How to move to Canada: A Guide to Legal Obligations

There are different ways to move to Canada either temporarily or permanently –  

1.  as a visitor, who may or may not need a visa; 
2. as a skilled worker; 
3. as a businessperson; 
4. as a student;  
5. as a sponsored family member.  

As such, these different ways would have different legal obligations or requirements respectively. Please note that Québec has its own separate immigration program, which is different from the ones below, although it may have a similar concept or method of application. 

(1) As a visitor 

When visiting Canada for a short period of time – either as a tourist or when visiting friends or family – you would need to have a visa or an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). This depends on certain factors, such as your nationality, the reason for entering Canada, the documents you already have, among others. But as a clarification, you only need either a visa or an eTA to validly enter Canada and not both. Most of the time, visitors that are granted a visa or eTA can stay in Canada for up to 6 months. 

Generally, foreign nationals from certain countries do not need a visa or are visa-exempt when travelling to Canada by air. However, these said foreign nationals do not need to have an eTA when travelling to Canada by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship). For the countries Brazil, Bulgaria, and Romania, travellers from these countries would not need a visa (eligible for eTA) when entering Canada by air, except if they are travelling by car, bus, train, or boat (including a cruise ship). 

However, when you are a holder of a visa, it may become an entry point to move to Canada on a longer period, or even permanently. With this, you will have to apply for a visitor record to extend your stay in Canada, and you may apply for permanent resident visa afterwards.  

(2) As a skilled worker 

You may also move to Canada as a skilled worker by applying for a work permit through the Easy Entry process or through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). After you have entered Canada, you may then apply for permanent residency or citizenship when you have already become stable in your job and established yourself in the country. 

The Easy Entry process and the PNP are two different programs (although application in the PNP may also be done through the Easy Entry process) which encourages foreign nationals to work in Canada as a skilled worker by applying through any of its “streams” of programs applicable to them. In the Easy Entry process, a skilled worker may move to Canada by applying in either of the following: 

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for skilled workers who already have 3 years of Canadian work experience; 
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): for skilled workers with foreign work experience who will meet certain criteria (such as education, skilled work experience, and English or French proficiency); or 
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): for skilled workers who are qualified in a skilled trade of a certain sector (such as culinary, transportation, natural resources, agriculture, processing and manufacturing). 

For the PNP, it is more appropriate to check the specific province you are applying for, and the “streams” that it currently offers. For example, you may apply to work and live specifically in Ontario through its Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). For this, we highly recommend speaking to skilled immigration lawyers in Ontario for help. 

Alternatively, a PNP nominee may have to apply through the FSTP, since it works similarly; although if you apply through a specific province’s PNP, you will need to live and work in that province. You may also apply in a province’s PNP through its non-Express Entry process which may be found in that province’s website. 

Common among the two is that you should have a ready passport from your country of origin, and proof of funds that you are able to support yourself after you have moved to Canada. 

(3) As a businessperson 

You may also move to Canada as a businessperson or as a self-employed person who intends to establish a business in the country. After you’ve decided which province you intend to move to, you may apply through the Provincial Entrepreneur Programs within the PNP of that province (or Québec’s business immigration programs), or through the federal government’s Federal Start-up Visa Program by applying online. 

(4) As a student 

One option to move to Canada is initially become a student and work your way through permanent residency or citizenship afterwards. To get a student permit, you must first identify which education program you want to pursue in Canada and apply to your desired education program in a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI). When successful, the DLI will give you a letter of acceptance which you will use in applying for a study permit. 

After your studies, you may slowly convert your stay into permanent residency by first obtaining a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) to enable you to work in Canada for up to three years, depending on your DLI and your academic program. After obtaining a PGWP, you may now apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry process or the PNP. 

(5) As a sponsored family or spouse 

One common option to move to Canada is through spousal or family sponsorship. Your Canadian relative or spouse – who must be a permanent resident or a Canadian citizen – may sponsor you to move to Canada by applying online. Note that both you as a sponsored family or spouse and your sponsor must both apply online. 

How do I move to Canada without a job? 

If you don’t have a job yet or is planning to apply for a job once you’re already in Canada, you may choose to move to Canada as a student (through a student permit) or as a sponsored family member or spouse. 

What are the easiest ways to move to Canada? 

Practically, the Express Entry process is one of the easiest and quickest way to move to Canada, since applicants may receive feedback within six months after application. 

Explore your options of moving to Canada from the UK.

Want to learn more about moving to Canada? Drop your questions in the comment section below or consult with the best immigration lawyers in Canada for more details.