Canada has one of the most open and flexible immigration systems in the world. There are currently more than 100 different pathways to settle in Canada for skilled workers, entrepreneurs and families.
Canada aims to welcome more than 360,000 new immigrants each year over the 2025-2027 period.
Contents
Overview
People choose Canada for many reasons. Whether it is to pursue a high-quality education, to benefit from universal free healthcare, or to enjoy a high standard of living, Canada offers it all.
There are more than 100 different pathways to Canada, so each person’s route will be different.
For example, there are several ways for qualified professionals and workers to apply for Canadian permanent residence. The most common option is throughExpress Entry, Canada’s main system for skilled workers in the economic class. The best way to qualify under Express Entry is to meet the requirements of one of three programmes:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The second-largest Canadian immigration pathway for skilled workers is theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP). Almost every province and territory runs this programme to select immigrants who match the needs of their local labour market.
The third-largest option is immigrating to the province of Quebec, which offers well-known pathways such asthe Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP)andthe Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ).
If you wish to become a Canadian permanent resident throughthe business stream, there are several options such as:
- The Self-Employed Persons Programme
- The Start-Up Visa Programme (SUV)
- Entrepreneur programmes run by the PNPs and by the province of Quebec.
There are also theCanadian family sponsorship programmes. Through these, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family members and relatives to settle in Canada.
Individuals and couples in theLGBTQ2 community have the same rights and opportunities to settle in Canada as any other.
Considering a residency programme? The Prosperous Living Investment team assesses your profile free of charge and advises on the pathway that fits your goals.
Why does Canada need immigrants?
Immigration to Canada falls into three main classes:
- Economic
- Family sponsorship
- Refugee and humanitarian
Skilled workers are welcomed under the economic class in order to sustain Canada’s high standard of living. With an ageing population and a low birth rate, Canada needs immigration to replenish its labour force and drive economic growth. These workers bring strong language skills, work experience, high levels of education and the drive to succeed. They play a vital part in growing the economy and sustaining social services such as education and universal healthcare.
The second-largest group of immigrants comes through family sponsorship. Canada welcomes the relatives of citizens and permanent residents because strong families are the foundation of the country’s society and economy. Allowing close family members to settle in Canada provides the emotional support newcomers need to thrive in a new environment.
The third-largest group consists of refugees and those admitted on humanitarian grounds. As one of the best countries in the world in which to live, Canada has a moral responsibility to protect people fleeing persecution and hardship. Since the Second World War, Canada has maintained a tradition of humanitarian leadership.
In 1986,the United Nations awarded the people of Canada the Nansen Medal, the UN’s highest honour for individuals or countries that have made an outstanding contribution to helping refugees. To date, Canada remains the only country ever awarded the Nansen Medal.
Find out more aboutThe rights of Canadian permanent residents
Why does Canada support immigration?
One of the most remarkable things about Canada is that public support for immigration is the highest in the world. Since the early 1990s, public backing for immigration to Canada has risen steadily. Today, roughly 80% of Canadians agree that immigration benefits the economy. Thanks to this strong support, the Canadian government is able to target more than 400,000 new immigrants each year.
Public support for immigration to Canada rests on the following factors:
- History: Canada has a long tradition of immigration. British and French settlers built the country alongside the Indigenous peoples. Since Canada formally became a country in 1867, millions of newcomers from around the world have made their home here. As a result, apart from the Indigenous peoples, every Canadian is either an immigrant or the descendant of one. As the well-known line at the Canadian Museum of Immigration in Halifax, Nova Scotia, puts it:“A Canadian is an immigrant with seniority.”
- Geography: Canada can tightly control who is admitted, being surrounded by vast oceans and sharing a land border only with the United States. This allows Canada to vet and screen newcomers before they arrive, ensuring they fit the country’s policy objectives.
- Policy: Canada invests billions of dollars each year in welcoming newcomers and providing settlement support such as skills training. It also invests heavily in education, healthcare, infrastructure and other essential areas to maintain a high standard of living for Canadians and newcomers alike.
- Politics: Canada’s major cities and provinces have high shares of immigrants. To win democratic elections, politicians need the support of immigrant communities.
Skilled immigration to Canada
Theo immigration plan, more than 400,000 immigrants are targeted each year. About 60% of them are skilled workers. The main route for workers is the Express Entry application management system. The second is the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP), followed by Quebec’s skilled worker programmes and a number of other targeted federal programmes.
Workers can come to Canada with their family
Workers may also bring family members with them to Canada. Those family members are granted permanent residence as well.
Eligible family members include:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children
- Dependent children of the spouse or common-law partner
- Dependent children of dependent children
A dependent child is defined as:
- Under 22 and neither married nor in a common-law relationship
- aged 22 or over, but substantially dependent on their parents’ financial support before the age of 22 and unable to support themselves financially because of a physical or mental condition
Express Entry
Express Entry is the main application management system for skilled workers, covering the three largest economic immigration programmes:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Candidates eligible for Express Entry can upload a profile to the federal government website.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores candidates on criteria such as age, education, language skills and work experience.
About every two weeks,Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites the candidates with the highest CRS scores to apply for permanent residence.
IRCC aims to process permanent residence applications in six months or less.
Under its immigration plan, Canada expects to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants a year through Express Entry.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Through theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canada’s provinces and territories can nominate people who wish to immigrate and settle in a particular province. The government targets more than 80,000 newcomers a year under the PNP.
Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs its own PNP. Each sets its own criteria for selecting eligible candidates. PNPs use an Expression of Interest (EOI) system similar to Express Entry and invite the highest-scoring candidates in periodic draws.
You do not need an Express Entry profile to apply to a PNP. You can apply directly to a specific PNP stream. These are known as base streams.
You can also apply to PNP streams aligned with Express Entry, known as enhanced streams. The advantage of applying to an enhanced stream is that it gives you more options.
Receiving a provincial nomination through these streams gives an Express Entry candidate an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points. This all but guarantees that the candidate will receive anInvitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.
Immigration to Quebec
The province of Quebec runs its own immigration system, with selection criteria distinct from the programmes of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and separate from the PNPs. Candidates selected to settle in Quebec receive aQuebec Selection Certificate (CSQ), a document issued by Quebec’s immigration ministry.
You can apply for a CSQ through one of Quebec’s immigration programmes:
- the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP) for skilled workers who wish to immigrate to Quebec and become Canadian permanent residents.
- the Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ) popular with international students who have completed post-secondary studies in Quebec. The programme is also open to foreign skilled workers with work experience in the province.
- The Quebec business immigration programmes for entrepreneurs, self-employed workers or investors who wish to establish a business in Quebec and become permanent residents in the province.
The Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP)
The Atlantic region runs its own immigration programme, theThe Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP), which helps employers attract and retain foreign talent. The region comprises four provinces:
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Nova Scotia
- Prince Edward Island
Employers wishing to take part in the AIP must find a suitable candidate and offer them a job. They do not need to obtain anThe Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Once the candidate accepts the job offer, the employer must connect them with a designated organisation to help prepare a settlement plan. Employers can access a temporary work permit to bring staff on board quickly.
Other federal skilled worker programmes
Alongside Express Entry and the PNPs, Canada runs several federal programmes for highly skilled workers that lead to permanent residence, including:
- The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP):Helps small and remote communities in Canada attract and retain foreign workers. Participating communities recruit candidates directly and match them with suitable jobs.
- The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP):Offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residence for eligible temporary workers in the agriculture and food processing sectors. To qualify, candidates need at least 12 months of work experience, a secondary school qualification and a minimum level of language ability.
- The Caregiver programmes:For in-home caregivers, including those caring for children and those caring for the elderly or people with high medical needs. Candidates must have at least two years of relevant work experience to be eligible to apply for permanent residence.
Residency by investment in Canada
Entrepreneurs and investors have several options for fast-tracking their move to Canada.
Candidates can immigrate to Canada through theThe Start-Up Visa Programme (SUV)orThe Self-Employed Persons Programme.
If you wish to settle in the province of Quebec, it also offers its own business immigration programmes.
In addition, many streams of theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP) also offer pathways designed specifically for entrepreneurs and investors.
Immigrating to Canada from the United States
US citizens and residents have plenty of options if they wish to live in Canada. Every year, many people move from the United States to Canada to work, study or immigrate.
Candidates can choose from a range of options depending on their personal circumstances. For example,the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) makes it easier for US citizens to work in Canada temporarily. The agreement also facilitatesintra-company transfers, as well as admission for traders and investors under CUSMA.
Candidates can sponsor a spouse or common-law partner from the United States to Canada through the family sponsorship programmes.
US citizens and residents also have several options if they wish to settle in Canada in order to start a new business or acquire an existing one.
Family sponsorship in Canada
The Canadian government is committed to keeping families together. It therefore targets more than 100,000 new immigrants a year under the family sponsorship class.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor the following family members:
- A spouse or common-law partner
- Parents and grandparents
- Dependent children
The sponsor must sign an undertaking accepting financial responsibility for the person being sponsored. If that person claims social assistance, the sponsor may have to repay the amount.
Besides the sponsorship programmes, theSuper Visa is an option for parents and grandparents who wish to visit their children and grandchildren in Canada for an extended stay.
Finding the right Canadian immigration programme
The best options are likely to be:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP)
- Other federal programmes
The government places real weight on your education and work experience when assessing an application to immigrate to Canada. Many programmes use a points system based on education, and you can earn additional points for an advanced qualification such as a Master’s or a PhD.
Candidates with at least one year of experience in a high-skilled occupation are considered well placed to integrate into the Canadian labour market. Some programmes also award extra points for additional years of work experience.
The best options are likely to be:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- the Quebec Skilled Worker Programme (SWSP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Atlantic Immigration Programme (AIP)
- Other federal programmes
Congratulations on receiving a job offer in Canada. The next step is to obtain the right visa before you travel.
You may be eligible for several different Canadian immigration programmes. If you hold a validjob offer, you may earn additional points in theComprehensive Ranking System (CRS) when you apply through theExpress Entry.
system. In addition, some Provincial Nominee Programmes (PNPs) give priority to candidates with a job offer from an employer in that province, making it easier for you to settle in Canada.
If you have family members or close relatives in Canada, you may be eligible to immigrate under theFamily sponsorship. This programme allows a Canadian citizen or permanent resident to sponsor a spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, parents and grandparents.
If you have friends living in Canada, you may earn additional points when applying under aProvincial Nominee Program (PNP). For example, the Manitoba Skilled Worker stream may award extra points to candidates with a friend who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in Manitoba.
In addition, if you have a sibling living in Canada, you will earn extra points under Express Entry, provided that your relative is over 18 and holds permanent residence or Canadian citizenship at the time you apply.
If you have worked in Canada for at least one year, you may be eligible to apply under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) through Express Entry. In addition, if you qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP), your Canadian work experience will earn you extra points in the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).
If your work experience was gained in the province of Quebec, you may be eligible to apply under thethe Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ).
The best options are therefore likely to be:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- the Quebec Experience Programme (PEQ)
Existing work experience also widens your options under the streams of the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP). Many provinces give priority to candidates with Canadian work experience, improving their chances of nomination and permanent residence.
If you own or manage a business, this may make you eligible for the business immigration programmes of theProvincial Nominee Programme (PNP) or for the business investment and entrepreneur programmes run by the Canadian and Quebec governments.
If you have a high net worth and wish to continue your career or invest in Canada, a number of immigration options may suit you. These programmes are designed to help grow the Canadian economy, either by requiring you to invest with the Canadian or Quebec government, or by drawing on your management or business ownership experience to run a business in Canada or Quebec.
Many provinces offer business or investment streams under the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP).
You may also be interested in the business investment and entrepreneur programmes. Run by the federal government or by the Government of Quebec, these offer an excellent route to Canadian permanent residence through investment or business activity.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about immigrating to Canada
There are more than 100 different pathways to Canada. You can review the requirements and choose the programme that best fits your situation.
The easiest route depends on your particular circumstances. What is easiest for one person may be difficult for another. Many prospective candidates give up quickly when they find they are not eligible for a well-known pathway such as Express Entry.
Canada, however, has more than 100 immigration pathways. If you are not eligible for one, you may well be eligible for another. This page is designed to help you start your journey to Canada. Begin by drawing up a list of the pathways that could apply to your situation. Do you hold a degree or a certificate? Do you have work experience? Are you looking to start a business?..
Permanent resident status allows you to live in Canada indefinitely, provided you spend at least two years in Canada in every five-year period. You also receive the same rights as Canadian citizens, apart from the right to vote or stand for office.
Unless you have a job offer and arranged employment in Canada, you will need to show that youhave sufficient settlement funds for yourself and your family. The amount required depends on the size of your family. For example, a family of four must show at least CAD $24,083.
The federal government’s required amounts for each family size are shown in the table below:
| Number of family members | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional member | $3,492 |
That depends on the pathway you are applying under. Express Entry is Canada’s main route for skilled workers. Within Express Entry, the best age to immigrate is between 20 and 29. This earns you 100 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if you apply with a spouse, and 110 CRS points if you apply alone. You still earn points for your age if you fall outside this bracket. At 35, for instance, you can earn between 70 and 77 points.
Bear in mind that although age is an important selection criterion, it sits alongside other criteria that Canada’s federal and provincial governments weigh when selecting skilled workers. You can also earn substantial points for education, work experience, language ability, a job offer and Canadian experience.
So even if you cannot earn full points for your age under a particular federal or provincial skilled worker programme, there are other ways to reach the score you need to immigrate successfully. One strategy worth considering is to make your spouse or partner (if you have one) the principal applicant, should their score be higher than yours.
Express Entry is the Canadian federal government’s application management system. It handles permanent residence applications under three economic immigration programmes:
- The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants a year through Express Entry, more than a quarter of the roughly 400,000 new immigrants it expects to welcome annually.
CRS stands for Comprehensive Ranking System –the Comprehensive Ranking System. The CRS is the points system that ranks candidates eligible for Express Entry. Candidates are ranked on a range of factors including age, work experience, education, language ability and adaptability.
No, you do not need a job offer to submit an Express Entry profile. Most successful Express Entry candidates have no job offer. A job offer can, however, improve your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence, because it earns you additional CRS points.
If you are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Programme (FSTP) and you do not have sufficient settlement funds to support yourself, you will need a job offer.
The first step is to complete theonline form on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website. If you are eligible, you will be directed to create an Express Entry profile, where you will need to provide details of:
- Your provincial nomination (if any)
- Your passport or travel document
- Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Language test results
- Proof of funds
- Your job offer in Canada (if any)
Yes, and you have several options open to you. Former international students account for a steadily growing share of new immigrants to Canada.
You will usually need at least one year of Canadian work experience, though this is not always required (for example, if you have qualifying foreign work experience, you may not need Canadian work experience to be eligible for a skilled worker programme).
You need at least 12 months of full-time work experience (1,560 hours) within the past three years, or the part-time equivalent (for example, 15 hours a week over 24 months), to be eligible for theThe Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
To immigrate to Canada through theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP), you need to be nominated by a Canadian provincial or territorial government.
To begin, you apply directly to the province or territory you wish to move to. You will be assessed on a range of factors such as your education and work experience. If you meet the labour market needs of that province or territory, you may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.
Once approved, you can apply for permanent residence in Canada. Depending on the programme, you may apply through theExpress Entry system or through the regular paper-based process. The main advantage of going through Express Entry is faster processing of the permanent residence application.
If you are a skilled worker who wishes to immigrate to Canada, you have several options depending on your circumstances.
For example:
- Candidates who wish to settle in a particular province or territory may be interested in theProvincial Nominee Program (PNP).
- Highly skilled workers may wish to consider theThe Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP).
- Qualified tradespeople may apply through theThe Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
You can establish how your qualifications compare with Canadian ones by obtaining anEducational Credential Assessment (ECA). Many Canadian immigration programmes also require an ECA in order for you to be eligible to apply.
To obtain an ECA, you must submit your qualifications for assessment to one of the following organisations:
- World Education Services
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
- International Qualifications Assessment Service
- International Credential Evaluation Service
Applicants holding credentials in the healthcare field must obtain a separate assessment from the organisations listed below:
- Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (for pharmacists)
- Medical Council of Canada (for physicians)
You must have at least two years of relevant experience to demonstrate that you can be self-employed in Canada.
You must also score at least 35 points on the selection grid designed specifically for theSelf-Employed Persons Programme.
You will also need to pass a medical examination and background and security checks.
To keep your permanent resident status, you must be physically present in Canada for at least two years (730 days) within the past five years. This time need not be continuous.
Processing times depend on the programme you apply under.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to process permanent residence applications under the Express Entry programmes within six months or less.
Processing times for the Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP), Quebec’s programmes and other federal skilled worker programmes can run to six months or more.
Family sponsorship applications typically take around 12 months to process (this may be longer or shorter).
The first step is to make sure that you and your spouse or common-law partner meet the eligibility criteria.
If you are eligible, you must prepare and submit two applications: a sponsorship application and an application for permanent residence. IRCC aims to decide spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months.
If you wish tosponsor your parents or grandparents to Canada as permanent residents, you must submit an interest to sponsor form during the period when the programme is open.
After the intake period closes, Canada randomly selects potential sponsors and invites them to submit an application to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents.
If you are invited to apply, you must complete the application and submit it before the deadline stated in the invitation.
An alternative is to apply for aSuper Visa for parents and grandparents. This visa allows them to visit Canada for up to two years at a time and is valid for up to 10 years.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to bringdependent children to Canada must prove their relationship to the child, whether biological or adopted.
The sponsor must be aged 18 or over. The sponsored child must be under 22, unless they are financially dependent on the sponsor and unable to support themselves because of a physical or mental condition.
Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor family members, including a spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, parents, grandparents and, in certain cases, other relatives.
Immigrating to Canada is not difficult provided you meet the criteria of a programme that suits you.
Remember that Canada aims to welcome more than 400,000 new immigrants a year across the economic, family and refugee classes. It runs more than 100 different skilled worker programmes in the economic class, and roughly 60% of newcomers arrive that way. Skilled workers abroad therefore have a great many options.
Canada also welcomes family members, including spouses, common-law partners, dependent children, parents, grandparents and other loved ones. As long as you and your sponsor (where applicable) meet Canada’s criteria, you can immigrate successfully.
Canada is committed to running an efficient immigration system, and the government devotes considerable resources to making the application process run smoothly.
There is no income requirement for those immigrating under the family sponsorship class, but the sponsor takes on financial responsibility for the person sponsored.
Skilled workers abroad must meet the proof-of-funds requirement of the federal or provincial programme they apply under. Some exceptions apply, for instance if you hold a valid job offer in Canada. Otherwise, you must show the government that you have enough money to support yourself and your family on arrival.
The minimum amounts required by the Canadian government are as follows:
| Number of family members | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
This amount rises by CAD $3,492 for each additional family member.
Yes, you can immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker without a job offer. Holding a valid job offer can, however, improve your chances.
Most people who immigrate successfully throughExpress Entry have no job offer. A valid job offer earns you additional points, but it does not guarantee that you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
As long as you meet the eligibility criteria of at least one of Canada’s 100-plus skilled worker programmes and score well on factors such as age, education, language ability and work experience, you can still immigrate successfully to Canada without a job offer.
That depends on the programme you apply under.
Expression of interest (EOI) systems such asExpress Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Quebec’s immigration programmes do not set a fixed score threshold for successful applicants.
You may need to meet a minimum score to be eligible to enter an EOI system, but once you are in the pool the government invites the highest-scoring candidates in line with its policy objectives. The cut-off score therefore varies from draw to draw.
Some skilled worker programmes outside the EOI systems, however, do set a fixed pass mark. If you reach that score and meet the other requirements, you will be eligible for Canadian permanent residence.
Possibly.
Although age is an important criterion, it is only one of many factors weighed by Canada’s skilled worker and business immigration programmes.
Alongside age, immigration programmes assess education, language ability, work experience, Canadian work experience, a valid job offer and, in the case of business immigration, management experience, net worth and the amount invested in Canada.
Although ajob offer is not required to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker, it can earn you additional points and is needed for certain programmes that require arranged employment.
Job offer requirements vary from programme to programme. Some programmes require an offer in a specific occupation.
Theo Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), to be accepted under Express Entry, a job offer must meet the following conditions:
- It is full-time and non-seasonal
- It lasts at least one year
- It falls within a high-skilled occupation group (NOC 0, A or B)
- It is a recent offer
- It is not an offer from a foreign diplomatic mission in Canada
A job offer normally requires anThe Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), though some offers are exempt from this requirement.
With a rapidly ageing population and a low birth rate, Canada has labour needs across a wide range of sectors, including information and communications technology (ICT), healthcare, transport, finance and professional services.
Some Canadian immigration programmes do not require a specific occupation, while others select only those with experience in occupations facing shortages.
Canada’s immigration system, however, is primarily geared towards selecting younger and mid-career candidates with strong language skills, work experience and high levels of education, since government research shows that people with these characteristics tend to fare well in the Canadian labour market.
Yes, universal healthcare is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Free healthcare coverage for new permanent residents, however, depends on the province or territory you settle in. Some provinces require you to have lived there for a period before providing coverage, so you may need private health insurance during the waiting period.
The cost of living in Canada depends on the city you live in, the size of your family, your lifestyle and many other factors.
According to IRCC, housing can account for half of your total monthly spending. The main costs include:
- Health insurance (some provinces require new permanent residents to have lived there for a period before providing free coverage)
- Rent or home ownership
- Electricity, water and heating
- Food
- Clothing
- Transport
- Mobile phone
- Internet
- Leisure activities
You can review Canadian living costs on a third-party website athere.
According to IRCC, Canada welcomes new permanent residents from around 200 different countries each year.
Canada sets no immigration quotas by country, so anyone can immigrate provided they meet the requirements of a programme in the economic, family or refugee class.
When Canada introduced its points-based immigration system in 1967 with the Federal Skilled Worker Programme (FSWP), the origins of its immigrants became far more diverse. Before 1967, most immigrants to Canada came from Europe; since then, Canada has opened its doors to newcomers from all over the world.
Three English tests are accepted as proof of your language ability for Canadian immigration:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE)
All three are recognised by IRCC for Canadian immigration programmes.
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