Frequently asked questions
Most frequent questions and answers
How to become a permanent resident of Canada?
There is a lot of Canadian immigration program that you can choose from, as the prerequisites for Canadian permanent residency depend on the stream under which an individual qualifies. Canada has created a myriad of immigration streams based on various factors including age, education, work experience, net worth and willingness to invest as well as ties to Canada.
Can I have more than one Express Entry profile?
No. You may only have one profile at a time. This is set out in Canada’s immigration law.
Creating more than one profile will not give you a better chance at being invited or allow you to be invited under a different program.
Is my Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score good enough?
Can my family come with me through Express Entry?
Express Entry allows you to include your spouse (or common-law partner, or conjugal partner) and your dependent children on your application. If you are successful with your application, you and all of your accompanying family members will receive permanent resident status.
For Canadian immigration, a dependent child is defined as the following:
- under 22 years of age and not a spouse or common-law partner, or
- 22 years of age or older and unable to support themselves financially due to a physical or mental condition.
What is the advantage of obtaining Provincial Nominee?
A Provincial Nominee means that your application for a Canada Immigration Visa will be processed faster and that you will arrive in Canada sooner. Under Express Entry, an applicant will score 600 extra points over and above his normal score, thus enabling him to receive an invitation.
How to get an LMIA?
You’ll need an LMIA from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
The LMIA application process depends on the type of program you’re hiring through.
Find out how to apply for an LMIA to hire
- high-wage workers
- low-wage workers
- workers through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
- workers through the Agricultural Stream
What types of business or investment activities make me eligible for the Investor Venture Capital Program?
What is the minimum investment I would need to secure for a Startup Visa?
Entrepreneurs wishing to immigrate to Canada with a startup visa must secure a minimum investment of $200,000 from an approved organization or at least $75,000 from a designated angel investor. If your business is accepted into a business incubator program, you are not required to secure an investment.
Are you in the U.S. Without Status?
There are approximately 12 million people living in the U.S without legal status, a situation that is unsettling and exposes foreigners to abuse and a life without certainty. Canada is an attractive alternative because Canadian employers value North American work experience and life in Canada is not significantly different from life in the U.S. Most people assume that their illegal status in the US is grounds for automatic disqualification but this is not the case. Each year thousands of individuals without status in the United States find the home they were looking for in Canada.
What are the benefits of becoming a Canadian permanent resident?
According to the United Nations Quality of Life rankings, Canada is there in 9th place. You’ll get almost all social benefits that Canadian citizens are entitled to, including Canadian health care. You will be surrounded by a safe and clean environment while you are in Canada. In Canada, you will be able to discover a growing economy. It looks promising for everyone and you will be able to get your hands on a large number of opportunities.
I was found not eligible for Express Entry and I can’t change my profile. What do I do?
You will still have to meet the Express Entry requirements that are in place. So, unless you made a mistake in your first profile or your circumstances have changed (for example, you have new language test results, you now have more work experience, etc.), there is a good chance you will be found ineligible again.
You can review the requirements to see which ones you did not meet. This can help you find what to do to meet the requirements so you can apply again.
Do I need a language test for Express Entry?
In order to be eligible for Express Entry you must have results from an approved language test in either English or French. The results must be less than two years old at the time you submit your final application.
The minimum required scores depend on which of the Express Entry-aligned programs you apply to: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
Is the Province of Quebec part of the Provincial Nominee Program?
How to hire if you need an LMIA?
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) lets you hire temporary foreign workers to fill labour and skill shortages.
Once an LMIA has been issued, you should provide a copy of the confirmation letter to each temporary foreign worker and tell each of them to apply for a work permit.
You’ll need an LMIA from ESDC, Service Canada.
How much income do I need to sponsor my parents and grandparents?
You, the sponsor (and your co-signer, if you have one) must prove you have enough income to support all the people you’ll be financially responsible for once you become a sponsor. This includes yourself.
If you’re invited to apply, you have to provide proof that you meet the income requirements for each of the 3 tax years before the date you apply.
Do I need to invest my own money for a Canadian investor visa?
Who Can Apply for Canadian Citizenship?
Candidates must be at least 18 years of age in order to begin the application process for Canadian citizenship.
In order to apply for citizenship on behalf of a child under 18, the following conditions must be met:
• the individual applying for Canadian citizenship is the child’s parent or legal guardian
• the child in question must be a permanent resident of Canada, but is not required to have lived in Canada for three years; and
• one parent is already a Canadian citizen or is applying to become a citizen as well. This stipulation also applies to adoptive parents.
