Canada visas
Canada's permanent-residence system is dominated by Express Entry, covering Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades, plus Provincial Nominee Programs. Temporary routes include LMIA-based work permits, International Mobility Program, and the Post-Graduation Work Permit.
8 routes · 7 without a sponsor · 6 lead to settlement
Official portal
Regulators of immigration advice
- College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) — National regulator of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs).
- Federation of Law Societies of Canada (FLSC) — Federation of provincial law societies regulating Canadian lawyers authorised to give immigration advice.
Visa routes (8)
Express Entry — Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal permanent-residence stream for applicants with qualifying Canadian work experience.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 1 August 2026
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal points-based permanent residence for skilled workers without prior Canadian experience.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 21 July 2026
Express Entry — Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Permanent residence for qualified tradespeople with a Canadian job offer or provincial certification.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Province-led permanent residence streams giving a 600 CRS boost when aligned with Express Entry.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
Open work permit for graduates of eligible Canadian Designated Learning Institutions.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Start-Up Visa (Canada)
Permanent residence for entrepreneurs with endorsement from a designated Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Canadian Study Permit
Study permit for international students at Designated Learning Institutions, governed by provincial study attestation caps.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Spousal / common-law sponsorship (Canada)
Permanent residence sponsorship of spouses, common-law partners, or conjugal partners by Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
No sponsor needed · Leads to settlement · Last reviewed 8 July 2026
Recent Canada policy changes
·significant
Canada tightens Post-Graduation Work Permit eligibility
IRCC introduced significant changes to PGWP eligibility, including field-of-study restrictions for most programmes and new language-test requirements.
·significant
A run of IRCC changes through 2025-26 reshaped Express Entry economics and closed the Start-up Visa to new applicants.
·material
Canada raises LMIA high-wage stream hourly wage thresholds (17 July 2026)
ESDC raised the hourly wage thresholds that determine whether an employer's LMIA application falls under the high-wage or the low-wage stream. For LMIAs received as of 17 July 2026 the threshold rises in every province and territory except the Northwest Territories — for example Ontario from CA$36.00 to CA$36.92 per hour and British Columbia from CA$36.60 to CA$38.40 per hour. Employers hiring temporary foreign workers, and workers whose permits rely on an LMIA, are affected.
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Canada have?+
We cover 8 Canada visa routes in these categories: skilled migration, unsponsored work, entrepreneur, study, and family. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Canada visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
7 of the 8 Canada routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 1 are employer-sponsored.
Which Canada visas lead to permanent residence?+
6 of the 8 routes can lead to settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Open each route for its settlement detail and qualifying period.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Canada