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Canada
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)
✔ Canada targets 380,000 new permanent residents each year through 2028
✔ Express Entry points system can lead to permanent residence in about six months
✔ Study permits are capped; most students also need a provincial attestation letter
✔ Students can work 24 hours weekly off-campus during school terms
✔ Post-Graduation Work Permit gives up to three years of work after graduating
✔ One year of skilled Canadian work after graduation opens permanent residence pathways
Currency Canadian Dollar (CAD)
Languages English and French (official)
Population ~41.6 million (2026)
Visitor visas
Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa)
TRV (form IMM 5257)
The standard entry visa for tourism, family visits and business visits for citizens of visa-required countries. Multiple-entry by default, with stays of up to 6 months per entry.
Fees
CAD $100 per person (family maximum $500 for 5+ applying together); biometrics CAD $85 ($170 family maximum)
Processing
Varies widely by country of residence — from roughly 2 weeks to 5+ months; check IRCC's weekly-updated processing times tool for your country
Validity
Up to 10 years or until passport expiry (whichever is first); stays normally up to 6 months per entry
Who can apply: You can apply if you want to visit Canada for a holiday, to see family, or for a short business trip, and you come from a country whose citizens need a visa. You must show you have enough money for your trip and that you will go home when your visit ends.
Key requirements (6)
- Valid passport or travel document
- Convince the officer you will leave Canada at the end of your stay (ties such as a job, home, finances or family in your home country)
- Enough money to support yourself and family members during the stay
- Be admissible — no criminal or immigration-related inadmissibility; police certificate or medical exam may be requested
- Provide biometrics (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre, CAD $85, valid for 10 years
- Apply online through the IRCC Portal (paper only in limited situations)
How to apply — step by step
- Create an account on the IRCC Portal at Canada.ca.
- Fill out the online visitor visa application (form IMM 5257).
- Pay the CAD $100 visa fee and the CAD $85 biometrics fee online.
- Book an appointment at a Visa Application Centre to give your fingerprints and photo.
- Wait for the decision and check for updates in your IRCC Portal account.
- If approved, send in your passport so the visa sticker can be placed inside.
Path to PR: No direct path to PR; time in Canada as a visitor does not count toward residency
Official Site ↗
Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents)
A long-stay multiple-entry visa letting parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay up to 5 years at a time without renewing status every 6 months.
Fees
CAD $100; biometrics CAD $85 (private medical insurance typically adds CAD $1,500–$3,000+/year)
Processing
Roughly 2–5 months depending on country of residence; check IRCC's processing times tool
Validity
Multiple entries for up to 10 years; each stay up to 5 years, extendable by 2 more years from inside Canada
Who can apply: You can apply if you are the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Your child or grandchild must earn enough money to support your visit, and you must buy medical insurance of at least CAD $100,000.
Key requirements (6)
- Be the parent or grandparent of a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or registered Indian (dependants cannot be included in the application)
- Signed letter of financial support from your child/grandchild host who meets the minimum income (LICO) for their family size — since March 31, 2026, income can be met in either of the two most recent tax years and can be supplemented by the visiting parent's/grandparent's own income
- Proof of private medical insurance of at least CAD $100,000 coverage, valid for at least 1 year from entry, from a Canadian insurer or an IRCC-approved foreign insurer
- Complete an immigration medical exam and be admissible on health grounds
- Apply from outside Canada and provide biometrics
- Satisfy the officer you will leave at the end of the authorized stay
How to apply — step by step
- Ask your child or grandchild in Canada for a signed letter of invitation and proof of their income.
- Buy medical insurance with at least CAD $100,000 coverage for one year, from a Canadian insurer or an IRCC-approved foreign insurer.
- Create an account on the IRCC Portal at Canada.ca and fill out the visitor visa forms, choosing the super visa option.
- Pay the CAD $100 visa fee plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Give your fingerprints and photo at a Visa Application Centre.
- Complete a medical exam with an IRCC-approved doctor.
- Wait for the decision in your IRCC Portal account.
Path to PR: None directly, but families often use it while waiting for the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) sponsorship lottery
Official Site ↗
Study visas
The permit required to study at a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) for programs longer than 6 months. Subject to a national intake cap since 2024, with most post-secondary applicants needing a provincial or territorial attestation letter.
Fees
CAD $150; biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Typically 8–12 weeks, but ranges from ~1 week to 40+ weeks depending on country (updated weekly on IRCC's processing times tool)
Validity
Length of the study program plus 90 days
Who can apply: You can apply if a Canadian school, college, or university (called a designated learning institution, or DLI) has accepted you into a program longer than 6 months. You must show you have enough money for tuition and living costs, and most students also need a special letter from the province.
Key requirements (6)
- Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI)
- Provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) — still required for most post-secondary applicants under the intake cap in 2026
- Proof of funds: first-year tuition plus CAD $22,895/year living costs for a single applicant outside Quebec (threshold in effect since September 1, 2025), plus transportation
- Prove you will leave Canada when the permit expires
- Police certificate and medical exam if required; biometrics CAD $85
- Be a genuine student — remain enrolled and actively pursuing your program in Canada
How to apply — step by step
- Get a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution (DLI).
- Ask your school how to get a provincial attestation letter (PAL) if your program needs one.
- Gather proof of money for first-year tuition plus about CAD $22,895 for living costs.
- Create an IRCC secure account (using GCKey) and fill out the online study permit application.
- Pay the CAD $150 fee and CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Give your fingerprints and photo at a Visa Application Centre.
- Wait for approval, then travel to Canada with your letter of introduction.
Path to PR: Classic study-to-PR route: graduate, obtain a PGWP, gain 1+ year of skilled Canadian work experience, then apply through the Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry) or a PNP
Official Site ↗
Work visas
Employer-Specific Work Permit (TFWP / International Mobility Program)
A closed work permit tied to a specific employer, occupation and location — either under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (requires a positive LMIA) or the International Mobility Program (LMIA-exempt, e.g. CUSMA professionals, intra-company transferees).
Fees
CAD $155 (worker); employer pays CAD $1,000 LMIA fee (TFWP) or CAD $230 compliance fee (IMP); biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Varies widely by country — several weeks to several months outside Canada; check IRCC's processing times tool for current country-specific times
Validity
Matches the job offer/LMIA duration, commonly 1–3 years, renewable
Who can apply: You can apply if a Canadian employer has offered you a job and got permission (called an LMIA) to hire a foreign worker, or if your job is on a special list that does not need an LMIA. The permit lets you work only for that employer, in that job, at that location.
Key requirements (6)
- Valid job offer from a Canadian employer
- Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) under the TFWP (employer pays CAD $1,000 per position), or an LMIA exemption with the employer paying the CAD $230 compliance fee via the Employer Portal
- Prove you meet the job's education, experience and licensing requirements
- Prove you will leave Canada when the permit expires and have funds for yourself and family
- Be admissible: police certificates, medical exam for certain jobs/countries, biometrics
- Work only for the employer, occupation and location on the permit unless authorized to change
How to apply — step by step
- Get a written job offer from a Canadian employer.
- Your employer gets a positive LMIA from Service Canada, or submits your offer through the Employer Portal if the job is LMIA-exempt.
- Create an IRCC secure account and fill out the online work permit application.
- Upload your job offer, the LMIA or offer-of-employment number, and proof you qualify for the job.
- Pay the CAD $155 fee and CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Give your fingerprints and photo, and do a medical exam if IRCC asks for one.
- Wait for the decision in your IRCC account.
Path to PR: Skilled Canadian work experience (TEER 0–3) counts toward the Canadian Experience Class in Express Entry and many PNP streams
Official Site ↗
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
A once-in-a-lifetime open work permit for international graduates of eligible Canadian institutions, letting them work for any employer while building experience toward PR.
Fees
CAD $255 total (work permit $155 + open work permit holder fee $100); biometrics CAD $85 if required
Processing
Roughly 3–6 months for online in-Canada applications as of mid-2026; you can work full-time while waiting if you applied before your study permit expired
Validity
8 months to 3 years, matching program length; master's graduates from programs of 8+ months get 3 years
Who can apply: You can apply if you just finished a full-time program of at least 8 months at an eligible Canadian school. You must pass an English or French language test, and some college-level graduates must have studied in a field on IRCC's approved list. You can only get this permit once in your life.
Key requirements (6)
- Graduated from a PGWP-eligible program of at least 8 months (900 hours in Quebec) at an eligible DLI
- Maintained full-time student status every semester (final-semester and approved-leave exceptions apply)
- Apply within 180 days of confirmation of program completion, with a study permit valid at some point in those 180 days
- Language test results: CLB/NCLC 7 in all four abilities for university degree graduates, CLB/NCLC 5 for most college-level graduates (applications on/after November 1, 2024)
- Non-degree graduates whose study permit application was on/after November 1, 2024 must have studied in a field on IRCC's eligible field-of-study list — IRCC announced on January 15, 2026 that the list (1,107 CIP codes) is frozen with no changes for 2026
- Never have held a PGWP before
How to apply — step by step
- Get your final marks and an official letter from your school confirming you completed your program.
- Take an approved language test like IELTS or CELPIP if you do not have valid results already.
- Sign in to your IRCC secure account within 180 days of finishing your program.
- Fill out the online open work permit application and upload your school letter, transcript, and language results.
- Pay the CAD $255 fee, plus CAD $85 for biometrics if asked.
- Keep working full-time while you wait, as long as you applied before your study permit expired.
Path to PR: The main bridge from study to PR — PGWP experience feeds the Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry) and provincial nominee streams
Official Site ↗
IEC Working Holiday (International Experience Canada)
An open work permit for young people (18–30 or 18–35 depending on country) from more than 35 partner countries and territories, issued through seasonal random draws. IEC also includes Young Professionals and International Co-op categories; the 2026 season pools opened in December 2025.
Fees
CAD $284.75 total (IEC participation fee $184.75 + open work permit holder fee $100 for Working Holiday); biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Most applications finalized within ~8 weeks of submitting a complete application after invitation
Validity
12–24 months (country-dependent); usually not extendable beyond your country's maximum participations
Who can apply: You can apply if you are 18 to 30 (or 18 to 35, depending on your country) and your country has a youth exchange deal with Canada. You need CAD $2,500 in savings and health insurance for your whole stay. Winners are picked in random draws.
Key requirements (6)
- Citizen of an IEC partner country or territory (or apply through a Recognized Organization)
- Aged 18–30 or 18–35 inclusive, depending on your country's agreement
- Have CAD $2,500 in savings to cover initial expenses
- Health insurance (medical, hospitalization and repatriation) for the entire stay
- Valid passport for the full duration of the planned stay
- Create a pool profile and be selected in a random round of invitations, then apply within the deadline
How to apply — step by step
- Check on the IRCC website that your country is an IEC partner and see your age limit.
- Create an IRCC secure account and submit a profile to the IEC pool for your country.
- Wait to be picked in a random draw and receive an invitation to apply.
- Accept the invitation and complete the work permit application before the deadline.
- Pay the CAD $284.75 in fees plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Give your fingerprints and photo, then wait for your approval letter before flying to Canada.
Path to PR: No direct path, but skilled work experience gained can qualify you for CEC (Express Entry) or PNP streams
Official Site ↗
Permanent residency & settlement
Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Trades)
Canada's flagship economic immigration system: an online pool where candidates are ranked by CRS score and the highest-ranked are invited to apply for PR. 2026 category-based draws cover French speakers, healthcare and social services, education, STEM, trades and transport, plus new categories for physicians, researchers, senior managers with Canadian experience and skilled military recruits (agriculture was dropped).
Fees
CAD $1,590 for principal applicant ($990 processing + $600 Right of Permanent Residence Fee, effective April 30, 2026); spouse $1,590, dependent child ~$260 each; biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Service standard 6 months from complete application; most CEC/FSW files finalized in ~5–7 months in 2026
Validity
Permanent residence — PR card valid 5 years; must live in Canada 730 days in every 5-year window
Who can apply: You can apply if you have at least one year of skilled work experience and good English or French test scores. Everyone gets a points score (called CRS), and only the people with the highest scores are invited to apply for permanent residence.
Key requirements (6)
- Qualify for one of the three programs — e.g. FSW: 1+ year continuous skilled work experience (TEER 0–3) in the last 10 years, CLB 7 language, educational credential assessment (ECA), and 67/100 eligibility points; CEC: 1+ year skilled Canadian experience in the last 3 years
- Approved language test (IELTS/CELPIP/PTE Core for English, TEF/TCF for French)
- Competitive CRS score — general/CEC draw cut-offs in 2026 have run in the low-to-mid 500s (e.g. CEC 516–517 in July 2026), with category-based draws lower (French ~420) and PNP draws far higher
- Proof of settlement funds: CAD $15,263 for a single applicant (2026, FSW/FST; exempt if CEC or valid job offer)
- Medical exam, police certificates, and biometrics
- Submit complete e-APR within 60 days of the Invitation to Apply
How to apply — step by step
- Take an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP, or PTE Core for English; TEF or TCF for French).
- Get your foreign education verified with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you studied outside Canada.
- Create an Express Entry profile in your IRCC secure account.
- Wait in the pool for an Invitation to Apply when your CRS score is high enough in a draw.
- Submit your full PR application online within 60 days, including police certificates and a medical exam.
- Pay the CAD $1,590 fee plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Wait about 6 months for the decision, then complete your landing as a permanent resident.
Path to PR: This IS permanent residence; citizenship eligibility after 3 years (1,095 days) of physical presence in the previous 5
Official Site ↗
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Each province and territory (except Quebec and Nunavut) runs its own nomination streams targeting workers, graduates and entrepreneurs its economy needs. A nomination gives 600 extra CRS points in Express Entry or a direct base-stream PR route.
Fees
Federal: CAD $1,590 ($990 + $600 RPRF, effective April 30, 2026); provincial application fees range from $0 (most Atlantic provinces) to ~$1,500–$2,000 (e.g. BC, Ontario); biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Express Entry-linked nominations: ~6–8 months federal processing after nomination; non-Express Entry (base) PNP: roughly a year or more federally, plus the provincial nomination step (weeks to months)
Validity
Permanent residence — same conditions as any PR
Who can apply: You can apply if a Canadian province or territory picks (nominates) you because it needs workers like you. Most streams want a job offer, work or study experience in that province, or a job on their in-demand list. A nomination almost guarantees permanent residence.
Key requirements (6)
- Meet the criteria of a specific provincial/territorial stream (many require a job offer, in-province work experience or study, or an in-demand occupation)
- Genuine intention to settle in the nominating province or territory
- Receive a nomination certificate from the province before applying federally for PR
- Language, education and work experience thresholds set by the individual stream
- Settlement funds where required by the stream
- Pass federal medical, security and criminality checks
How to apply — step by step
- Pick a province and find a nomination stream on its immigration website that fits your job and experience.
- Apply directly to the province, or create an Express Entry profile and wait for a provincial invitation.
- Receive your nomination certificate from the province.
- Apply for permanent residence online — through your Express Entry account if the province invited you that way, or through IRCC's Permanent Residence portal for other streams.
- Pay the CAD $1,590 federal fee, any provincial fee, and CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Complete your medical exam and police certificates, then wait for the federal decision.
Path to PR: Direct PR pathway; the 2026–2028 Levels Plan keeps PNP as a core pillar of economic admissions
Official Site ↗
Family visas
Spousal, Partner and Dependent Child Sponsorship
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner and dependent children for permanent residence, inland (from within Canada, with access to an open work permit) or outland.
Fees
CAD $1,260 total (sponsorship fee $90 + principal applicant processing $570 + RPRF $600, effective April 30, 2026); biometrics CAD $85; dependent children extra per child
Processing
As of July 2026: ~16 months outland, ~25 months inland (outside Quebec; Quebec takes longer)
Validity
Permanent residence
Who can apply: You can apply if your husband, wife, or partner is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and agrees to sponsor you. Your relationship must be real, and your sponsor does not need a minimum income for a spouse or partner. Dependent children can be included.
Key requirements (6)
- Sponsor must be 18+, a Canadian citizen, PR or registered Indian, living in Canada or intending to return once the sponsored person becomes a PR
- Genuine relationship: married, common-law (12 months continuous cohabitation) or conjugal partner; relationship not entered primarily for immigration
- No minimum income requirement for a spouse/partner (unless the sponsored person's dependent child has children of their own), but sponsor cannot be on social assistance except for disability
- Sponsor signs an undertaking (3 years for a spouse/partner) and must not be in default of previous sponsorships or support orders
- Sponsored person passes medical exam, police certificates and biometrics
- Inland applicants can apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit while waiting
How to apply — step by step
- Check that your sponsor qualifies and gather proof of your real relationship (marriage certificate, photos, messages).
- Create an account on IRCC's Permanent Residence online portal.
- Fill out both the sponsorship forms (for your partner) and the PR application forms (for you).
- Pay the CAD $1,260 in fees plus CAD $85 for biometrics.
- Give your biometrics, do a medical exam, and provide police certificates.
- If you are already in Canada, apply for a Spousal Open Work Permit so you can work while you wait.
- Track the decision in the Permanent Residence portal.
Path to PR: Direct PR; sponsored spouses may count time toward citizenship after landing
Official Site ↗
Business & investor visas
Start-up Visa Program (paused — closed to new applicants)
Canada's entrepreneur PR program for founders backed by a designated VC fund, angel group or business incubator. IRCC stopped accepting new applications on December 19, 2025, stopped accepting commitment certificates after December 31, 2025, and the final filing window for holders of a 2025 commitment certificate closed on June 30, 2026. The optional SUV work permit is also closed to new applicants (extensions only). A smaller, targeted entrepreneur pilot is expected to replace it.
Fees
CAD $2,495 for principal applicant ($1,895 processing + $600 RPRF, effective April 30, 2026); biometrics CAD $85
Processing
Officially cited at 40+ months, with a large multi-year backlog pushing some cohorts longer; no new intake as of 2026
Validity
Permanent residence (in-Canada applicants with an existing SUV work permit can apply to extend it while waiting)
Who can apply: This program is closed to new applicants since December 19, 2025. It was for people starting an innovative business in Canada with backing from an approved investor group or incubator. Only people who already applied are still being processed.
Key requirements (6)
- Commitment certificate and letter of support from a designated organization (minimum CAD $200,000 from a designated VC fund or CAD $75,000 from an angel group, or acceptance into a designated incubator) — no longer issued for this program
- Qualifying business: up to 5 applicant co-founders, each holding 10%+ of voting rights, with applicants plus the designated org holding >50% together
- Language: minimum CLB 5 in English or French in all four abilities
- Sufficient unborrowed settlement funds for you and your dependants
- Active management of the business from within Canada, with essential operations in Canada
- Pass medical, security and criminality checks
How to apply — step by step
- Note that IRCC no longer accepts new Start-up Visa applications, so you cannot start a new one.
- If you already applied, track your case in your IRCC secure account.
- If you hold a Start-up Visa work permit, apply online through your IRCC account to extend it while you wait.
- Keep your language test results and proof of funds ready in case IRCC asks for updated documents.
- Watch IRCC's 'Update on Immigration Measures for Entrepreneurs' page for the new entrepreneur pilot that will replace this program.
Path to PR: Was a direct PR program; watch IRCC's 'Update on Immigration Measures for Entrepreneurs' notice for the replacement entrepreneur pilot
Official Site ↗
Popular universities & fees
University of Toronto
Toronto · University · Top-ranked research, engineering, business
CAD ~$51k-$73k/yr
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McGill University
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University of Waterloo
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University of Manitoba
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Memorial University of Newfoundland
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Universite de Moncton
Moncton · University · Affordable French-language study
CAD ~$15k-$16k/yr
Seneca Polytechnic
Toronto · College · Career-focused diplomas, business, IT
CAD ~$15k-$24k/yr by program
Conestoga College
Kitchener · College · Trades, engineering technology, health
CAD ~$16k-$20k/yr incl. fees
British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Burnaby · Institute · Applied tech, job-ready diplomas
CAD ~$20k-$26k/yr by program
Scholarships to know: Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (replaced Vanier CGS) (CAD $40,000/yr for 3 years (PhD)) · Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (University of Toronto) (Full tuition, books and residence for 4 years) · UBC International Scholars Program (Need-based, up to full study costs) · Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS) (CAD $5,000/term, up to $15,000/yr)
Official portals
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