About Canada

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Whether you’re looking to visit, live or work in Canada—we can support your immigration needs at every stage of your journey.

​​​​If you’re a foreign national looking to visit, live and/or work in Canada, many options are available.

• Business Visits: As a business visitor to Canada and depending on your citizenship, you’ll either need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a business visa, generally, issued for six months. If you’re looking to stay longer, the Temporary Residence Visa (TRV) issued by a Canadian consular post may be an option.

• Work Authorization: The main work authorization type is the Intracompany Transfer Work Permit. The validity of this visa depends on your position and is granted at the immigration officer’s discretion. There is no labour market testing requirement for this category. Dependent family members can ​accompany you under this category, including unmarried same- or opposite-sex partners if you have been cohabitating for at least one year before the application filing date.​ Canadian experience may also increase your likelihood of qualifying for Permanent Residence, depending on the work permit type and related qualifications.

• Internships/Traineeships: There is no trainee-specific work authorization category in Canada, but depending on your citizenship, you may be eligible for a youth-oriented work permit category. There is an option to study in Canada as a pathway to permanent residence. You must take a government-approved language test (IELTS or CELPIP) and have approximately three years of full-time study in a secondary school (high school) before applying.

• Self-employment: If you’re an investor or entrepreneur, several options offer permanent residence in Canada. ​The federal Start-Up Visa targets immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to build innovative businesses in Canada. To qualify, you’ll need to show that your business is supported by a designated organization and meets ownership requirements. You must meet the minimum language requirements in English or French and ​bring sufficient settlement funds, determined based on the size of your family. ​In Quebec, there is the Immigration Investor Program for High Net Worth Individuals who wish to invest in Quebec without actively managing the investment. This program is temporarily suspended.
  
  If you’re an entrepreneur who’s looking to invest and actively manage a business in any Canadian province, the Provincial Nominee Entrepreneur Program is an option. Requirements vary by province. To qualify, you must generally actively manage the business, meet the investment requirements, and create jobs for Canadian nationals or permanent residents. You’ll also need to meet the minimum language requirements in English or French.

Fragomen can also consult on citizenship matters and, as permitted within the confines of local law, may be able to offer citizenship assistance.