Our Practice Areas

PERMANENT RESIDENCE

ECONOMIC MIGRANTS

1.1 ECONOMIC MIGRANTS

 A foreign national is selected as a member of the economic class based on their ability to become economically established in Canada without the use of social assistance program. Their ability to contribute to Canada’s economy to meet the labour market needs, to own and manage or to build a business, to make a substantial investment, to create their own employment or to meet specific provincial or territorial labour market needs are considered in granting the applicant permanent residency. The economic immigrants class takes a lion’s share of the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels plan of the country. In connection with notable Canadian immigration programs, you have probably heard about Express Entry before. Express Entry is not an immigration program, though. It is an online immigration application system that the Canadian immigration authorities use to manage and process applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. Candidates / applicants who score a minimum of 67 out of 100 meet the eligibility criteria submit an online profile, known as an Expression of Interest (EOI), under one of three federal Canada immigration programs or a participating provincial immigration program, to the Express Entry Pool. In this Express Entry Pool, candidates join other candidates and are ranked against each other according to a points-based system known as the Comprehensive Ranking System. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invite candidates from the pool to apply in rounds throughout the year and identifies the highest-ranking candidates from the pool who are eligible for the chosen round type and considers them for an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those candidates who receive an ITA must submit a completed application and pay the processing fees within sixty (60) days. The Express Entry system manages applications for three (3) main federal economic programs, along with portions of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Not all provinces participate in these federal economic programs. The three federal economic programs are: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

1.1.1 The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

 If you score at least 67 points out of 100, you are eligible for express entry and, by extension, you are eligible for eligible for the FSWP. The selection factors are skilled work experience, English and/or French proficiency, level of education, age, adaptability and arranged employment. Your skilled work experience must be in 1 of these TEER categories: 0, 1, 2, or 3, have the same National Occupational Classification (NOC) as the job you want to use for your immigration application (called your primary occupation), have been obtained within the last 10 years, in Canada or abroad and be at least 1 year of continuous work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week). Are you unsure as to how to create your profile? You are welcome to contact us using the Contact form below.

1.1.2 The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 

The minimum score for eligibility of the Federal Skilled Trades Program remains the same: 67 out of 100 points. In the selection factors for the FSTP, your skilled work experience must: all be in the same National Occupational Classification (NOC) and be in 1 of these NOC groups: Major Groups 72 (excluding Sub-Major Group 726), 73, 82, 83, 92, or 93 (excluding Sub-Major Group 932) - Minor Group 6320 Unit Group 62200. Skilled tradespeople may work in sectors such as construction, transportation, manufacturing and industrial as well as natural resources and agriculture. To be eligible, you must have either a valid job offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least 1 (one) year or a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial, territorial or federal authority. You must also take approved language tests in English of French and meet the minimum score in all 4 abilities: writing, reading, listening and speaking. Fortunately, there is NO education requirement for the FSTP. You do not need proof of funds if you are currently able to legally work in Canada, and have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada. If, however, you cannot legally work in Canada and have no job offer from an employer, you must prove that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.

1.1.3 The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Unlike other federal programs, the CEC aims at applicants who acquired a skilled work in Canada by making it a convenient option for international full-time students and temporary foreign workers to start obtaining permanent residency. This program is tailored to temporary foreign workers or international graduates who have already integrated into Canadian society and wish to become permanent residents. The eligible candidates from the CEC program that values Canadian work experience highly, often leading to fast processing times and a smoother transition for those already accustomed to living and working in Canada. To be eligible for the CEC, your skilled work experience must be in 1 or more of these NOC categories: training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) 0, 1, 2, or 3, must be gained by working in Canada while authorized to work under temporary resident status be at least 1 year of work or 1,560 hours total (30 hours per week) in the 3 years before you apply. You must also take approved language tests in English of French and meet the minimum score in all 4 abilities: writing, reading, listening and speaking. Though the CEC does not have a mandatory education requirement for eligibility, you can boost your points in the Express Entry system by having education, particularly Canadian education or assessed foreign education.

1.1.4 Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) – Express Entry

 To be eligible for the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) – Express Entry, you must first and foremost meet the minimum Express Entry requirements. You need to specify the province that you are aiming for and you must be nominated by that province or territory. Not all provinces have the same local labour needs. If you are fortunate enough to get a provincial nomination, you will get an additional 600 CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System), which can significantly boost your chance for an Invitation to Apply (ITA). 

IMMIGRANT SPONSORED BY FAMILY / FAMILY CLASS

1.2 IMMIGRANT SPONSORED BY FAMILY / FAMILY CLASS

 The immigrant sponsored by family are sometimes referred to as family reunification or family sponsorship. This category comprises of those immigrants that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsors. The granting of permanent residence is based on their relationship either as the spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, child or other relative of this sponsor. Accordingly, the two sides of family reunification are the sponsor on the one hand and the applicant and their dependent family members on the other hand. This class forms the second largest immigrant group, roughly 25% to 30%. If you are thinking about sponsoring a member of your family, please reach out to us via a contact form. We will help you proofread your information, compile a credible documentation and prepare a strong application package that significantly increases your chance of receiving an approval to reunify with your family. The federal government usually aims to process complete permanent residence applications in six (6) months. 

1.2.1 The Spouse or Common-law Partner Sponsorship

The Canadian immigration law allows Canadian citizens or permanent residents who are married to a foreign national to sponsor their spouse or common-law partner through the family sponsorship program. As probably in every Canadian immigration program, the Spouse or Common-law Partner Sponsorship has its own eligibility and admissibility requirements. This sponsorship is generally classified into two: Overseas Spousal Sponsorship (outland) and inland (Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada. Overall, the overseas spousal sponsorship typical path that the applicants choose if they are not in Canada and unable to obtain a visa to travel to Canada. The principal applicants who are in Canada may take this option if they wish to travel back and forth from their home country or habitual There are some cases in which applicants who are in Canada choose this option if they wish to travel back and forth from their home country or habitual residence during the processing of their application. The onus is on the applicant to convince the Canadian immigration authorities that the relationship is genuine; or the primary reason the relationship was not entered into was to allow the person to immigrate to Canada As to the second option, the Inland Spousal Sponsorship are typically used by applicants who are already in Canada and have the authorization to continue living in Canada while their application for permanent residence is processed. In other words, it is incumbent upon the applicant to ensure their status in Canada is valid throughout the processing of their permanent residency application. With this application, our company recommends that the applicants do not travel overseas because there is a risk of denied entry into Canada upon their return.

1.2.2 The Dependent Children

There are at least two important factors that the sponsors need to consider if they are to sponsor their dependent children; the age of their children should be under 22 years of age, and their children should not be married or in a common-law relationship. Of course, the core criterion here is that the sponsor and the children should provide a credible proof of their parent-child relationship. Are you considering sponsoring your child? Let us know at our contact form below. Our company will help you to navigate the application process and submit a strong application on your behalf. 

1.2.3 The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program

 The Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program is one of the key components of Canada’s Family Class immigration system. The program is aimed at reuniting eligible Canadian citizens and permanent residents with their parents and grandparents through permanent residency. This program was designed with Canada’s long-standing commitment to family reunification and the vital role parents and grandparents play in family support and child development in mind. It aims to strengthen the intergenerational bonds that are essential to family well-being. If it so happened that you are not selected in the draw or wish to explore faster alternatives, our company suggests that you consider the Super Visa program. The Super Visa program generously offers a long-term temporary option for parents and grandparents to visit Canada for up to five years at a time! For short-term visits, you might want to consider a standard Visitor Visa.

REFUGEE CLASS

1.3 REFUGEE CLASS

 This category includes immigrants who are granted permanent resident status based on a well-founded fear of returning to their home country. It includes persons who had a well founded fear of persecution for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or for political opinion (Geneva Convention refugees) as well as persons who have been seriously and personally affected by civil war or armed conflict, or they have suffered a massive violation of human rights. Some refugees might be in Canada when they apply for refugee protection for themselves and their family members (either with them in Canada or abroad), while others are abroad, and they are referred for resettlement to Canada by the United Nations Refugee Agency, another designated referral organization or private sponsors. If you are in Canada, our company assesses the genuine nature of your fear of returning to your home country. Based on our assessment, we will guide you in your asylum claim and represent you before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

1.3.1 Refugee Sponsorship

 The Canadian authorities allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Canada to sponsor refugees outside Canada so that they can become permanent residents through a private sponsorship of refugees (PSR) or Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR) program. However small, the government of Canada has also a program called, the Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR) Program, which gives Canadians and permanent residents a chance to play a key role in helping refugees in need of resettlement. Let’s share with you the programs that our company is highly familiar with Groups of Five (G5) sponsorship, a Community Sponsorship / Constituent Groups (CGs) and Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs). At the time of this writing, new applications for the first two programs are paused are paused. We trust that the two programs will resume in January 2027 or even before.

Sponsorship Agreement Holders (SAHs): Incorporated organizations that have signed a formal sponsorship agreement with IRCC. Most current SAHs are religious organizations, ethnocultural groups, or humanitarian organizations. SAHs, which may be local, regional or national, assume overall responsibility for the management of sponsorships under their agreement. Organizations entering into a sponsorship agreement with IRCC generally submit several refugee sponsorships a year. A refugee status determination document may not be required for eligibility; asylum seeker or refugee claimants who are awaiting decision on their application may apply.

Groups of Five (G5): Five or more Canadian citizens or permanent residents, who are at least 18 years of age, live in the expected community of settlement and have collectively arranged for the sponsorship of a refugee living abroad. These individuals act as guarantors that the necessary support will be provided for the full duration of the sponsorship. It is important to note here that the refugee must already have received refugee status recognition by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) or by the foreign state. In other words, refugee claimants or asylum seekers are not eligible to apply for such a program.

Constituent Groups (CGs): A SAH can authorize CGs to sponsor under its agreement and provide support to the refugees. Each SAH sets its own criteria for recognizing CGs. CGs are based in the sponsored refugee's expected community of settlement and must have their sponsorship application and settlement plan approved and signed by their SAH before the undertaking is submitted to the Resettlement Operations Centre in Ottawa (ROC-O). The applicant should hold a recognized refugee status for eligibility, as it is the case in the Groups of Five refugee sponsorship

1.3.2 Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)

Even though the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reached the 2025 cap for the Federal EMPP Job Offer and No Job Offer streams and though it is no longer accepting new applications, the program is expected to be replaced by another similar program in 2027. It is likely that the new program will not be that different from the EMPP that was launched before, Whatever approach and eligibility program the new program might have, our company encourages candidates to invest in themselves in English and/or French languages, to upgrade and diversify their skills, to get their work experience documents ( Job offer, contract of employment, pay stubs and to obtain the documents that the previous EMPP program was requiring. Our company will follow the developments and will provide our clients detailed information during initial consultation. 

OTHER IMMIGRANTS

1.4 OTHER IMMIGRANTS

 This category includes immigrants who are granted permanent resident status under a program that does not fall in the economic immigrants, the immigrants sponsored by family or the refugee categories. Permanent resident visas are issued to immigrants who may not have qualified in any program but have been granted, on an exceptional basis, permanent resident status based on humanitarian and compassionate considerations or for public policy reasons.