Canada is one of the world’s top destinations for foreign students. If you plan to study in Canada as an international student, you must first enroll and be accepted to study at a Canadian educational institution. Then you will need a study permit. You need to prove that you have enough funds to pay your tuitions fees, accommodation and food while you are studying in Canada. You will need to convince an immigration officer that you will leave Canada at the end of your studies. If you have graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) you may apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program to be able to work in Canada. A Post-Graduation Work Permit may be issued for a maximum of three years.
A foreign national who intends to work in Canada, must first obtain a work permit. In most cases, an employer needs a positive government authorization to hire a foreign worker that is called a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). LMIAs are processed by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) which ensures that the entry of these workers will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labour market. The International Mobility Program allows employers hire a temporary worker without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Workers who are eligible for the International Mobility Program (IMP) include those entering Canada as part of trade agreements, those entering Canada on open work permits and intra-company transferees. The International Experience Canada (IEC) is the pathway for young professionals looking to obtain work experience in Canada. The Program is available to citizens of certain countries or territories that have an agreement with Canada allowing them to apply for an IEC work permit. There are 3 categories of work permit under the IEC Program: Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op (Internship). The Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWP) are available for full-time students who graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). If your spouse is authorized to work full-time in an eligible occupation or is enrolled at a qualifying designated educational institution in Canada, you may be eligible for a spousal open work permit.
If you plan to visit Canada for a vacation or to visit family and friends, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV). Most visitors can stay in Canada for up to 6 months. Citizens of visa-exempt countries intending to travel to Canada by air must have an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) before their departure to Canada.
If you would like to visit your child or grandchild who is either a Canadian citizen or a Canadian permanent resident, you may apply for a multiple-entry super visa. It will allow you to stay in Canada for a period of up to five years on each entry. Parents and grandparents are required to have private medical insurance from a Canadian insurance company for one year that covers health care, hospitalization and repatriation and provides a minimum coverage of $100,000.
A person who is found to be inadmissible to Canada because of misrepresentation,
criminality or health issues, can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
to be allowed entry into Canada on a temporary basis.
A Temporary Resident Permit
(TRP) may be issued at the discretion of Canadian Immigration Authorities when there
are compelling circumstances. TRP can be valid for as short as a couple of days up to a maximum of three years.
The permit is no longer valid if a holder exits Canada, unless re-entry
had been authorized at the time of issuance. The permit can also be cancelled by an immigration officer at any time.