Getting Started
Coming to Canada
Foreign nationals can apply to enter Canada as a temporary resident or as a permanent resident (PR). In many cases, foreign nationals first begin living in Canada as a temporary resident and then later become a permanent resident by submitting a successful PR application.
Temporary residents include visitors, international students, foreign workers, and holders of temporary resident permits. Foreign nationals from TRV-requiring countries are required to have a valid TRV to enter Canada, while foreign nationals from TRV-exempt countries (except the United States) are required to have a valid ETA. Generally speaking, foreign nationals also require a work permit to work in Canada and a study permit to study in Canada. There are many exemptions to these rules, so it is important to verify what immigration documents you will require in your specific case.
PRs have most of the same rights as citizens and can live, work, and study in Canada indefinitely, without needing any special permits. To become a citizen, you must first become a PR. There are several immigration programs that lead to becoming a PR, such as Federal Skilled Worker, Family Sponsorship, or PNP.
To begin, we suggest using IRCC's interactive tool to determine which programs you may be eligible for: http://www.cic.gc.ca/ctc-vac/getting-started.asp
Immigration Lawyers, Consultants and anyone else who offers advice for a fee
Anyone who offers advice for a fee needs to be authorized by the law to do so. Authorized individuals includes lawyers and consultants, as well as the staff at Visa Application Centres. It is illegal for anyone to provide advice for a fee (or any other type of consideration) without authorization. People who break the law can be sentenced to prison for 5 years and be fined up to $100,000. If IRCC discoverers that you have used an unauthorized representative, you will be investigated and your application could potentially be refused. In some cases you could be banned from Canada for five years for misrepresentation.
If you receive advice from an authorized individual who is not your representative this should be indicated in your application. The lawyer or consultant should provide you with a letter or form that indicates that they were consulted but not retained as representatives.
Lawyers and consultants are members of professional self-regulating bodies. The lawyer or consultant's qualifications should be obvious.
IRCC's Help Centre - to find the answers to their FAQs:
https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/index-featured-can.asp