Visas & Advice Detail
Canada: Visa Options
If you want to emigrate to Canada, you’ll need a visa. But which one of the country’s main immigration routes offers you the best hope?
Work visas
Skilled Worker visas are issued to applicants who are thought to have the skills to establish themselves economically in Canada. in 2008, important changes were made to this visa for all applications made after 27th February 2008.
In order to qualify through this route you must fulfil one of these three requirements:
1. You have an offer of arranged employment in an occupation classed as Skill Type 0, Skill Level A or B on the National Occupations List; or
2. You are an international student, a temporary foreign worker, or a foreign national who has been living in Canada for one year; or
3. You have at least one year of experience in an occupation included on the high demand list.
In addition, providing you satisfy this criteria, you will then need to score 67 on a points test, which takes into account factors such as education, English/French language ability, work experience, age, adaptability and financial means.
There are also a number of minimum requirements that must be satisfied in order for the application to be processed:
1. You need to have had at least one year of paid continuous
employment, or the equivalent in part-time employment;
2. This work experience must have been in the last ten years; and
3. The work experience must be Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or Skill Level B on the NOL.
Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP)
Each of Canada's provinces that have signed up to the PNP looks to select migrants who will benefit it in some way. The PNP application is not assessed against the same six criteria as a Skilled Worker visa.
Temporary options
Experience Class
Students and temporary workers can apply for permanent residence if: they live outside Quebec; have authorised work experience; have two years work experience in a relevant skill (see work visas, left) or one years study; and apply within one year of leaving their job.
Work permits
These can be secured quickly– but the employer must receive a positive Labour Market Opinion.
Study permit
If you are extending your period of study over six months; or you are a full-time student and wish to work on campus, you need a permit.
Business visas
There are three categories in this class. In each one you must score at least 35 points, in addition to meeting the following criteria:
Investor category
To qualify, you must have spent at least two years in the
management of a qualifying business and have controlled a percentage of equity in this business. You will also need to have a net worth of at least CDN$800,000 and be prepared to make an investment of CDN$400,000 into your business.
Entrepreneur programme
You must be able to prove that your business will be able to contribute to the economy and create at least one full-time position for a Canadian citizen. In addition, you will need a minimum net worth of CDN$300,000 and be able to demonstrate the same business experience as for the investor route.
Self-employed persons
You will need to have been:
Self-employed in cultural activities or athletics; participated at world-class level in cultural activities or athletics; or have farm management experience. Additionally, you must prove you can support yourself.
Family visas
If you have a relative who is already a Canadian citizen, and is willing to sponsor your application to emigrate to Canada, then you are in with a chance of sealing a permanent move.
Providing your relationship to the sponsor is that of spouse, common-law or conjugal partner 16 years of age or older; parent or grandparent; dependent child, including adopted child; child under 18 years of age whom the sponsor intends to adopt; brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchild who is an orphan, under the age of 18 and not married or in a common-law relationship; and any other relative if you have none of the above relatives or family members, either in Canada or abroad, then you can be sponsored.
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