How the Canadian immigration system works

Temporary stay

Visitor visa or eTA

Who it is for: Travellers coming for tourism, a family visit, a short business visit or another temporary purpose.

When it matters: Use this when you want to enter Canada for a short stay and will leave when your authorized stay ends.

What you usually need

• The entry document required for your passport and travel method
• A valid passport, temporary purpose, funds and proof that you will leave

What it allows: You can travel to a Canadian port of entry and ask to enter as a visitor. A visa or eTA does not guarantee entry and does not normally let you work.

A visitor record extends your status inside Canada. It is not a visa and does not let you re-enter Canada.

Temporary stay

Super visa

Who it is for: Parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who want longer family visits.

When it matters: Consider it when a parent or grandparent wants repeat, extended visits but is not applying for permanent residence.

What you usually need

• An invitation from an eligible child or grandchild who meets the income rules
• Required private medical insurance, medical exam and normal visitor evidence

What it allows: You can visit for up to 5 years at a time if admitted for that period. It remains temporary visitor status and does not authorize work.

Temporary stay

Study permit

Who it is for: International students accepted into an eligible Canadian school or designated learning institution (DLI).

When it matters: Use it for a program longer than 6 months, or when IRCC says your shorter course still requires a permit.

What you usually need

• A letter of acceptance from a DLI and, in most cases, a PAL or TAL
• Proof of tuition, living and return-travel funds
• A CAQ for Quebec studies, plus medical or police documents when required

What it allows: You can study under the conditions printed on the permit. Eligible students may work within current limits, but study status is not a general work permit.

A Canadian education does not guarantee a post-graduation work permit or permanent residence. Check the school, program and PGWP rules before paying a deposit.

Temporary work

Post-graduation work permit (PGWP)

Who it is for: Graduates of eligible programs at eligible DLIs who meet the rules that applied to their program and application.

When it matters: Check PGWP eligibility before choosing a school, then apply within the deadline after you complete the program.

What you usually need

• Completion of a PGWP-eligible school and program
• Proof of completion, valid status planning and any language or field-of-study requirement that applies

What it allows: If approved, you receive an open work permit for the period IRCC grants. Canadian work experience may later help a PR application, but PR is separate.

Temporary work

Employer-specific work permit

Who it is for: Workers with a Canadian job offer where the employer supports the permit process.

When it matters: Use it when a named employer is hiring you and no open-permit category fits your situation.

What you usually need

• A written job offer and employer compliance documents
• Usually an LMIA or proof that the job qualifies for an LMIA exemption
• Experience, credentials, medical results or licensing when the job requires them

What it allows: You can work only under the employer, occupation, location and time conditions printed on the permit. Get authorization before changing a restricted condition.

Temporary work

Open work permit

Who it is for: People in a listed eligibility category, such as certain graduates, spouses, PR applicants, vulnerable workers or protected persons.

When it matters: Check this when your situation, rather than one employer's job offer, may qualify you to work.

What you usually need

• Eligibility under a specific open-work-permit category
• Status, relationship, graduation, PR-file or protection evidence for that category

What it allows: You can work for most eligible employers in Canada until the permit expires. Some jobs can still require a medical exam or professional licence.

Temporary work

International Experience Canada (IEC)

Who it is for: Young citizens of countries or territories that have an IEC arrangement with Canada, usually ages 18 to 30 or 35.

When it matters: It is most useful for a working holiday, employer-backed professional experience or a required international co-op placement.

What you usually need

• An eligible citizenship, age and IEC category
• A profile, invitation to apply and complete work-permit application
• Required funds, health insurance and travel documents

What it allows: Working Holiday usually gives an open permit. Young Professionals and International Co-op usually give employer-specific permits. The length and repeat rules depend on citizenship.

Temporary work

Work-permit exemptions

Who it is for: People doing a narrowly defined exempt activity, such as some business visitors, performing artists, athletes, researchers or emergency workers.

When it matters: Check an exemption before applying for a permit if your exact job and circumstances appear on IRCC's exemption list.

What you usually need

• A role and activity that meet every condition of a listed exemption
• The correct visitor visa or eTA and documents proving the exemption

What it allows: You can perform only the exempt activity for the allowed period. An exemption does not create a general right to take other work in Canada.

Permanent residence

Canadian Experience Class

Who it is for: Skilled workers with enough eligible Canadian work experience gained with authorization in the required period.

When it matters: Use this Express Entry program when recent skilled Canadian experience is the strongest part of your profile.

What you usually need

• Eligible Canadian skilled work experience
• An approved English or French language test
• An Express Entry profile and an invitation to apply

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident and can live and work across Canada, subject to any genuine provincial intent declared in the application.

Permanent residence

Federal Skilled Worker Program

Who it is for: Skilled workers with qualifying experience, language ability and education who may have little or no Canadian work history.

When it matters: Use this Express Entry program when your foreign skilled work, education and language results create a competitive profile.

What you usually need

• Qualifying skilled work experience and the program's selection score
• An approved language test and education evidence or ECA
• Settlement funds when required, an Express Entry profile and an invitation

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident. Entering the Express Entry pool does not guarantee an invitation.

Permanent residence

Federal Skilled Trades Program

Who it is for: Experienced workers in eligible skilled trades who meet the trade, language and job-offer or certification rules.

When it matters: Use this Express Entry program when your strongest qualification is recent hands-on experience in an eligible trade.

What you usually need

• Qualifying skilled-trade experience
• A valid full-time job offer or Canadian certificate of qualification
• An approved language test, Express Entry profile and invitation

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident. Provincial trade licensing can still control whether you may practise the trade.

Permanent residence

Provincial Nominee Program

Who it is for: Workers, graduates or entrepreneurs who match a province or territory's labour and settlement priorities.

When it matters: It matters when one province fits your occupation, job offer, studies, family connection or business plan better than a federal-only route.

What you usually need

• Eligibility for a specific provincial or territorial stream
• A nomination and genuine intent to live in that province
• A federal PR application through Express Entry or the non-Express Entry process

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident. An Express Entry nomination adds 600 CRS points; a base nomination follows a separate federal process.

Permanent residence

Atlantic Immigration Program

Who it is for: Skilled workers and eligible recent Atlantic Canadian graduates who want to settle in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, PEI or Newfoundland and Labrador.

When it matters: Use it when a designated Atlantic employer offers you a qualifying job and the province will endorse the plan.

What you usually need

• A qualifying offer from a designated Atlantic employer
• Provincial endorsement and a settlement plan
• Required work experience or eligible graduate status, language, education and funds

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident committed to settling in Atlantic Canada. A temporary work permit may be available while PR is processed.

Permanent residence

Rural Community Immigration Pilot

Who it is for: Skilled candidates prepared to work and settle in one of the participating rural communities.

When it matters: Use it when a designated employer in a participating rural community offers you a priority job.

What you usually need

• A qualifying offer from a designated employer
• A community recommendation
• Required experience, language, education and settlement funds

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident and settle in the recommending community. An optional work permit may let you start while PR is processed.

Permanent residence

Francophone Community Immigration Pilot

Who it is for: French-speaking skilled candidates prepared to work and settle in a participating Francophone-minority community outside Quebec.

When it matters: Use it when your French, occupation and designated-employer job offer match a participating community's priorities.

What you usually need

• A qualifying offer from a designated employer
• French-language results and a community recommendation
• Required experience, education and settlement funds

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident and settle in the recommending community. An optional work permit may be available during processing.

Permanent residence

Quebec-selected immigration

Who it is for: Skilled workers, graduates, investors, entrepreneurs or self-employed applicants who plan to settle in Quebec and fit a Quebec program.

When it matters: Use Quebec's process when Quebec is your intended destination. Quebec selects candidates before the federal government decides admissibility.

What you usually need

• Selection by Quebec under the stream that fits your profile
• A Quebec selection document, when the program requires one
• A separate federal PR application, medical, criminal and security checks

What it allows: If both stages succeed, you become a permanent resident with a genuine plan to live in Quebec.

Permanent residence

Family sponsorship

Who it is for: Spouses, common-law or conjugal partners and dependent children of eligible Canadian sponsors.

When it matters: Use it when the relationship is genuine and both the sponsor and family member meet the applicable family-class rules.

What you usually need

• An eligible sponsor and a qualifying relationship
• Identity, civil-status and relationship evidence
• A sponsorship undertaking plus medical, criminal and security screening

What it allows: If approved, the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident and may live, work and study in Canada. The sponsor remains responsible for the undertaking.

Permanent residence, paused

Parents and grandparents sponsorship

Who it is for: Parents and grandparents of invited Canadian citizens or permanent residents whose sponsors meet the income and undertaking rules.

When it matters: Use it only when IRCC opens an intake and invites the sponsor. The program is paused as of this guide's August 2026 review.

What you usually need

• An invitation to apply from IRCC
• An eligible sponsor with the required income history
• A long sponsorship undertaking and normal PR admissibility documents

What it allows: If approved, the parent or grandparent becomes a permanent resident. The super visa is the main long-visit alternative while sponsorship intake is unavailable.

Permanent residence

Adopted child and other eligible relatives

Who it is for: Adopted children and the narrow groups of relatives who fit IRCC's specific sponsorship rules.

When it matters: Check this when sponsoring an adopted child, orphaned close relative or the limited last-remaining-relative situation.

What you usually need

• An eligible sponsor and a relationship that fits the exact rule
• Adoption, custody, identity or family-tree evidence
• An undertaking and normal PR admissibility documents

What it allows: If approved, the relative becomes a permanent resident. Most adult relatives, including siblings and cousins, cannot be sponsored on relationship alone.

Permanent residence

Refugee resettlement

Who it is for: Refugees outside Canada who are referred by the UN Refugee Agency, another designated referral organization or a private sponsor.

When it matters: It applies when a person abroad needs protection and receives a qualifying referral or sponsorship. A person cannot self-refer to IRCC for resettlement.

What you usually need

• Refugee eligibility and a referral or accepted private sponsorship
• Identity, medical, criminal and security screening
• A settlement-support plan through the applicable program

What it allows: Approved refugees arrive in Canada as permanent residents and receive settlement support based on their resettlement program.

Protection claim

Asylum in Canada

Who it is for: People in Canada or at a Canadian port of entry who fear persecution, torture, risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment if returned.

When it matters: Use it for a genuine need for refugee protection. It is not a route for extending a visit or bypassing regular immigration requirements.

What you usually need

• Presence in Canada or at a port of entry and eligibility to make a claim
• Detailed evidence supporting the protection claim
• An Immigration and Refugee Board hearing unless another process applies

What it allows: An eligible claim can be heard, and claimants may access limited documents and services while it proceeds. Acceptance makes the person protected and opens a PR application path.

Permanent residence

Protected person permanent residence

Who it is for: People whom Canada has recognized as Convention refugees or persons in need of protection.

When it matters: It becomes relevant after the Immigration and Refugee Board or IRCC grants protected-person status.

What you usually need

• Proof of protected-person status
• A complete PR application and family declarations
• Medical, criminal and security processing as required

What it allows: If approved, you become a permanent resident. Protected status and PR are separate steps.

Exceptional PR request

Humanitarian and compassionate grounds

Who it is for: People with exceptional circumstances who would not normally qualify for permanent residence under another class.

When it matters: Consider it only for a fact-specific case involving establishment in Canada, family ties, a child's best interests or serious consequences of refusal.

What you usually need

• Detailed evidence of the exceptional humanitarian factors
• A complete PR application and explanation of the exemptions requested
• Legal advice when the case overlaps with a refugee claim, removal or inadmissibility

What it allows: IRCC may grant permanent residence or exemptions case by case. Filing does not automatically stop removal or give temporary status.

Permanent residence, open to August 31, 2026

Hong Kong resident pathways

Who it is for: Eligible Hong Kong residents in Canada who qualify through recent Canadian graduation or Canadian work experience.

When it matters: Check it now if you meet the public policy's Hong Kong status, residence and Stream A or Stream B requirements.

What you usually need

• The qualifying Hong Kong passport or travel document and valid status history
• Eligible Canadian education for Stream A or Canadian work experience for Stream B
• A complete application before August 31, 2026

What it allows: If approved, you and eligible accompanying family members become permanent residents. An optional open work permit may be available during processing.

Permanent residence, open to January 21, 2027

Former minors in state care

Who it is for: Certain foreign nationals who came to Canada before age 19, were legally under a child and family services provider and may face removal.

When it matters: Use it when the state-care public policy describes your history in Canada and you can apply before the closing date.

What you usually need

• Proof that you meet the age, arrival and state-care requirements
• Residence and immigration-history records
• A complete application before January 21, 2027

What it allows: If approved, you and eligible family members in Canada become permanent residents. Eligible applicants pay no PR application fee under this policy.

Check current status

Time-limited public policies and special programs

Who it is for: People named by a current IRCC public policy, often based on nationality, residence, family connection, crisis or prior status in Canada.

When it matters: Check this section if IRCC has announced measures for your country or a specific situation that directly describes you.

What you usually need

• Every eligibility condition in the current public policy
• Proof of the qualifying nationality, date, residence, relationship or status
• Application before the policy deadline or cap

What it allows: The result depends on the policy. It may provide temporary status, a work or study permit, fee relief or a permanent residence route.

Paused for new applications

Federal business programs

Who it is for: Entrepreneurs, founders and self-employed cultural or athletic applicants who would otherwise examine federal business immigration.

When it matters: Track IRCC announcements if a federal business route fits your background. The Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs are paused for new applications.

What you usually need

• No new federal application while the relevant program remains paused
• For future intake, the program-specific business, support, language, funds and experience evidence

What it allows: A paused program does not accept a new application. Quebec business immigration and some provincial entrepreneur streams use separate rules.

Closed for new applications

Caregiver permanent residence pilots

Who it is for: Home child-care and home-support workers who may also need a temporary caregiver work permit route.

When it matters: Check the current caregiver page before planning around PR. The listed federal caregiver PR pilots are closed as of August 2026.

What you usually need

• No new PR application under a closed pilot
• For temporary work, an eligible caregiver job and the work-permit documents IRCC requires

What it allows: Temporary caregiver work may still be possible through a work permit. It does not create automatic permanent residence.