Most travelers need a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to, or transit through, a Canadian airport.
What you need depends on:
• the type of travel document you will travel with
• the country that issued your travel document
• your nationality and
• how you will travel to Canada
To apply you must have a valid passport from a visa-exempt country, a valid credit card and an email address.
It costs $7 CAD to get an eTA and only takes a few minutes to apply. Approved eTAs are valid for up to five years.
Most visitors can stay for up to 6 months in Canada.
If you’re allowed to enter Canada, the border services officer may allow you to stay for less or more than 6 months.
• If so, they’ll put the date you need to leave by in your passport. They might also give you a document.
• If you don’t get a stamp in your passport, you can stay for 6 months from the day you entered Canada or until your passport expires, whichever comes first
• If you need a stamp, you can ask a border services officer for one. If you arrive at an airport that uses primary inspection kiosks, ask the border services officer after you finish at the kiosk
If you want to stay longer than your authorized stay, you should apply for an extension at least 30 days before the authorized end of your stay.
• The general rule is that all foreign students require a Canada study permit if they seek to study at any Canadian academic institution. However, there are exceptions to this rule. There are types of programs and certain circumstances where a foreign national will be permitted to study in Canada without a Canada study permit.
Below you will find a list of the programs that do not require a Canada study permit:
Academic program less than six months in duration
• Foreign nationals who will be in Canada as visitors for less than six months can enroll in a program of study without a Canada study permit, provided the program is less than six months in duration. Canadian immigration recommends that, even if your program of study does not require a Canada study permit, you apply for one in advance in case you decide to continue studying in another program or would like to work in Canada following your course. Foreign students who have a valid study permit can apply for a new study permit or work permit from within Canada, rather than applying through the visa office responsible for their country of Citizenship.
You may be eligible to work in Canada while studying, if your study permit includes a condition that says you can work on or off campus. You must also meet all the other requirements. You can only start working in Canada when you start your study program. You cannot work before your studies begin.
Work on or off campus
As a study permit holder, you may be able to work on-campus or off-campus without getting a work permit. Make sure you meet the requirements before you find a job.
Work as a co-op student or intern
You will need to get a work permit if your study program includes a required co-op or internship placement.
Work after you graduate
You may also be able to apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP) to continue working in Canada after you graduate.
It depends on
• the job you want to do
• the program you want to apply for
• whether or not your job requires a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
In most cases, you’ll need 1 or more of the following documents to apply for a work permit:
• an LMIA number from your employer if your job needs an LMIA
• proof that your employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal
• an employment contract or letter (if your employer is exempt from the employer compliance process)
• proof that you are certified, accredited or qualified to work in the job you want
In some cases, you might be exempt from an LMIA
You can find out about jobs in Canada through the Working in Canada tool, labour market information and job banks.
An open work permit is a work permit that is not job specific. Because it is not job-specific, you will not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada, or proof that an employer has submitted an offer of employment through the Employer Portal and paid the employer compliance fee.
You may be eligible for an open work permit if you
• are an international student who graduated from a designated learning institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• are a student who’s no longer able to meet the costs of your studies (destitute student)
• have an employer-specific work permit and are being abused or at risk of being abused in relation to your job in Canada
• applied for permanent residence in Canada
• are a dependent family member of someone who applied for permanent residence
• are the spouse or common-law partner of a skilled worker or international student
• are the spouse or common-law partner of an applicant of the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
• are under an unenforceable removal order
• are a temporary resident permit holder
• are a young worker participating in special programs
In each of these situations, you must meet additional criteria to be eligible.
To find out if you’re eligible for an open work permit, please get in contact with us.
Changes as of November 16, 2022
On November 16, 2022, we switched to the 2021 version of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). This means that
• the NOC 2016 skill type and skill level structure (NOC 0, A, B, C and D) was replaced with a 6-category system representing the training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) needed to work in an occupation
• 4-digit occupation codes became 5-digit codes
• Eligibility criteria was updated for all programs that use the NOC.
Skilled workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other factors. These things often help them succeed in Canada.
Since January 1, 2015, completing an Express Entry profile is the first step in immigrating to Canada permanently as a skilled worker.
To be eligible, you must:
have at least 12 months of full-time (or an equal amount in part-time) skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before you apply, and
meet or exceed the required language levels needed for the National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level of your work experience in each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and listening).
To find out if your work experience qualifies, search for it in the official list.
There are also other requirements you must meet.
It proves that a person is qualified to work in a certain skilled trade in Canada. This means that they:
• have passed a certification exam, and
• meet all the requirements to practice their trade in that province or territory.
This certificate is issued by the body that governs trades in a Canadian province or territory or by a federal authority.
Depending on which body or authority issues it, this certificate may be called a “certificate of qualification” or a “qualification certificate”. Find out how to get a certificate.
You must complete an Express Entry profile as the first step to immigrate to Canada permanently as a skilled worker.
To become a Canadian citizen, you must
• be a permanent resident
• have lived in Canada for 3 out of the last 5 years
• have filed your taxes, if you need to
• pass a test on your rights, responsibilities and knowledge of Canada
• prove your language skills
Depending on your situation, there may be additional requirements.
Every country decides whom it considers to be a citizen. If more than one country recognizes you as a citizen, you have dual citizenship.
You do not apply for dual citizenship, and there is no related certificate. Canadians are allowed to take foreign citizenship while keeping their Canadian citizenship.
Ask the embassy of your country of citizenship about its rules before applying for Canadian citizenship.
Start your own website - See here
