Guide to Canada Immigration

There are four main ways to apply for immigration to Canada, three permanent residence classes and one temporary class.

If you are looking to immigrate to Canada you should consider which of the following classes you are in as this will assist with your application:

Skilled Worker or Points System

This is the most popular class. To be eligible for this class, you must have at least one year of continuous full-time experience in an eligible NOC (National Occupational Classification) occupation.

You as the applicant will be awarded points for your age, education, experience in the work place and your English and/or French language ability. You may also be awarded further points for 'adaptability' factors such as :
# Your partner's qualifications

# If you or your partner have studied for at least 2 years in Canada

# If you have family in the form of a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, sister, brother, niece, nephew, child or grandchild in Canada

# If you are currently working in Canada or have arranged employment, points may also be allocated to you for this.

Family

If you have qualifying relatives in Canada who are willing and eligible to sponsor you, there is also the Family Visa option. There are guidelines around 'sponsor' eligibility, for instance the person must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. To be classed as 'Family' the person must be either : a spouse, common-law or conjugal partners; dependent child, parent or grandparent; an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild (under 19).

Business

This option is sub categorized into three sections; self-employed, entrepreneur and investor.

The Self-employed immigration to Canada class is limited to farmers and applicants who will be of cultural, artistic or sporting value to the country.

For immigration to Canada under the Entrepreneur class, you must have past 'business experience' in a 'qualifying business' for a specified period. Under current regulations, applicants must also possess a net worth of at least $300,000 in Canadian currency.

Applicants wanting to immigrate to Canada under the Investor Class must possess a total net worth of at least $800,000 in Canadian currency and invest $400,000 (Canada) of this amount with the Canadian Receiver General for 5 years.

Temporary Visas

Temporary Visas come in the form of work permits or student visas.

You may be eligible to apply for a work permit if you are offered a job by a Canadian employer which cannot be filled by a Canadian. The employer must satisfy the Human Resources Department of Canada's labour market assessment and then you can apply for a work permit, which will be issued for the duration of your employment contract.

If you are unsure of which class you should apply for immigration to Canada under, an immigration consultant will be able to provide further information on each class and also assist with the application process.