Foreign job for Asians
Canada
Living, working or studying in Canada?
Just Landed helps you manage everyday life. Our Canada Guide covers topics like visas, housing, jobs and finance. Join the Just Landed Community, get in touch with people like you and share your experiences. Most importantly, have fun!
Visas & Permits
Before leaving to come to Canada, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to Canada or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Getting startedWho needs a Visitor Visa? How do you apply for it?
Depending on your nationality, you might need a visitor visa to visit Canada. Even though requirements are frequently changed, this article will help you to find out whether you need a visitor visa and how to apply for it.
Visitor VisaEvery year, more than 35 million people visit Canada. Visitors come to Canada as tourists, temporary workers and students. Depending on factors such as your country of origin, nationality, nature of the visit and the international agreements between your country of origin and Canada, you may or may not require a visitor visa.
In Canada, the visitor visa is called a Temporary Resident Visa or TRV for short. It is issued by Canadian consulates, high commissions and embassies around the world on behalf of and in cooperation withCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) include the following categories of visas and permits:
How to Obtain a Visitor VisaCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is Canada’s government body in charge of regulating and providing information on visas for tourists, students, workers, etc. CIC has a standard process for applications made outside of Canada. A standard application form covers the application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for any of the above categories.
This means that you use a single form to apply for any of the above visas and/or permits. Any consulate, high commission or embassy of Canada will be able to provide you with the necessary information and forms to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.
Please note that Province of Quebec has a separate process in allocating temporary worker permits and temporary student permits. If you plan to visit Quebec, you will be required to obtain permission from the Quebec immigration office prior to filing a Citizenship and Immigration Canada application. Ask for information in a Canadian consulate or embassy.
Work Permits
Regulations and application process
Canada is a very popular destination for skilled workers. This section describes who qualifies to obtain a work permit in Canada, the procedures and other regulations.
Every year, almost 100,000 temporary foreign workers enter Canada to work in jobs where there are temporary skill shortages.Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) allocate visas depending on the need for such workers and the benefit that they are expected to provide to the Canadian economy. Almost all cases of temporary work in Canada require the worker to possess a valid work permit.
Who requires a work permit?Several conditions must be satisfied in order to qualify for a work permit. Firstly, you must receive a job offer from a Canadian employer. When the offer is received, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) usually provide a labour market ‘opinion’ or simply their confirmation of your job offer. HRSDC determines whether the job offer is legitimate and if it is the right thing for the Canadian labour market for you to be hired. For example, if there is a shortage of computer programmers and you have the skills, you will be more likely to have an application approved.
Some individuals may be exempt from satisfying some conditions for work permit issue. You may obtain a work permit without the confirmation from HRSDC if you belong to any of the following groups:
Additional RequirementsIn order to be able to work legally in Canada, you must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card. This card can be obtained from theHRSDC by presenting your passport and a valid work permit.
Study Permits
Visas for studying in Canada
If you plan to come to Canada as a student and are not a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant, you may need to apply for a Study Visa.
Every year, over 130,000 students arrive to Canada to study at different universities, colleges, high schools and private institutions. In addition, many others come to Canada to study English and/or French. Canadians highly value the students that come from different cultures as they bring the diversity of knowledge to the Canadian education system. In Canada, the education system is regulated by the provinces where the educational institutions are located.
Who needs a study permit?If you are planning to study in Canada for longer than 6 months, you will be required to obtain a study permit from a Canadian consulate, high commission or embassy. If you plan to stay in Canada for less than six months on a tourist visa, and subsequently study for longer than 6 months, it is recommended that the study permit is obtained prior to initial arrival to Canada. If you do not, you may be required to leave Canada in order to apply for the study permit and continue your studies.
Who does not need a study permit?Some individuals are exempted from requiring a study permit. You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or program in Canada for a period of six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada. You also do not need a Study Permit if you are a minor child already in Canada, and your parents are not “visitors” in Canada but rather refugees or individuals pursuing permanent residency. Finally, if you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, then you do not need a Study Permit to study in Canada.
Canadian Citizenship
How to become a Canadian
Every year, approximately 150,000 permanent residents elect to become Canadian citizens. Every single one of them must go through a long process to obtain the citizenship.
In order to be eligible for a Canadian citizenship several things must be done. Firstly, you must apply to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent resident status. When you become a landed immigrant and obtain your Permanent Resident Card, you have to live in Canada for 3 years out of a total of 4 years before you are eligible to apply for the Canadian citizenship. You must be 18 years of age or older, possess knowledge of at least one official language (i.e. English or French) and Canadian society. You also have to be knowledgeable about your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen. Finally you have to apply for the Canadian Citizenship Certificate.
If you have any children under the age of 18 years, they can apply together with you as a family or after you become a citizen.
To demonstrate your knowledge about Canada, you are required to complete a short test that asks different questions about Canadian politics, government structure and other topics.
From the date of submission of your citizenship application, the process to become a Canadian citizen may take anywhere between 5 months and several years depending on various factors. If you have spent some time in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, you may be able to count half of that time towards your residency requirement if it falls within the 4-year time span.
If you were born outside of Canada to parents of Canadian citizenship, but have never obtained Canadian citizenship, you can apply for a citizenship by naturalization. The process is essentially the same as for the other types of applicant.
Who is not eligible for Canadian citizenship?You are not eligible to be awarded a Canadian Citizenship Certificate if you:
In addition, if you have spent some time in a correctional institution such as prison, this time is not applicable to the residency requirement.
How to become a Canadian citizen?You need the following to apply for the Canadian citizenship:
Send the above to the citizenship application processing office and be patient. They will inform you of receipt and the approximate period to wait until your citizenship test. After you complete the test, it will take approximately 6 weeks or more to attend the citizenship ceremony if your application has been successful. At the citizenship ceremony, you will receive your citizenship certificate and then be able to apply for a Canadian passport.
Before leaving to come to Canada, make sure you understand your legal situation. Depending on your nationality, you might need a visa, residence permit and/or work permit. Read our guide to legal requirements for coming to Canada or use the Just Landed forums to ask other members for help.
Getting startedWho needs a Visitor Visa? How do you apply for it?
Depending on your nationality, you might need a visitor visa to visit Canada. Even though requirements are frequently changed, this article will help you to find out whether you need a visitor visa and how to apply for it.
Visitor VisaEvery year, more than 35 million people visit Canada. Visitors come to Canada as tourists, temporary workers and students. Depending on factors such as your country of origin, nationality, nature of the visit and the international agreements between your country of origin and Canada, you may or may not require a visitor visa.
In Canada, the visitor visa is called a Temporary Resident Visa or TRV for short. It is issued by Canadian consulates, high commissions and embassies around the world on behalf of and in cooperation withCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Temporary Resident Visas (TRV) include the following categories of visas and permits:
- Tourist Visa
- Transit Visa
- Study Permit
- Work Permit
How to Obtain a Visitor VisaCitizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) is Canada’s government body in charge of regulating and providing information on visas for tourists, students, workers, etc. CIC has a standard process for applications made outside of Canada. A standard application form covers the application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for any of the above categories.
This means that you use a single form to apply for any of the above visas and/or permits. Any consulate, high commission or embassy of Canada will be able to provide you with the necessary information and forms to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.
Please note that Province of Quebec has a separate process in allocating temporary worker permits and temporary student permits. If you plan to visit Quebec, you will be required to obtain permission from the Quebec immigration office prior to filing a Citizenship and Immigration Canada application. Ask for information in a Canadian consulate or embassy.
Work Permits
Regulations and application process
Canada is a very popular destination for skilled workers. This section describes who qualifies to obtain a work permit in Canada, the procedures and other regulations.
Every year, almost 100,000 temporary foreign workers enter Canada to work in jobs where there are temporary skill shortages.Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) allocate visas depending on the need for such workers and the benefit that they are expected to provide to the Canadian economy. Almost all cases of temporary work in Canada require the worker to possess a valid work permit.
Who requires a work permit?Several conditions must be satisfied in order to qualify for a work permit. Firstly, you must receive a job offer from a Canadian employer. When the offer is received, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) usually provide a labour market ‘opinion’ or simply their confirmation of your job offer. HRSDC determines whether the job offer is legitimate and if it is the right thing for the Canadian labour market for you to be hired. For example, if there is a shortage of computer programmers and you have the skills, you will be more likely to have an application approved.
Some individuals may be exempt from satisfying some conditions for work permit issue. You may obtain a work permit without the confirmation from HRSDC if you belong to any of the following groups:
- Professionals, traders and investors who are citizens of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) countries. This regulation also allows the issuance of work permits to people who enter Canada under other types of international agreements.
- Some types of entrepreneurs, intra-company transferees and other types of workers, who will provide significant benefit to Canadians or permanent residents by working in Canada.
- Persons whose employment in Canada provides similar employment to Canadians abroad, such as participants in youth exchange programs, exchange teachers and other reciprocal programs.
- Foreign students studying in Canada who need to work in order to fulfill co-op placements.
- Spouses and common-law partners of skilled foreign workers, spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign students, spouses and common-law partners of a person doing post-graduation employment for certain foreign students and post-doctoral fellows.
- Persons undertaking charitable or religious work.
- Certain persons who need to support themselves while they are in Canada for other reasons such as the refugee determination process and certain persons who have been accepted for permanent residence in Canada.
Additional RequirementsIn order to be able to work legally in Canada, you must have a Social Insurance Number (SIN) card. This card can be obtained from theHRSDC by presenting your passport and a valid work permit.
Study Permits
Visas for studying in Canada
If you plan to come to Canada as a student and are not a Canadian Citizen or Landed Immigrant, you may need to apply for a Study Visa.
Every year, over 130,000 students arrive to Canada to study at different universities, colleges, high schools and private institutions. In addition, many others come to Canada to study English and/or French. Canadians highly value the students that come from different cultures as they bring the diversity of knowledge to the Canadian education system. In Canada, the education system is regulated by the provinces where the educational institutions are located.
Who needs a study permit?If you are planning to study in Canada for longer than 6 months, you will be required to obtain a study permit from a Canadian consulate, high commission or embassy. If you plan to stay in Canada for less than six months on a tourist visa, and subsequently study for longer than 6 months, it is recommended that the study permit is obtained prior to initial arrival to Canada. If you do not, you may be required to leave Canada in order to apply for the study permit and continue your studies.
Who does not need a study permit?Some individuals are exempted from requiring a study permit. You do not need a Study Permit if you are planning to take a course or program in Canada for a period of six months or less. You must complete the course or program within the period authorized for your stay in Canada. You also do not need a Study Permit if you are a minor child already in Canada, and your parents are not “visitors” in Canada but rather refugees or individuals pursuing permanent residency. Finally, if you are a family or staff member of a foreign representative to Canada accredited by the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, then you do not need a Study Permit to study in Canada.
Canadian Citizenship
How to become a Canadian
Every year, approximately 150,000 permanent residents elect to become Canadian citizens. Every single one of them must go through a long process to obtain the citizenship.
In order to be eligible for a Canadian citizenship several things must be done. Firstly, you must apply to immigrate to Canada and obtain permanent resident status. When you become a landed immigrant and obtain your Permanent Resident Card, you have to live in Canada for 3 years out of a total of 4 years before you are eligible to apply for the Canadian citizenship. You must be 18 years of age or older, possess knowledge of at least one official language (i.e. English or French) and Canadian society. You also have to be knowledgeable about your rights and responsibilities as a Canadian citizen. Finally you have to apply for the Canadian Citizenship Certificate.
If you have any children under the age of 18 years, they can apply together with you as a family or after you become a citizen.
To demonstrate your knowledge about Canada, you are required to complete a short test that asks different questions about Canadian politics, government structure and other topics.
From the date of submission of your citizenship application, the process to become a Canadian citizen may take anywhere between 5 months and several years depending on various factors. If you have spent some time in Canada before becoming a permanent resident, you may be able to count half of that time towards your residency requirement if it falls within the 4-year time span.
If you were born outside of Canada to parents of Canadian citizenship, but have never obtained Canadian citizenship, you can apply for a citizenship by naturalization. The process is essentially the same as for the other types of applicant.
Who is not eligible for Canadian citizenship?You are not eligible to be awarded a Canadian Citizenship Certificate if you:
- Are under a removal order
- Are charged with an indictable criminal offence
- Have been convicted of an indictable criminal offence in the past three years
- Are in prison, on parole, or on probation
- Are being investigated for or have been convicted of war crimes
- Had your citizenship revoked in the last five years
In addition, if you have spent some time in a correctional institution such as prison, this time is not applicable to the residency requirement.
How to become a Canadian citizen?You need the following to apply for the Canadian citizenship:
- Copy of the proof of permanent residency such as the Permanent Resident Card or Record of Landing (for immigrants before 2004)
- Completed application form
- Two passport-size photos taken within the last 12 months
- Total application fee of $200 (Application fee of $100 and Right of Citizenship fee of $100)
- Guarantor statements and signatures
- Copies of the two pieces of identification such as the drivers license and the health card
Send the above to the citizenship application processing office and be patient. They will inform you of receipt and the approximate period to wait until your citizenship test. After you complete the test, it will take approximately 6 weeks or more to attend the citizenship ceremony if your application has been successful. At the citizenship ceremony, you will receive your citizenship certificate and then be able to apply for a Canadian passport.
