Permanent Residence - Economic Classes

Under the economic categories, applicants are assessed on their ability to establish themselves in Canada economically.  

Depending on your qualifications, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system if you qualify under one of the categories listed below. You must also be admissible to Canada. 

Federal Skilled Workers (FSW)

This is one of 3 federal economic class categories that are managed through the Express Entry System. If you are found to be eligible under the FSW program, then you may proceed to make a profile in the online Express Entry Program. If you have work experience in an occupation that is considered high skilled, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under this category if you meet the minimum requirements under each of the following selection factors:

• Age
• Education
• Work experience 
• Having a valid job offer in Canada
• Language abilities in English and/or French
• Adaptability 

Based on the above factors, you will be required to accumulate a minimum of 67 points out of 100, in order to be eligible under this category. 

Skilled work experience is classified as experience gained in: Managerial Jobs (TEER 0); Professional Jobs (TEER 1); and Technical and Skilled Trades (TEERS 2 and 3), as per the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC).

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

This is one of 3 federal economic class categories that are managed through the Express Entry System. If you are found to be eligible under the CEC program, then you may proceed to make a profile in the online Express Entry Program.

This program is for foreign workers who have at least one year of authorized work experience in Canada, who would like to become permanent residence.  Those who wish to live in Quebec cannot use this program. 

To be eligible, you must:

• Have one year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) of skilled worker experience in Canada, in the last three years before you apply. The experience must have been gained through authorized work with valid temporary resident status in Canada (unauthorized work, refugee claimants, and work gained without temporary resident status cannot be used). 
• The work experience must be considered skilled work experience according to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), and must be in occupations rated as Managerial Positions (TEER 0); Professional Positions (TEER 1); and technical jobs and skilled trades (TEERS 2 and 3).  
• Must meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 7 for NOC 0 or A occupations, or CLB 5 for NOC B occupations.
• Education is not a requirement under this category, BUT it is recommended to have your educational credentials assessed in order to increase your score in the Express Entry pool. 

Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

This is one of 3 federal economic class categories that are managed through the Express Entry System. If you are found to be eligible under the FST program, then you may proceed to make a profile in the online Express Entry Program.

This program is geared towards skilled workers that are qualified in the skilled trades. 

The minimum requirements to qualify under this category are:

• Meet the minimum required language levels of CLB 4 in reading and writing, and CLB 5 in speaking and listening for English, and NCLC 4 in reading and writing, and NCLC 5 in speaking and listening for French.
• Have a minimum of 2 years of full-time work experience (or part-time equivalent experience) in a skilled trade in the last 5 years 
• Must meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the NOC, with the exception of requiring a certificate of qualification 
• Must have a valid full-time job offer for at least 1 year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority
• Education is not a requirement under this category, BUT it is recommended to have your educational credentials assessed in order to increase your score in the Express Entry pool. 

Provincial Nominees Programs (PNP)

This program is for foreign nationals who would like to live in a specific province or territory and are able to contribute to the economy of that province or territory, based on their skills, work experience and educational background.  

Each province has its own program that targets certain groups, in order to address labour shortages in that province. This can include the following streams: students; business people, skilled workers; semi-skilled workers. 

If you qualify under one of these programs, you may apply to the province, and if you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you will be nominated by the province and be issued a nomination certificate. Once the nomination certificate is issued, you many apply for permanent residence before the certificate expires.

There is also an Express Entry process under this category. For this process you will have to be nominated by the province, and meet the minimum criteria under the Express Entry program. 

A positive decision made for an application under a PNP comes with the expectation that the applicant will make that province their permanent province of residence. For example, it is not recommended to apply for PR through the Alberta PNP if your intention is to live in British Columbia. 

* There are additional categories under the Economic Classes, which can be discussed, upon request. 

Canada has a long tradition of supporting family reunification, which allows Canadian citizens and permanent residence to sponsor certain members of their family for permanent residence.

Members of the Family Class

Canadians or permanent residence living in Canada may be eligible to sponsor certain family members living abroad (or in Canada) for permanent residence. This includes:

• Spouse, common-law partner (including same-sex partner), conjugal partner;
• Dependent children;
• Parents and grandparents; 
• Children adopted from abroad; and
• Other relatives, in special circumstances.

You may be eligible to sponsor certain relatives if you meet the following criteria:

• be at least 18 years old, and
• be a Canadian citizen, or
• be a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act; or
• be a permanent resident of Canada, and
• be able to support them financially and ensure they do not require social assistance from the government

Your relative must also be admissible to Canada before their application for permanent residence can be approved.

* There are additional categories under the Non-Economic Classes, which can be discussed, upon request. 

Temporary Resident Visas (TRVs)

If you would like to visit Canada as a tourist, or to visit family and friends, you will require a TRV if you are a citizen of a country that requires TRVs to enter Canada. A TRV is a document that is endorsed in your passport that shows that you meet all of the requirements to enter Canada. You must apply for a TRV prior to your travel to Canada and have the document endorsed in your passport in order to be able to board a plane, train, bus or boat. Otherwise, you will not be permitted to travel to Canada. Generally, you may stay in Canada as a visitor for up to 6 months, unless the Canada border services official enters a specific date in your passport which you must leave by, or issues you a visitor record with an expiry date. 

Super Visas for Parents and Grandparents

If you have a child in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be eligible to apply for a super visa which will authorize you to stay in Canada for up to 5 years at a time, and will be valid for 10 years, allowing for multiple entries.

Business Visitor Visas

If you are planning on travelling to Canada to participate in international business activities without entering the Canadian labour market, you may be eligible to enter Canada as a business visitor.  This means that you intend to enter Canada on a temporary basis (no more than 6 months) to grow your business, invest, and/or advance your business relationships in Canada.  

Study Permits

If you would like to study in Canada, and your program of study is for a duration of more than 6 months, you will be required to apply for a study permit to authorize your studies. Study permits are issued for studying at designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada.

Work Permits

If you would like to come to Canada to work, you will first need authorization to do so. In most cases, you will need a job offer from a Canadian employer before you can apply for an employer specific work permit. Under certain circumstances, you might be eligible to apply for an open work permit.
 

• Employer Specific Work Permits: If you have found a job in Canada, your employer will have to either apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to support your work permit application, or if you are exempt from obtaining a LMIA, your employer will be required to submit an offer of employment for you and provide you with the offer of employment number. Employer specific work permits are:

1. Employer specific, meaning you can only work for the employer listed on the work permit. You cannot work for another employer without applying for another work permit for that employer.
2. Location specific, meaning you can only work in the location indicated on the work permit. In some circumstances, there might be a remark at the bottom of the work permit, authorization you to work at a different location, if it’s requested.
3. Not permanent, meaning they have an expiration date indicating how long you can work for.

• Open work permits:  In specific circumstances, you may be eligible to obtain an open work permit, which will allow you to work for any employer in any location across Canada (with some restrictions).  Situations when you might be eligible to apply for an open work permit include:

1. International students who qualify for post graduate work permits
2. International students that can no longer meet the costs of studies
3. Having an employer specific work permit, but you are being abused in relation to your job
4. You have applied for permanent residence from inside Canada or are a dependent family member of someone who has applied for permanent residence
5. Your spouse or common-law partner hold a work permit for a skilled position, or are an international student
6. Your spouse or common-law partner have applied for a work permit under the Atlantic Immigration Pilot
7. You are a refugee, refugee claimant, protected person or their family member
8. You are under an unenforceable removal order
9. You are a temporary resident permit holder
10. You are a young worker participating in special programs

Electronic Travel Authorizations (eTAs)

If you are a citizen of a country that does not require a Temporary Resident Visa to enter Canada, and you are travelling to Canada by air, you will need to apply for an eTA before you travel. The eTA is linked to your passport and is valid for up to five years, or until your passport expires. A new eTA is required if you obtain a new passport. The cost for the eTA is CAD $7.00.