Immigration to Canada

Reviewed and updated October 6, 2026

Canada has distinct routes for temporary visits, work and study, permanent residence, family sponsorship and refugee protection. The first task is to identify the appropriate route. A visitor visa, a work permit and permanent resident status are not interchangeable.

Visiting Canada

Depending on nationality, travel method and circumstances, a traveller may need a visitor visa, an electronic travel authorization (eTA), or neither. Use IRCC’s visitor-visa guidance to check current travel requirements. A visa or eTA does not guarantee admission or establish the length of every visit.

Visitors are generally admitted for up to six months unless an officer fixes a different period. Check any passport stamp or visitor record. Apply for an appropriate extension before the authorized stay ends if you need more time; extending a stay is different from renewing a travel visa.

Working or studying temporarily

IRCC’s work-permit guidance distinguishes employer-specific and open permits, along with situations where a person may work without a permit. Some employer-specific routes require a Labour Market Impact Assessment; others are exempt. Open permits have their own eligibility requirements. A job offer alone does not authorize work, and not every work permit requires a job offer.

The former North American Free Trade Agreement reference in the original guide is outdated. Eligible professionals and other qualifying business persons may have options under the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), but citizenship alone is not enough and authorization requirements still apply.

Most longer study programs require a study permit. IRCC’s study-permit tool explains exceptions, including certain short courses and circumstances involving minor children. Admission to a school is not approval of a study permit. Financial support, the designated learning institution, applicable attestation requirements and other conditions must be checked for the specific case.

Economic and regional permanent residence

IRCC’s permanent residence programs include Express Entry and provincial or regional routes. Eligibility and selection vary by program. Express Entry manages applications for specified economic programs; being eligible or entering the pool does not guarantee an invitation or permanent residence.

Check current language, education, work experience, occupation, financial and admissibility requirements for the selected route. A provincial nomination has its own requirements and does not replace the federal immigration assessment. Quebec has distinct selection arrangements. Immigration approval also does not replace professional licensing or registration.

Family sponsorship

Family sponsorship may be available for an eligible spouse or partner, dependent child and certain other relatives. Not every family relationship creates a sponsorship route. Parents and grandparents and other-relative sponsorship have separate eligibility and intake rules; do not assume a parent, sibling, aunt or uncle can sponsor anyone simply because of the relationship.

The sponsor and applicant must satisfy their respective requirements. Marriage does not automatically grant status or permission to work, and a pending sponsorship application does not by itself extend temporary status.

Business routes and protection claims

The original guide described older federal entrepreneur and investor categories as if they were ordinary current routes. Those descriptions should not be used to decide present eligibility. Business immigration is program-specific, and intake can be paused or closed. At this review date, IRCC lists the Start-up Visa and federal Self-Employed Persons programs as paused. Check the current program page before relying on an older description; buying a business does not by itself confer status.

Refugee protection has a separate legal framework and eligibility assessment. A protection claim is not a substitute economic program. The official immigration program directory provides routes to current government information, including refugee and Quebec-specific programs.

Dependants, admissibility and documents

The original “under 18” dependent-child rule was outdated. IRCC’s dependent-child guidance generally defines eligible dependent children as under 22 and without a spouse or common-law partner. Children 22 or older may qualify where the prescribed financial-dependency and mental or physical condition requirements are met. The applicable age lock-in date depends on the program and application history.

Declare family members accurately, including non-accompanying relatives where required, and follow the applicable examination and document instructions. Requirements for medical examinations, police certificates, biometrics, proof of funds and fees vary. Not every applicant uses a points system. Criminality, misrepresentation and other inadmissibility issues require separate assessment.

Choosing the next step

Immigration can also have tax consequences. Obtain separate advice from a qualified tax professional about your circumstances.

Related guidance

For advice about your circumstances, contact our office. This article provides general information, not legal advice.