Immigration Categories

Canadian Immigration Categories: An Overview

There are various ways that people from across the world can immigrate to Canada. The most popular categories of Canadian Immigration are:

Economy Class
Temporary Residence Class
Family Class
Refugee Class

Economy Class

In the Economy Class, there are various Federal and Provincial programs that are aimed at admitting qualified and experienced skilled workers from different parts of the world to fill labour shortage gaps. The FEDERAL EXPRESS ENTRY PROGRAMS are designed to fill labour shortage gaps through processing Permanent Residence applications for qualified applicants. There are three main program streams, as follows:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – For skilled workers with foreign work experience. Criteria must be met for education and other factors. Click here for more information on the FSWP.
Canadian Experienced Class Program (CEC) – For skilled workers who have Canadian work experience. The work experience must have been gained in the 3 years before the application date. Click here for more information on the CEC.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – For skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade. You must have a valid job offer for a Certificate of Qualification. Click here for more information on the FSTP.

At the Provincial level, there are also Skilled Worker Programs aimed at filling labour shortages. Each Province, in agreement with the Federal government, outlines its own immigration program. Some application methods are similar to the Federal Express Entry programs designed to select qualified skilled workers, and others follow similar or different paths in trying to fill their labour needs,

Some examples of the PROVINCIAL PROGRAMS are:

Provincial Nominee Program – For workers who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of a specific Province or Territory, who want to live in that Province and who want to become Permanent Residents of Canada. Candidates are nominated by each Province. Click here for more information on the Provincial Nominee Program.
Atlantic Immigration Program – For employers seeking to directly employ qualified Foreign Nationals, without having to go through the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process. Employers make a direct offer of employment to a selected candidate. Once the candidate accepts the offer, the employer connects them to settlement service providers (designated organisations). After conducting a thorough needs assessment, the settlement service provider develops a settlement plan for the candidate and their dependants (if applicable). Click here for more information on the Atlantic Immigration Program.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot – Providing opportunities to communities to select Foreign Nationals who could fill their local employment vacancies. The communities welcome those who immigrate through this pilot program and assist them in the settlement process into their community. Click here for more information on the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.

Temporary Residence Class

Visitor Visas

Canada welcomes tourists, visitors or anyone who would love to visit the country. In order to enter Canada under this class, a Temporary Residence visa must be obtained prior to your arrival and must be authorised by the visa officer at the Port of Entry. The most popular Visitor Visa permits in this category are:

Visitors’ Visa – Tourists visiting Canada will require a Visitor Visa. Click here for more information on Visitor Visas.
Super Visa – Parents or grandparents whose children are living in Canada as Permanent Residents or Citizens are allowed to come to Canada as Temporary Residents, as long as they meet the requirements. Click here for more information on Super Visas.

Study Permits

Students who wish to pursue an education in Canada will be admitted by a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Most Foreign Nationals will also require a Study Permit, which are regulated under the Temporary Residence Class. Click here for more information on Study Permits.

Work Permits

Canada hosts thousands of workers under the various Work Permit programs, each with specific application processes and requirements:

Open Work Permit – Holders of Open Work Permits can work for any employer and in any occupation of their choice. Click here for more information on the Open Work Permit.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) Work Permit – This permit is employer-specific and is designed to obtain Foreign workers when every effort has been exhausted to employ Canadian Citizens or Permanent Residents. This means that you may only work in the occupation and for the employer stated on the permit, at the location stated on the permit. Click here for more information on the LMIA Work Permit.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-Exempt Work Permit – Aimed at benefiting Canada on a broader context, the LMIA Exempt Work Permit allows Foreign Nationals to work in Canada for a specific period, not limited to a particular employer or location. Click here for more information on the LMIA-Exempt Work Permit.
Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) – Global Talent Stream Permit – Fast-track process aimed at attracting skilled workers for specific occupations in demand by Canadian employers. Skilled workers can obtain a work permit in a shorter time frame. Click here for more information on the LMIA – Global Talent Stream Permit

Sponsorship Class

Canada is a country of immigrants, and its immigration system is one of the most generous in the world. Canada’s foundation of immigration assists to bring families together that have been dispersed or divided because of political, social, cultural or other factors relevant to the regulations. One of the most popular ways to immigrate to Canada is through sponsorship. Sponsorship is a process by which a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident can sponsor a family member or other eligible person to come to Canada. There are two main types of Sponsorship:

Family Class – Family sponsorship is for people who want to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, parents, grandparents, or other eligible relatives. You must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, and you must be able to provide for the basic needs of the person you are sponsoring. Click here for more information on Family Class.
Refugee Class – Canada has a very generous system of refugee sponsorship programs. This program is designed to help Canadian families sponsor and bring their loved ones to live in the healthy and peaceful Canadian social environment. Canada is among the very few countries which understands the ordeals of becoming a refugee, and it is among one of the leading countries supporting global resettlement of refugees. Click here for more information on Refugee Class.