Many people who immigrate to Canada are looking to work. That is why Canada has 11 skilled worker programs and 10 provincial work programs to help immigrants find a suitable job. While priority is given to immigrants who are sponsored by an employer, there are programs that also help non-sponsored immigrants find employment. These operate on a quota basis and use a point value system when evaluating work skills and previous experience.

Depending on the type of work you plan to engage in and how long you plan to stay in Canada, there are work permits for:

• Temporary employment
• Permanent employment
• Student employment (while studying)
• Agricultural employment
• Live-in caregivers
• International work experience
• Business professionals

Close to 500,000 international students study in Canadian schools, making it one of the top reasons people immigrate to Canada. International students must apply for a study visa in order to live and go to school in Canada. They must also apply for a special work permit if they want to work during their studies.

We can help international students find information on:

• Canadian schools
• Scholarships for international students
• What to do when changing your program of study
• Preparing to study in Canada

Business immigration is an option for people who have the financial means to invest in or start a business in Canada, which will provide employment opportunities for Canadians and contribute to the Canadian economy. Business immigrants can enter Canada in one of two ways:

• The Start-Up Visa Program
• As a Self-Employed Person

Any person who wishes to benefit from the Start-up Visa Program must:

• Have the financial resources in place to support themselves prior to launching a business and earning a profit
• Have the support of an angel investor, venture capitalist, or business incubator
• Be able to communicate fluently in English or French

Any person who wants to enter Canada as a Self-Employed Person must have one of the following:

• Experience in farm management and plans to operate a farm
• Experience that will allow them to contribute to Canada’s athletic or cultural community

For Family Sponsorship, there must be a family member who already resides in Canada and is one of the following:

• A Canadian citizen
• A Permanent Resident
• A person registered under the Canadian Indian Act

If you have family members you would like to bring to Canada, we can help you sponsor them to come and join you. Family members who can be sponsored include:

• Spouse/partner
• Dependent children
• Parents and grandparents
• Adopted children
• Other relatives

In addition, family members can be sponsored to visit children or grandchildren who are living in Canada.

There are many different types of visas you can apply for when coming to Canada. The type of visa you will need will depend on the reason for your stay and the options can be confusing. When traveling from the U.S. with a stay of less than 180 days there is no visa required.

However U.S. residents, as well as foreign nationals who are visa-exempt, must have an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). The eTA is an electronic document that is linked to a traveler’s passport and will need to be renewed when a passport is renewed. The eTA will allow a traveler to stay in Canada for up to 6 months.

Permanent residency in Canada is a status granted by the Canadian government to foreign nationals who are not Canadian citizens, but who want to live and work in Canada. Permanent residents can live and work in Canada without any time limits on their stay and they have many of the same rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen. This is the first step in becoming a citizen of Canada.

A foreign national can apply to become a permanent resident under the following programs:

• Canadian Experience Class Visa
• Business Class Immigration
• Family Sponsorship Program
• Live-in Caregiver Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Provincial Nomination Programs
• Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers Program