Canadian Immigration

The Economic Class 

Professionals and skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada must show a high likelihood of becoming economically established in the country. Consequently, the primary selection criteria for all economic programs include appropriate education, work experience in high-demand occupations, and proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages.

IRCC oversees Canada’s federal skilled worker immigration programs via the Express Entry system. Applicants who meet the basic criteria create an online profile, known as an expression of interest, and submit it to the Express Entry pool under one of the three federal immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, the Canadian Experience Class, or a participating provincial nominee program. 

Candidates’ profiles in the pool are ranked according to the Comprehensive Ranking System. The highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws. Those who receive an invitation must submit a complete application promptly, as the government aims to process applications within six months. 

Quebec manages its own immigration programs, including the Quebec Skilled Worker Program and the Quebec Experience Class. 

Additionally, the Economic Class encompasses various business and investment-based programs. Some business immigration programs, such as the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP), the Quebec Entrepreneur Program, the Quebec Self-Employed Program, the Federal Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Program, and the Federal Start-Up Visa Program, offer permanent residency. 

Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur programs operate through a two-step process: applicants are initially selected or nominated by a province if they meet the program’s requirements; based on this selection or nomination, they can then apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residency. 

Affluent business immigrants may also acquire or establish a new business in Canada and obtain a temporary work visa under federal ‘owner-operator’ policies. After some time, qualified individuals may be eligible to apply for permanent residency either through a provincial nominee program or the Express Entry system.

The Family Class 

In the family reunification class, current sponsorship policies facilitate the reunion of Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their close relatives in Canada.

Eligible relatives under the Sponsorship programs include: 

- A spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner who is 18 years of age or older. 

- An unmarried dependent child under the age of 22. 

- A parent or grandparent. 

- An orphaned sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild who is unmarried and under 18 years of age, or any other relative if the sponsor has no other eligible relatives or family members, either in Canada or abroad. 

IRCC has introduced a special visa for parents and grandparents wanting to visit their loved ones, known as the Parents and Grandparents Super Visa. This multi-entry visitor visa is valid for 10 years and permits the holder to stay in Canada for up to two years without needing to leave the country.