Residency in Canada
Compare the main permanent-residence, business, family, work and study pathways—and see which programmes are accepting applications.
No fixed expiry once granted. Maintaining status normally requires 730 qualifying days in each five-year period. A resident card’s expiry does not end the status.
Permission to visit, work or study for a limited period. A later permanent-residence application has separate requirements. Visa validity and permitted length of stay are different.
Compare residency pathways
Checked 15 October 202630 routes · Select a column to sort
| Pathway | Category | Status | Duration of status / stay | Main entry requirement | Intake |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Federal Skilled Worker | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | 1 year of continuous skilled work + language and selection tests | Invitation required |
| Canadian Experience Class | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | 1 year of qualifying Canadian work in the last 3 years | Invitation required |
| Federal Skilled Trades | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | 2 years of trade experience + offer or Canadian trade certificate | Invitation required |
| Provincial Nominee Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Depends on the provincial stream | Stream-specific intake |
| Atlantic Immigration Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Designated employer offer | Employer / province dependent |
| Rural Community Immigration Pilot | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Local designated employer offer | Community intake |
| Francophone Community Immigration Pilot | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Local designated employer offer | Community intake |
| Québec Skilled Worker Selection Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Occupation-specific selection | Invitation required |
| Québec Experience Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Qualifying history by 19 Nov 2025 | Limited window: to 31 Oct 2026 |
| Provincial entrepreneur streams | Investment | Temporary | Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity. Later permanent residence has no fixed expiry. | Investment, experience and business performance | Stream-specific intake |
| Québec Investor Program | Investment | Temporary | Work permit: up to 3 years, limited by passport validity. Later permanent residence: indefinite. | CAD 2m net worth; French required | Applications accepted |
| Québec Entrepreneur Program | Investment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Requirements depend on business stream | Stream-specific requirements |
| Québec Self-Employed Worker Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | CAD 100k net worth; French required | Applications accepted |
| Spouse, partner or dependent child | Family Reunification | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Eligible sponsor and relationship | Applications accepted |
| Adopted child sponsorship | Family Reunification | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Valid adoption and eligible sponsor | Case-specific |
| Other eligible relatives | Family Reunification | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | Strict relationship and sponsor tests | Restricted eligibility |
| Employer-specific work permit | Employment / Self Employment | Temporary | Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity. | Job offer; often labour-market approval | Employer / permit dependent |
| International Mobility Program | Employment / Self Employment | Temporary | Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity. | Specific exemption and permit criteria | Category-specific |
| International Experience Canada | Employment / Self Employment | Temporary | Up to 2 years; country agreement, category and passport can shorten it. | Nationality, age and category rules | Pools / invitations |
| Study permit | Education | Temporary | Usually the study programme plus 90 days, subject to passport validity and completion rules. | Admission, funds and required documents | Permit assessment |
| Post-graduation work permit | Education | Temporary | Up to 3 years; programme length, qualification and passport validity determine the grant. | Programme and graduate eligibility | Eligibility-dependent |
| Parent & grandparent Super Visa | Family Reunification | Temporary | Usually up to 5 years per entry. The visa’s travel validity is separate from the authorised stay. | Qualifying host and application conditions | Applications accepted |
| Parents & grandparents sponsorship | Family Reunification | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Paused |
| Federal Start-Up Visa | Investment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Paused |
| Federal Self-Employed Persons Program | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Paused |
| Home Care Worker Immigration pilots | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Closed to new applications |
| Hong Kong permanent-residence pathways | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Closed |
| Agri-Food Pilot | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Closed |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | Employment / Self Employment | Permanent | Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status. | No new general intake | Closed |
| Remote work as a visitor | Digital Nomad | Temporary | Usually up to 6 months per entry; the border officer can set a different period. | Visitor admission and foreign remote work | Visitor assessment |
No routes match these filters.
Business investment categories can require active ownership and management. A temporary business stage does not guarantee permanent residence.
Requirements by pathway
Federal Skilled Worker
Who it fits: Skilled experience abroad or in Canada
At least one continuous year of qualifying work in the last ten years, secondary education and language results. Meet the programme’s selection test, then compete for an Express Entry invitation. Intended destination: outside Québec.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Canadian Experience Class
Who it fits: Workers with recent Canadian skilled experience
At least one year of eligible Canadian work in the last three years. Language requirements depend on occupation. Express Entry manages applications; completing a year of work does not itself secure an invitation.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Federal Skilled Trades
Who it fits: Qualified tradespeople
Two years of qualifying trade experience within five years. A qualifying full-time offer for at least one year or a Canadian certificate of qualification is required, alongside language requirements.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Provincial Nominee Program
Who it fits: Workers, graduates and other provincial priorities
Nomination requires an intention to settle in the nominating province or territory. Express Entry-linked nominations add 600 points; other streams use a separate federal application. Québec and Nunavut do not operate this programme.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Atlantic Immigration Program
Who it fits: Skilled workers and eligible Atlantic graduates
For New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador. The employer must be designated. A provincial referral can support a separate temporary work permit while the permanent application is processed.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Who it fits: Workers moving to participating rural communities
Apply through a participating community and its priority occupations. This is the current rural pilot, distinct from the closed Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot
Who it fits: French-speaking workers in selected communities
For designated Francophone communities outside Québec. Employer designation, community requirements and the pilot’s French-language criteria all matter.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Québec Skilled Worker Selection Program
Who it fits: Skilled workers intending to live in Québec
Submit an expression of interest; an invitation is required before applying for Québec selection. Four streams have different occupational, language and experience requirements. Federal permanent residence follows Québec selection.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Québec Experience Program
Who it fits: Eligible established Québec workers or graduates
Temporarily reopened. The current window runs 2 July–31 October 2026. Graduate applicants need a specified Québec qualification obtained by 19 November 2025; workers need two years of qualifying skilled Québec experience by that date. Other selection conditions still apply. This is not a route a new arrival can qualify for simply by beginning work now.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Provincial entrepreneur streams
Who it fits: Owners establishing and actively running a business
Rules differ by province. British Columbia’s Base stream requires at least CAD 600,000 net worth and CAD 200,000 eligible investment; its Regional stream uses CAD 300,000 and CAD 100,000 respectively and a participating community. Nomination follows the required business stage; incorporation alone grants no residence.
Duration: Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity. Later permanent residence has no fixed expiry.
Québec Investor Program
Who it fits: Experienced managers with substantial assets
Requires CAD 1m invested for five years plus a CAD 200,000 contribution, qualifying management experience and spoken French at Québec level 7. Within two years of the work permit, complete twelve months in Québec: at least six by the principal applicant, with the other six permitted for the applicant or spouse. Selection and federal approval remain separate.
Duration: Work permit: up to 3 years, limited by passport validity. Later permanent residence: indefinite.
Québec Entrepreneur Program
Who it fits: Founders or business purchasers settling in Québec
Three routes cover an innovative business, a business startup or a takeover. The innovative route involves a supporting organisation; the takeover route also uses organisational support. Use the chosen stream’s rules for financial and operational requirements.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Québec Self-Employed Worker Program
Who it fits: Professionals working for themselves in Québec
Requires two years of relevant self-employed experience within five years, qualifying education and spoken French at Québec level 7. Startup deposit: CAD 50,000 in metropolitan Montréal or CAD 25,000 outside it. Regulated professions require recognition or authorisation. This is separate from the paused federal programme.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Spouse, partner or dependent child
Who it fits: Qualifying family of an eligible sponsor
Marriage, qualifying partnership or dependency must meet the sponsorship rules. A Canadian partner does not automatically give residence or citizenship. Québec has an additional provincial undertaking process.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Adopted child sponsorship
Who it fits: Children being adopted internationally
Immigration sponsorship and a direct citizenship grant for an adopted child are different processes. A Canadian adoptive parent should first check whether the direct citizenship process is available.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Other eligible relatives
Who it fits: A narrow set of family circumstances
This is not general sponsorship of adult siblings, cousins or extended family. Eligibility is limited to the relationships and circumstances in the official relative-sponsorship rules.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Employer-specific work permit
Who it fits: People hired for a Canadian position
The employer may need a Labour Market Impact Assessment, commonly called an LMIA. The permit normally limits the employer and work conditions. Permanent residence requires a separate qualifying route.
Duration: Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity.
International Mobility Program
Who it fits: Workers qualifying for an LMIA exemption
Covers qualifying employer-specific and open work permits without a Labour Market Impact Assessment. An exemption must actually fit the worker and job; citizenship or company ownership alone does not establish eligibility.
Duration: Permit-specific: depends on the work category, job or business stage and passport validity.
International Experience Canada
Who it fits: Young adults from participating countries
Working Holiday, Young Professionals and International Co-op have different conditions. Available categories, age limits and duration depend on the citizenship agreement. Check the current pool before planning around an invitation.
Duration: Up to 2 years; country agreement, category and passport can shorten it.
Study permit
Who it fits: Students accepted at an eligible institution
A study permit authorises study at a designated learning institution. It is not permanent residence. Before choosing a course, separately check whether the exact institution and programme qualify for post-graduation work permission.
Duration: Usually the study programme plus 90 days, subject to passport validity and completion rules.
Post-graduation work permit
Who it fits: Graduates of eligible Canadian programmes
Not every school or course qualifies. Requirements include the applicable language and, for certain programmes, field-of-study rules. Canadian work experience may later support another route, but graduation does not guarantee permanent residence.
Duration: Up to 3 years; programme length, qualification and passport validity determine the grant.
Parent & grandparent Super Visa
Who it fits: Eligible parents and grandparents
Allows visits of five years at a time, with multiple entry validity of up to ten years. This is visitor status, not permanent residence or a general permission to work. It is distinct from parent/grandparent sponsorship.
Duration: Usually up to 5 years per entry. The visa’s travel validity is separate from the authorised stay.
Parents & grandparents sponsorship
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
New intake is paused. Existing accepted applications are a different case; the Super Visa is the separate long-visit option.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Federal Start-Up Visa
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
New applications stopped on 30 June 2026. Existing accepted applications continue to be processed.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Federal Self-Employed Persons Program
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
Federal intake is paused. Do not confuse this programme with Québec’s separate self-employed route.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Home Care Worker Immigration pilots
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
The current caregiver permanent-residence pilots are closed to new applications. Temporary caregiver employment has separate work-permit rules.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Hong Kong permanent-residence pathways
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
Closed on 31 August 2026. Accepted applications continue; eligible applicants awaiting decisions may have a separate open-work-permit option.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Agri-Food Pilot
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
The federal pilot is closed to new applications. Agricultural work does not by itself create a permanent-residence entitlement.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
Who it fits: Existing / historical route
The earlier pilot is closed. Compare the current Rural Community Immigration Pilot instead.
Duration: Indefinite once granted, subject to maintaining status.
Remote work as a visitor
Who it fits: Remote workers serving a foreign employer without entering the Canadian labour market
Canada permits qualifying remote work for a foreign employer while visiting. This is visitor status, not a dedicated digital-nomad visa or permission to take a Canadian job. Entry requirements depend on nationality and circumstances. Working for a Canadian employer generally needs work authorisation. Visitor status does not decide Canadian tax residence.
Duration: Usually up to 6 months per entry; the border officer can set a different period.
Choose the province as well as the route
A provincial nomination is tied to an intention to settle in that province or territory. Stream openings, job requirements and invitations differ. Québec operates a separate selection system.
Provincial and territorial programme directory
Official provincial and territorial directory
Nunavut has no provincial nominee programme. Individual streams have their own rules.