Canada Immigration FAQ

Bill C-3 came into force on December 15, 2025 and removed the first-generation limit on citizenship by descent. People born outside Canada before that date to a Canadian parent are now generally Canadian citizens, even if the parent was also born abroad. For children born or adopted abroad on or after December 15, 2025, a Canadian parent who was born abroad must show a “substantial connection” to Canada: at least 1,095 days of physical presence in Canada before the child’s birth or adoption. Eligibility is fact-specific and depends on documents proving each link in the chain back to the Canadian relative. See our full Bill C-3 citizenship-by-descent guide.

Possibly. Bill C-3 restored or conferred citizenship on many people who were previously blocked by the first-generation limit, often called “Lost Canadians.” Because citizenship by descent is automatic, you do not apply to become a citizen; you apply for a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship). The outcome depends on written evidence of each generation’s birth, parentage and citizenship. See our full Bill C-3 guide.

Express Entry is the federal online system that manages applications for three economic permanent-residence programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. Provinces can also nominate candidates from the pool through their Express Entry-aligned streams. Eligible candidates create a profile and are ranked under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), and the highest-ranked candidates receive invitations to apply in regular rounds. Learn more about Express Entry.

On October 16, 2026, IRCC announced changes that take effect on November 3, 2026. The CRS gains a new Labour Market Integration factor that awards points for either Canadian work experience (including extra points for experience in high-wage occupations) or a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation, whichever is higher, never both, up to 150 points (140 with an accompanying spouse or partner). Job offers no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to earn CRS points or to support Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades eligibility. IRCC will automatically recalculate scores in the pool, which may take up to two weeks, and invitation rounds are paused during that time; candidates who want job-offer points must update their profile before November 3. Read our news coverage or see IRCC’s page on what has changed.

Three federal programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (for skilled foreign workers with qualifying experience), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (for qualified tradespeople) and the Canadian Experience Class (for people with qualifying Canadian work experience). Each has its own minimum criteria, and meeting one of them lets you enter the pool. Part of the Provincial Nominee Program also runs through Express Entry. The November 2026 changes did not merge these programs.

You must first meet the minimum requirements of at least one of the three federal programs, based on factors such as education, work experience and language ability. From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer used to meet Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades eligibility no longer needs an LMIA, and for eligibility it can be in any eligible TEER 0 to 3 job, not only a high-wage occupation. Entering the pool does not guarantee an invitation; you are ranked against other candidates by CRS score. A profile stays in the pool for up to 12 months and can be updated while it is active.

You confirm your eligibility, take an approved English or French language test, obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) if you were educated outside Canada, and submit a profile. The system gives you a CRS score. If you are invited in a round, you have 60 days to submit a complete permanent-residence application with supporting documents.

After you are invited and submit a complete application, IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications in about six months, although actual times vary with volume and file complexity. Language tests, an ECA and document gathering beforehand can add weeks or months to the overall timeline. Invitation rounds are also paused for up to two weeks after November 3, 2026 while IRCC recalculates scores. Check current processing times.

No. Most candidates are invited without one. Job offers earned no CRS points from March 25, 2025 until November 2, 2026. From November 3, 2026, a qualifying job offer in a high-wage occupation can again earn CRS points (100, 70 or 50, depending on the occupation’s wage level), and no LMIA is needed. A valid offer in any eligible TEER 0 to 3 job can also help you meet Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades eligibility, even if it earns no CRS points. A provincial nomination remains the biggest single boost, adding 600 CRS points.

The CRS is the points system that ranks Express Entry candidates. Under the grid in force until November 2, 2026, candidates are scored out of 1,200 on core human-capital factors (age, education, official-language ability and Canadian work experience), spouse or partner factors, skill transferability and additional points such as a provincial nomination or strong French. From November 3, 2026, Canadian work experience moves into a new Labour Market Integration factor that also covers high-wage experience and job-offer points; IRCC has not yet published a revised full grid. Your score determines whether you are competitive in a given round. Learn more about the CRS.

There is no fixed pass mark. IRCC chooses the type of round (general, program-specific or category-based) and how many invitations to issue, and the cutoff is the score of the lowest-ranked candidate invited. In 2026, rounds have been program-specific (Canadian Experience Class and Provincial Nominee Program) or category-based rather than general. Canadian Experience Class cutoffs sat at roughly 518 to 523 from August 2026, and the October 15 round invited 2,500 candidates with a cutoff of 519. Provincial Nominee Program rounds have cut off above 700 because nominees carry 600 extra points, while category-based rounds can be much lower: the October 16 French-language round invited 5,000 candidates with a cutoff of 435, and some category rounds have gone below 400. Rounds are paused for up to two weeks after November 3, 2026 while scores are recalculated, and cutoffs after the restart will not be comparable with earlier 2026 cutoffs. Check the latest rounds before relying on any number.

Points come from core factors (age, education and official-language ability), Canadian work experience, skill-transferability combinations, spouse or partner factors if applicable, and additional points such as a provincial nomination (600), French-language ability, Canadian post-secondary education or a sibling in Canada. From November 3, 2026, the new Labour Market Integration factor combines your Canadian work-length points with either extra points for at least 12 months in high-wage occupations (20, 40 or 70) or high-wage job-offer points (50, 70 or 100), whichever is higher, up to 150 (140 with a spouse or partner). Skill-transferability points still use the length of your Canadian work experience.

The most effective levers are usually higher language test results, more skilled work experience, additional education (with an ECA if earned abroad) and a provincial nomination, which is worth 600 points and effectively guarantees an invitation. Improving your French can add points and may make you eligible for French-language category rounds. From November 3, 2026, Canadian experience in a high-wage occupation or a qualifying job offer in one can also add points, although more points never guarantee an invitation.

A provincial or territorial nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream adds 600 CRS points, which in practice leads to an invitation in a Provincial Nominee Program round. Candidates with lower scores often pursue a provincial stream that matches their occupation and the province’s labour-market priorities.

From November 3, 2026, yes, if the offer is in a high-wage occupation. IRCC removed job-offer points on March 25, 2025 and is reintroducing them under the new Labour Market Integration factor: 100 points for an occupation whose median wage is at least two times the national average median wage, 70 points for at least 1.5 times, 50 points for at least 1.3 times, and 0 for other occupations. No LMIA is required, and having one adds no extra points; the offer must otherwise be valid under Express Entry (generally full-time, continuous and for at least one year after you become a permanent resident). Job-offer points are not added on top of high-wage experience points; you get whichever total is higher, so update your profile before November 3 if you want the offer counted. Read our coverage of the changes.

It is an occupation (NOC code) whose median wage across everyone in Canada working in it is at least 1.3 times the average median wage of the whole Canadian workforce. It is based on the occupation, not your personal salary, and IRCC groups these occupations into three levels (1.3, 1.5 and 2 times the average median wage) using Job Bank, Labour Force Survey and Census data from the previous three years. Examples IRCC cites include engineers and electricians, with many roles in health care, skilled trades, engineering, technology and education. Check IRCC’s high-wage occupation list for your NOC.

Yes. Strong French-language results earn additional CRS points, and IRCC holds French-language category-based rounds that often invite candidates with much lower cutoffs than program-specific rounds. For many candidates, improving French is one of the highest-impact ways to become competitive.

Most provinces and territories run PNPs to nominate immigrants who meet local labour-market and economic needs. Each manages its own streams and criteria, which change frequently, and many streams have annual nomination caps. A nomination through an Express Entry-aligned stream adds 600 CRS points. Learn more about PNPs.

There are two routes. Express Entry-aligned (“enhanced”) streams nominate candidates who are already in the Express Entry pool; the nomination adds 600 CRS points, and the permanent-residence application is then filed through Express Entry. Non-Express Entry (“base”) streams operate outside the pool: after the province nominates you, you submit a separate permanent-residence application to IRCC. Since September 23, 2022, non-Express Entry PNP applications must be submitted online through IRCC’s Permanent Residence Digital Platform (paper or alternative formats are available only as an accommodation, for example for a disability), and they are processed outside the Express Entry system. The right route depends on your profile and the target province.

It depends on your occupation, experience, language ability and existing ties to a province. Each province targets different in-demand fields, and streams open, close and change their criteria throughout the year, sometimes with little notice. A professional assessment matches your profile to the programs where you are most competitive.

A provincial nomination is based on your intention to live and work in that province, and you should genuinely intend to settle there. Once you are a permanent resident, Charter mobility rights apply, but misrepresenting your intention at the application stage can jeopardize your application. Discuss your plans honestly during an assessment.

Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a nominee program. Quebec operates its own selection system under a federal-provincial agreement rather than a PNP. Streams vary widely and are updated regularly, so always re-confirm the current criteria.

Quebec selects its own economic immigrants under the Canada-Quebec Accord, using its own programs and criteria. Its main permanent skilled-worker pathway is the Skilled Worker Selection Program (Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés, PSTQ), which uses invitations through the Arrima portal. Selected candidates receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and then apply to IRCC for permanent residence. Learn more about Quebec immigration.

The CSQ is Quebec’s document confirming that it has selected you for immigration. With it, you apply to the federal government for permanent residence, and IRCC assesses admissibility, including security, criminality and medical checks. Quebec decides selection; Ottawa makes the final permanent-residence decision.

The main skilled-worker pathway is the PSTQ, which replaced the Regular Skilled Worker Program in November 2024. Quebec also runs business immigration programs. The Quebec Experience Program (PEQ) was abolished on November 19, 2025, then temporarily reactivated for two years (to July 2, 2028) for limited groups. Its first application window, from July 2 to October 31, 2026, is open only to people who already held a Quebec diploma or qualifying work experience when the program was abolished; Quebec has said further windows may open depending on demand.

French is central to Quebec selection. Most PSTQ streams require you to demonstrate oral French, and in many cases written French, at levels that vary by stream and occupation, and an accompanying spouse may also need to show French ability in some streams. Business immigration programs have their own requirements.

Usually, yes. Most foreign nationals need a work permit. A limited set of activities are exempt, such as those of certain business visitors. Working without authorization can seriously harm future applications. Learn more about Canadian work permits.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document an employer may need from Employment and Social Development Canada showing that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA supports an employer-specific work permit application. From November 3, 2026, an LMIA is no longer needed for a job offer to earn Express Entry CRS points or to support Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades eligibility, although it is still required for many work permits. Learn more about LMIAs.

An employer-specific (closed) work permit ties you to one employer, job and location, and usually requires an LMIA or an LMIA exemption. An open work permit lets you work for almost any employer and is not tied to a job offer, but eligibility is limited to specific situations, such as certain spouses and eligible graduates.

Often, yes. The International Mobility Program allows many LMIA-exempt work permits, for example for intra-company transferees, professionals under trade agreements such as CUSMA or CPTPP, and certain open work permits. Whether you qualify depends on your nationality, employer and role.

The IMP covers work permits exempt from the LMIA requirement, generally because they serve broader Canadian economic, cultural or reciprocal interests. Examples include intra-company transfers, treaty-based permits and open work permits. Where you qualify, it is often faster than the LMIA route.

In many cases a spouse or common-law partner can obtain an open work permit, but eligibility narrowed in January 2025 and now depends on the principal applicant’s occupation (for workers) or level and length of study (for students). Rules change, so confirm current eligibility for your situation.

You generally apply to IRCC before your current permit expires. If you apply to extend before expiry, you may keep working under the same conditions (“maintained status”) while the application is processed. Changing employers on an employer-specific permit usually requires a new permit first.

Most international students need a study permit for programs longer than six months at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Programs of six months or less may not require one. Most new applicants also need a Provincial or Territorial Attestation Letter (PAL/TAL). Learn more about studying in Canada.

On top of first-year tuition and travel costs, you must show funds for living expenses. For applications received on or after September 1, 2026, the requirement for a single applicant studying outside Quebec is $23,448, with higher amounts for each accompanying family member. Quebec sets its own figure. IRCC updates these amounts each year, so verify the current chart before applying.

A DLI is a school approved by a province or territory to host international students. You need an acceptance letter from a DLI to apply for a study permit, and to be eligible for a post-graduation work permit, both the institution and the program must qualify.

Eligible full-time students at qualifying institutions can generally work off campus up to 24 hours per week during academic sessions and full-time during scheduled breaks. Check the conditions on your permit and IRCC’s current rules before you start working.

The PGWP lets eligible graduates of qualifying programs work in Canada after their studies. Since November 2024, most non-degree graduates must have studied in an eligible field (identified by CIP code), and all applicants must meet language requirements; bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral graduates are exempt from the field-of-study list. IRCC kept the eligible field list unchanged for 2026. Learn more about the PGWP.

Yes. Canadian study and post-graduation work experience can make you competitive for permanent-residence pathways such as the Canadian Experience Class and many provincial nominee streams. From November 3, 2026, Canadian work experience in a high-wage occupation can also earn extra Express Entry points. Planning your program and work experience with permanent residence in mind improves your odds.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 or older can sponsor a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent children and, when intake is open, parents and grandparents. New Parents and Grandparents Program intake is currently paused. Other relatives can be sponsored only in limited circumstances. Learn more about family sponsorship.

You can sponsor a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner through inland (from inside Canada) or outland processing. You must prove the relationship is genuine and sign an undertaking to support your partner. Complete, well-documented applications move most smoothly. Learn more about spousal sponsorship.

Generally, no minimum income is required to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child (unless that person has a dependent child who has dependent children of their own). Income thresholds do apply to parent and grandparent sponsorship. Sponsors must still meet eligibility rules and sign a financial undertaking.

On July 15, 2026, IRCC paused new intake under the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP). It is not accepting new interest-to-sponsor forms or inviting sponsors to apply until further notice, but it continues to process applications already received and plans to approve up to 15,000 people through the PGP in 2026. When intake resumes, sponsors will need to meet income requirements. In the meantime, the Super Visa remains available for long visits. Learn more about the PGP.

The Super Visa lets parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents stay in Canada for up to five years at a time, on a multiple-entry visa valid for up to 10 years. Applicants need qualifying private medical insurance, and the child or grandchild in Canada must meet an income requirement. It remains available while PGP intake is paused. Learn more about the Super Visa.

Yes. You can sponsor a dependent child, including in many cases an adopted child. A child generally qualifies as a dependant if under 22 and not a spouse or common-law partner; older children may qualify if they have depended on a parent since before age 22 because of a physical or mental condition.

Sponsors sign an undertaking to financially support the sponsored person for a set period, so that they do not need social assistance. The obligation generally continues even if circumstances change, such as a relationship breakdown or a change in the sponsor’s finances. The length of the undertaking depends on who you sponsor.

Most people apply for citizenship after becoming permanent residents and meeting the requirements: enough physical presence in Canada, tax filing where required, language ability and, for applicants aged 18 to 54, a citizenship test. Successful applicants then take the oath of citizenship. Learn more about applying for citizenship.

You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) in the five years before the date you sign your application. The days do not need to be continuous, and each day spent in Canada as a temporary resident or protected person before you became a permanent resident can count as a half day, up to 365 days.

Applicants aged 18 to 54 must show English or French ability at Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 or higher in speaking and listening, and must pass a knowledge test about Canada. Applicants under 18 or 55 and older do not need to meet these requirements.

Yes. Canada allows dual and multiple citizenship, so becoming Canadian does not require giving up another nationality. Your other country may have its own rules, so check whether it permits dual citizenship.

Naturalization means applying for citizenship after living in Canada as a permanent resident. Citizenship by descent means being a citizen automatically through a Canadian parent, which under Bill C-3 can now extend beyond the first generation. They are different paths with different rules and applications.

Options include provincial entrepreneur streams, Quebec’s business immigration programs and certain work-permit routes for business owners and intra-company transferees. The federal Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs are both paused, so current options must be confirmed for your situation. Learn more about business immigration.

No. The Start-Up Visa Program is paused. New work-permit applications under the program closed on December 19, 2025, and designated organizations could not issue commitment certificates after December 31, 2025. Applicants holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate had until June 30, 2026 to apply for permanent residence; that deadline has passed, although IRCC continues to process applications already submitted. The Self-Employed Persons Program also remains paused, and the federal government has signalled a new entrepreneur pilot. See our update.

It offered permanent residence to entrepreneurs who obtained a commitment from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group or business incubator, met language requirements and had settlement funds. With intake paused, prospective applicants should watch for the replacement entrepreneur pathway.

Alternatives include provincial entrepreneur streams, Quebec’s business immigration programs and, for some, intra-company transfer or other work permits that can lead to permanent residence later. The best route depends on your capital, business experience and goals; an assessment can map the current options.

Potentially. Buying and actively operating a Canadian business can support certain provincial entrepreneur or work-permit pathways, but there is no simple “buy a visa” route. You must meet program criteria and usually manage the business actively. Requirements vary widely between programs.

A visitor visa (temporary resident visa) is the travel document that citizens of visa-required countries generally need to travel to Canada for tourism, family visits or business. Some visa-required travellers who fly to Canada can use an eTA instead (see below). A visitor visa does not authorize work, and allows study only in courses of six months or less. Learn more about visitor visas.

An Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is an entry requirement for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through a Canadian airport. It is linked electronically to your passport. You do not need an eTA to enter by land or sea, and some travellers are exempt altogether, including Canadian citizens and permanent residents, US citizens and US lawful permanent residents. Learn more about the eTA.

No. US citizens are exempt from both the visa and eTA requirements and should travel with proper identification, such as a valid US passport. Since April 26, 2022, US lawful permanent residents (green card holders) are also exempt from the eTA by any mode of travel, but they must carry a valid passport from their country of nationality and proof of valid US permanent-resident status, such as a valid green card.

Some can, but only when flying. Citizens of eligible visa-required countries can apply for an eTA if they have held a Canadian visitor visa in the past 10 years or currently hold a valid US nonimmigrant visa, are coming for a temporary stay, and are flying to or through a Canadian airport. IRCC’s current list includes countries such as Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, the Philippines, Thailand, Morocco, Costa Rica and, most recently, Indonesia and Malaysia. These travellers still need a visitor visa to enter Canada by car, bus, train or boat, including on a cruise ship.

Visitors are usually allowed to stay up to six months, although a border services officer can set a shorter or longer period. You can apply to extend your stay from inside Canada before your current status expires.

No. Visitors cannot work in Canada, and they can study only in courses or programs of six months or less. To work or study longer, you generally need the appropriate permit, which in some cases can be applied for from inside Canada.

You may be inadmissible to Canada if you have certain criminal convictions, or have committed certain offences, inside or outside Canada. Inadmissibility can lead to refusal of entry or of a visa. Even a single offence, such as impaired driving, can make you inadmissible. Learn more about criminal inadmissibility.

Possibly. Impaired driving is treated as serious criminality in Canada and can make you inadmissible. Depending on the circumstances and how much time has passed, you may need a Temporary Resident Permit or criminal rehabilitation to overcome it. Learn more about entering Canada with a DUI.

Criminal rehabilitation is a permanent solution to criminal inadmissibility. You can generally apply once at least five years have passed since you completed your entire sentence, including probation and fines. If approved, the past offence no longer makes you inadmissible. Learn more about criminal rehabilitation.

A TRP lets an inadmissible person enter or stay in Canada temporarily when their reason for travel outweighs the risk. It is issued for a specific period and purpose, and is often used when rehabilitation is not yet available. Learn more about TRPs.

Often, yes: through a TRP for temporary needs, or criminal rehabilitation for a permanent solution, depending on your situation and how much time has passed. Dealing with it before you travel is far better than being refused at the border.

A permanent resident can live, work and study anywhere in Canada and access most social benefits, but cannot vote, hold certain high-security jobs or hold a Canadian passport, and can lose status in some circumstances. Citizens have full rights, including a passport and the right to vote.

Under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada’s target is 380,000 permanent-resident admissions in each of 2026, 2027 and 2028, with economic programs making up the largest share. The government must table its next levels plan, covering 2027 to 2029, by November 1, 2026, and targets may change. Read our coverage of the upcoming levels plan.

To keep permanent-resident status, you must be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days in every five-year period. Certain time abroad, such as accompanying a Canadian-citizen spouse or working full-time for a Canadian business outside Canada, can count toward this obligation.

You apply to IRCC to renew your permanent resident card, typically when it is close to expiring. An expired PR card does not mean you have lost status, but you need a valid card or a permanent resident travel document to return to Canada by plane, bus, train or boat.

Yes, for example through a final determination that you did not meet the residency obligation, a removal order for serious criminality or misrepresentation, or voluntary renunciation. Losing or letting your PR card expire is not the same as losing status. If you are worried about your residency obligation, get advice before extended travel.

Yes, but you must meet the residency obligation (730 days in five years) to keep your status, and you need a valid PR card or permanent resident travel document to board a commercial flight back to Canada. Long absences can put your status at risk.

Refugee protection is for people with a well-founded fear of persecution in their home country, or who face a risk of torture, a risk to life or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment. Claims made in Canada are decided by the Immigration and Refugee Board based on specific legal criteria. Learn more about refugee protection.

An H&C application asks IRCC to grant permanent residence on compassionate grounds to someone who does not qualify under the usual programs, weighing factors such as establishment in Canada, the best interests of any affected children and hardship. It is discretionary and case-specific, and annual admission targets for this category have been reduced.

An asylum (in-Canada) claim is made by someone already in Canada or at a port of entry. Resettlement is for refugees outside Canada who are referred, screened and selected to come to Canada, through government or private sponsorship. The processes and eligibility differ significantly.

Government fees vary by program and include processing fees and, for permanent residence, a right of permanent residence fee, plus third-party costs such as language tests, credential assessments, biometrics and medical exams. IRCC adjusts many fees periodically. See the current fee schedule.

Processing times vary widely by program and IRCC’s workload, and they change constantly. IRCC publishes estimates online, and we can give you a realistic timeline for your specific pathway during a consultation. Check current processing times.

Biometrics are your fingerprints and photo, which are required for most visitor, study, work and permanent-residence applications. You pay a biometrics fee and attend a collection point. Biometrics are generally valid for 10 years, so you may not need to give them again with every application.

Most permanent-residence applicants, and some temporary-residence applicants, need an immigration medical exam by an IRCC-approved panel physician. Whether you need one depends on the program, how long you will stay, where you have lived and the work you will do in Canada.

You do not have to use a representative, but immigration law is complex and mistakes cause refusals and delays. If you pay someone to represent or advise you, they must be authorized: a lawyer or paralegal in good standing with a Canadian law society, a Quebec notary, or a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). Learn more about our lawyers and consultants.

Authorized representatives are lawyers and paralegals in good standing with a Canadian provincial or territorial law society, notaries in good standing with the Chambre des notaires du Québec, and RCICs licensed by the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). You can check a licence on the relevant regulator’s public register. Avoid unlicensed “ghost” agents.

Depending on the decision, you may be able to appeal to the Immigration Appeal Division, seek leave for judicial review at the Federal Court, or reapply with a stronger application that addresses the reasons for refusal. Strict deadlines apply, so act quickly. Learn more about appeals and litigation.

Complete our free online evaluation to see which programs fit your profile, or book a consultation to speak directly with our team of licensed lawyers and regulated consultants. We will assess your situation and recommend the strongest pathway.