Immigration in Canada

Immigration in Canada covers the laws, programs, and institutions that govern who may enter, remain in, work or study in, and eventually settle and become citizens of Canada. The system balances economic growth, family reunification, and protection needs while upholding public safety and program integrity.

At a glance — Immigration in Canada

Lead departments	Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) • Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) • Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB)
Main pathways	Economic (e.g., Express Entry, Provincial Nominee) • Family Class • Refugees/Protected Persons • Temporary residents (students, workers, visitors)
Provincial/territorial role	PTs select nominees via PNPs; Quebec manages its own selection streams
Annual planning	Multi-year Immigration Levels Plan sets targets by category; published by IRCC
Official info	canada.ca/immigration

Constitutional & institutional framework

Immigration is a shared federal–provincial responsibility under the Constitution.

IRCC designs programs, processes applications, issues visas and status documents, and grants citizenship.
CBSA enforces border legislation, conducts examinations, detentions, admissibility hearings (with the IRB), and removals.
IRB is an independent tribunal that decides refugee protection claims and certain immigration appeals.

Economic immigration

Economic streams admit people with skills and experience that support Canada’s labour market and long-term growth.

Express Entry manages applications for: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), and Canadian Experience Class (CEC). Candidates are ranked and invited to apply; selection criteria emphasize human capital (age, education, language, work experience) and program-specific factors.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow provinces/territories to nominate candidates aligned to regional needs (e.g., health, trades, francophone streams).
Quebec selection operates separately from Express Entry with its own selection criteria.
Other routes include Atlantic/regional programs, caregivers, entrepreneurs/start-up visa, and sector-specific pilots. Program lists and quotas change periodically—consult IRCC for current details.

Family class

Family reunification enables citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible family members:

Spouse/partner and dependent children (year-round intake).
Parents and grandparents (PGP) intake structured by interest-to-sponsor and invitations.

Sponsors must meet income and undertaking requirements; applicants undergo medical, criminality, and security screening.

Refugees and protected persons

Canada protects people who face persecution or risk of serious harm.

Overseas resettlement includes Government-Assisted Refugees (GAR), Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSR), and Blended Visa Office-Referred (BVOR).
In-Canada claims are decided by the IRB’s Refugee Protection Division, with limited appeals (RAD) and judicial review options.

Successful claimants may apply for permanent residence; unsuccessful claimants may face removal subject to risk reviews and exemptions.

Temporary residents

Visitors require visas or eTAs depending on nationality and purpose.
International students need study permits and must remain enrolled/active at designated learning institutions; some graduates may be eligible for post-graduation work permits.
Temporary workers hold employer-specific permits (often requiring an LMIA) or open work permits under the International Mobility Program (e.g., IEC/Working Holiday, spousal open permits).

Citizenship

Permanent residents can apply for citizenship after meeting physical-presence, language, tax-filing, and knowledge requirements. Successful applicants take the Oath of Citizenship; dual citizenship is generally permitted under Canadian law.

Settlement and integration

IRCC funds community agencies for: language training (LINC/CLIC), employment support, credential recognition navigation, newcomer info services, and specialized programs for youth, women, and refugees. Provinces/territories also fund services to meet local needs.

Compliance, inadmissibility, and enforcement

Grounds of inadmissibility include security, human rights violations, criminality, medical or financial reasons, and misrepresentation. CBSA conducts investigations, detentions (with reviews), and removals. IRCC may impose bars or revoke status for fraud.

Data, targets, and trends

Canada uses a multi-year levels plan to set targets by class (economic, family, refugee/protected). Immigration is a major contributor to population and labour-force growth. For the latest targets and quarterly admissions, see IRCC’s official releases and open data.

Rights and responsibilities

Newcomers have rights protected by the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and must follow Canadian laws, pay taxes, and comply with program conditions. Health coverage varies by province/territory (waiting periods may apply); visitors should consider Visitor Health Insurance for Canada (2025). Workers and students are subject to labour and academic rules respectively.

External links (official)

IRCC — Immigration & citizenship: https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html
IRB — Refugee & immigration appeals: https://irb-cisr.gc.ca/
CBSA — Border services: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/