates, medical exams, and biometrics. You can find out more about how to apply for permanent residence and the required documents here¹.

The processing time for permanent residence applications through the RNIP varies depending on the complexity of your case and the volume of applications received by IRCC. You can check the current processing times here¹.

Tips and Resources for Moving to Canada

Moving to Canada is a big decision that requires careful planning and preparation. Here are some tips and resources that can help you with your move and settlement in Canada:

• Learn about life in Canada before you arrive. You can find useful information about Canadian culture, society, laws, rights, responsibilities, and services on the official website of IRCC¹. You can also take a free online course called Living in Canada that will help you understand what to expect and how to adapt to your new home¹.
• Prepare your finances and budget for your move and settlement in Canada. You need to have enough money to cover your travel expenses, initial living costs, and fees for immigration services. You also need to know how to manage your money in Canada, such as opening a bank account, paying taxes, using credit cards, and saving for your future. You can find helpful information and tools on the official website of Financial Consumer Agency of Canada.
• Find a place to live in Canada that suits your needs and budget. You can choose from different types of housing options, such as renting or buying an apartment, house, or room. You also need to know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant or a homeowner, such as signing a lease agreement, paying rent or mortgage, maintaining your property, and dealing with issues or disputes. You can find useful information and resources on the official website of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
• Access settlement services and programs that can help you with your integration and adaptation in Canada. Settlement services are free services that are funded by the Canadian government or other organizations to help newcomers with their needs, such as finding a job, learning English or French, enrolling in school or training, accessing health care, applying for social benefits, making friends, and joining community activities. You can find settlement services near you by using the online tool called Find newcomer services¹. You can also access online settlement services through Settlement Online Pre-Arrival (SOPA), which offers free courses and orientation sessions before you arrive in Canada.
• Connect with other newcomers and established Canadians who can support you with your move and settlement in Canada. You can join online or offline networks and groups that share your interests, hobbies, culture, religion, or profession. You can also participate in mentoring programs that match you with experienced Canadians who can guide you with your career development or personal growth. You can find networking opportunities and mentoring programs through various websites and organizations, such as Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia (ISANS), Immigrant Centre Manitoba (ICM), Immigrant Employment Council of BC (IEC-BC), TRIEC Mentoring Partnership, Magnet, Arrive, Pre-Arrival Supports & Services (PASS), and many more.

I hope this article has given you a clear overview of how to move abroad to Canada, focusing on visa requirements. Moving to Canada can be a rewarding and exciting experience, but it also requires a lot of preparation and hard work. I wish you all the best with your move and settlement in Canada. 😊