Immigration to Canada

Migration to Canada starts with applying for Permanent Resident status. There are several categories in which you can apply for a permanent residence visa.

Skilled Worker:
Skilled Worker / Professional applicants are assessed based upon a series of factors, which, in theory, are designed to indicate the likelihood of becoming economically established in Canada. Each factor is allotted a maximum number of points, and applicants must attain at least 67 points in order to qualify for a Canadian Immigrant Visa.

Whatever the number of points awarded, Visa Officers always have the discretion to accept or refuse an application based on a substituted evaluation.

The selection criteria may be summarized as follows
Education: Applicants are awarded up to 25 points under the Education Factor.
Language Skills: Applicants are awarded up to 24 points under the Language Factor.
Experience: Applicants are awarded up to 21 points under the Experience Factor.
Age: Applicants are awarded up to 10 points under the Age Factor.
Arranged Employment: Applicants are awarded up to 10 points under the Arranged Employment Factor.
Adaptability: Applicants are awarded up to 10 points under the Adaptability Factor.

In addition to scoring at least 67 points, successful applicants must show that they have enough money to support themselves and their dependants after arrival in Canada. Applicants and their dependants must also undergo medical examinations and security clearances as part of the Canadian Immigration application process.
Applicants intending to reside in Montreal or another city in the Province of Quebec are subject to the Quebec selection criteria.

Business Class:
The stated goal of Canada's Business Immigration Program is to promote economic development and employment by attracting people with venture capital, business acumen and entrepreneurial skills. The Canadian Business Immigration Program also seeks to develop new commercial opportunities and to improve access to growing foreign markets by welcoming people who are familiar with those markets and their special requirements and customs.

Foreign individuals with business/managerial experience and relatively high net-worth may apply for Canadian permanent resident status under one of the following three sub-categories.

Investor: An individual with a net worth of at least CAD $800,000, who has managerial experience and is willing to make a secured passive investment of CAD $400,000.

Entrepreneur: An individual with a net worth of at least CAD $300,000, who is willing and able to establish, invest in or acquire a business in Canada which will create or maintain employment in Canada.

Self-Employed: An individual who is willing and able to support him/herself and any dependents with self employed income as a farmer, athlete, or artisan.

Family Sponsorship:
Family Class Immigrants are sponsored for a Canadian Immigrant Visa by a close relative who is either a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident. The Canadian relative is known as the Sponsor. To qualify as a Family Class Immigrant, an applicant must be the Canadian Sponsor's:

• spouse; or
• common-law partner; or
• parent or grandparent; or
• dependent child; or
• orphaned brother, sister, nephew, niece, or grandchild -- under 18 and unmarried.

Also included are children under 18 who are either orphaned or placed with a child welfare authority for adoption and who the Sponsor intends to adopt. If the Sponsor has no relative as listed above and no relatives who are Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent residents, he or she may sponsor one other relative.

The Sponsor must be able to demonstrate the financial ability to provide for the essential needs of the Family Class Immigrant and dependents. The financial ability requirements are eased when sponsoring a spouse and/or an unmarried child(ren) under 18 years old.

The Sponsor must enter into an agreement with the Government of Canada (or the Government of Quebec, if that is where the Sponsor resides) whereby he or she agrees to provide for the essential needs of the Family Class Immigrant and dependents for a prescribed period of time. Failure to meet any of the commitments provided for in this agreement could result in legal action being taken against the Sponsor.

The Sponsor must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; at least 18 years old; physically residing in Canada (or able to demonstrate an intention to reside in Canada by the time the sponsored family member lands in Canada); not in prison; not bankrupt; and not under a removal (deportation) order if a permanent resident.

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