Canada Visa Types: Choosing the Right One

Choosing the correct visa to apply for is probably the most important step in your immigration process to Canada; choosing the right visa sets the path of your immigration process, the necessary preparations, and requirements. If you end up applying for the wrong visa – the time and effort you invested would end up in a complete disappointment.

Today we are going to break down the most popular Canada visa types and programs to make it easier for you to make the right decision. However, once you have decided on the right visa for you, we recommend speaking with an immigration professional for a visa eligibility assessment. This assessment will either confirm or deny your choice – but this time you will be 100% confident in the path you should take.

Temporary Visas

Temporary visas are designed for immigrants who are interested in coming to Canada for a short period of time, such as studying, vacation, family visits or temporary work. Temporary visas include several Canada visa types: Tourist Visa, Working Holiday Visa, and Student Visas.

Tourist Visas are normally granted for up to 6 months; Working Holiday Visas are normally granted for 12 -24 months (depending on the Youth Mobility Agreement between Canada and your country); Student Visas are granted according to your curriculum.

Working Holiday Visas are for young adults, ages 18 – 35, who want to work and travel in Canada for up to 2 years. Normally, you are not required to obtain a job offer to apply for this visa.

Student Visas are a great opportunity to enroll in one of Canada’s world-class universities, pursue an internationally recognized degree, enjoy relatively low living expenses and work while you study. Canada also provides an opportunity to join research programs in unique fields.

Another temporary option is the Super Visas for parents and grandparents. If you have kids or grandkids living in Canada as permanent residents or citizens, they can sponsor you using the Super Visas to live with them for up to 2 years.

Work Visas

You can find excellent job and career opportunities in Canada in a variety of fields. In fact, Canada published a list of in-demand jobs called the “National Occupational Classification” (NOC) list on their government website. If you find your profession listed on the NOC list AND you receive a job offer in that field – you will have significantly higher chances of being selected to immigrate.

Canada even came up with the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIPP), where thousands of Canadian employers participate to hire skilled immigrants for jobs they cannot otherwise fill.

As far as work visas, these are the main Canada visa types: Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canada Experience Class (CEC). Each one of these work visas has a pathway to becoming Canadian permanent residents.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers with particular work experience, academic achievements and skills. The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for workers with skilled trades (such as electricians, mechanics, plumbers, etc.). Canada Experience Class is for skilled workers who are already living in Canada and want to become Canadian permanent residents.

Each of these visas can be applied for through Express Entry Canada, which is the selection system for skilled migrants. By meeting the main eligibility requirements of the Express Entry (6 selection factors for Express Entry Canada) and visa-specific requirements, you will be able to submit your visa application to the pool of candidates and receive a reply within 6-12 months.

Alternatively, you may also apply for the Provincial Nominee Program. The only real difference between the two programs is that you will need to be nominated by a Province or Territory in Canada to come work, and you will need to commit to living and working in that specific Province or Territory for a certain period of time.

Business Visas

Canada’s business visas are the perfect opportunity for entrepreneurs and business owners to expand their business activities internationally and become Canadian permanent residents. Canada’s business visas offer 2 streams: The Start-Up Visa and the Self-Employed Persons Program.

Canada encourages hundreds of people every year to conduct business in the country; New businesses support the economy, provide new job opportunities for Canadian citizens and immigrants, and potentially bring more innovation.

In comparison to many countries around the world, applying for Canada’s business visas is relatively easier. The eligibility requirements do not demand that you have a specific net worth and provide a minimum investment. However, it is still a more complicated process than other Canadian visas, so you should not go about this lightly.

If you would like to pursuit the Start-Up Visa or the Self-Employed Persons Program, we have the perfect article for you.

Family Sponsorship

You can tell that Canada values family when you look at the range of Canada visa types for this category. Family Sponsorship visas are one of the highlights of Canada’s immigration visas, as it includes sponsorship visas for almost every kind of family member: parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, wife or husband, common-law partner, and conjugal partner.

If you have family members living in Canada who are Canadian permanent residents or have Canadian citizenship, they can use the Family Sponsorship visas to bring you to Canada and become a permanent resident. Becoming a permanent resident of Canada will cover all your bases: live, work, study and travel anywhere in Canada, receive social benefits such as free healthcare and subsidized education, and bring more family members with you.

Get started

If you found the visa you need among these Canada visa types, and you feel like you are ready to start your application process, we will take “thank yous” in the form of flowers or chocolates (: But in all seriousness, if you would like to start your application process for one of these visas, be sure to get informed about your visa’s individual process, eligibility requirements, necessary documents, deadlines, if you require a job offer or not and how to obtain it, if you require a nomination or not, etc.

If you can’t find the visa you are looking for or you would like to save yourself the headache of doing all this research, contact an immigration professional today!

At Great North Visa we work with fully certified immigration professionals who can check your eligibility for a Canadian visa and set you on the right path towards achieving your goals. We offer a variety of services that may come in handy for you: job searching tools, C.V and immigration profile optimization, document collection, professional and legal consultation, application preparation and submission, and more.

We know that whether your immigration process is relatively simple or more complex, it is always good to have someone by your side. We assisted many of our clients from around the world to achieve a Canadian visa for themselves and their families, and we will be happy to help you too!

Click below to be assigned a personal immigration agent today and start your exciting journey to your new life in Canada.