Canada offers several types of visas and immigration pathways depending on your purpose of travel, work, study, or immigration. Canada is one of the ideal countries in the world for immigration and settlement. If you are a Canada immigration aspirant, this page is specially designed for you, so that you can get extensive information about the complete Canadian Immigration process and Visa Categories, i.e. Permanent Residency Visa, Work Visa, Visit Visa, Student Visa, Business Visa, etc.
1. Visitor Visa
This is for individuals who want to visit Canada
temporarily for tourism, family visits, or business
meetings.
• Tourist
Visa (Temporary
Resident Visa): For
people
visiting Canada for tourism or leisure.
• Business
Visitor Visa: For individuals traveling to
Canada
for short-term business purposes such as meetings,
conferences, or negotiations.
• Super
Visa: For parents or grandparents of Canadian
citizens or permanent residents, allowing them to
stay in
Canada for up to 2 years at a time.
2. Study Permit
A study permit allows you to study at a Designated
Learning Institution (DLI) in Canada.
• Study
Permit: For individuals who have been accepted
by a
Canadian educational institution and wish to study in Canada
for more than six months.
• Student
Direct Stream (SDS): For students from certain
countries (like China, India, the Philippines, etc.)
applying for a study permit. This program offers faster
processing times for eligible students.
3. Work Visa
A work permit allows you to work temporarily in Canada
for a specific employer.
•
Employer-Specific Work Permit: You need a job offer
from a
Canadian employer, and your work permit will be tied to that
employer.
• Open Work
Permit: Allows you to work for any employer in
Canada, not restricted to a specific job or location. This
type of permit is available under certain circumstances,
such as for spouses of skilled workers or international
students.
4. Permanent Residency Visas
These visas are for individuals who want to live
permanently in Canada.
• Express Entry: A system used for managing applications under the following programs:
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): For individuals nominated by a Canadian province or territory to apply for permanent residency.
• Quebec-selected Skilled Worker Program: For individuals who wish to live and work in the province of Quebec.
• Family Sponsorship: For family members of Canadian citizens or permanent residents who wish to immigrate to Canada.
• Quebec-selected Skilled Worker Program: For individuals who wish to live and work in the province of Quebec.
• Atlantic Immigration Program: For skilled workers and international graduates who wish to settle in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island).
5. Business Immigration
Visas
These visas are for individuals who want to establish or
invest in a business in Canada.
• Start-up Visa Program: For entrepreneurs who want to establish a business in Canada and have the support of a designated Canadian organization.
• Self-Employed Program: For individuals who are self-employed in cultural or athletic fields.
• Investor/Entrepreneur Visas: For individuals who want to invest in or start a business in Canada.
6. Refugee and Humanitarian
Visas
Canada also offers asylum to individuals who are fleeing
persecution, war, or violence in their home countries.
• Refugee Status: For individuals who are outside of Canada and want to claim asylum.
• Inland Refugee Claim: For individuals already in Canada who wish to apply for refugee status.
• Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds: For individuals who may not meet the standard requirements for immigration but have compelling humanitarian or compassionate reasons for coming to Canada.
7. Temporary Resident Permit
(TRP)
For individuals who are inadmissible to Canada but who
need to come to Canada for specific, short-term purposes,
such as work or study.
8. Temporary Resident Visa
(TRV)
This is another name for the Visitor Visa, which allows
a temporary stay in Canada for tourism, visiting family, or
business purposes.
The Canada Permanent Residency (PR) visa allows foreign
nationals to live and work in Canada permanently. There are
several pathways to obtain Canada PR, with the most common
ones being.
General PR Application Process:
1. Determine Eligibility: Choose the right program based on qualifications.
2. Create Profile: If applying via Express Entry, create an online profile and get ranked.
3. Receive ITA: If you meet the cutoff for your category, you'll get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR.
4. Submit Application: Provide all required documents, including proof of funds, educational credentials, medical exams, police certificates, etc.
5. Wait for Decision: Processing times vary, but applicants generally wait several months.
6. Permanent Residency: Once approved, you'll receive your PR status and can settle in Canada.
Benefits of Canadian PR:
• Access to healthcare and social services.
• Work and live anywhere in Canada.
• Pathway to citizenship (after living in Canada for a required time).
• Eligibility to sponsor family members.