Other immigration services
At SPA Immigration Canada we assist you in the following immigration processes:
Temporary Residence
Visitor Visa
Canada welcomes over 35 million temporary residents each year and for temporary residence applications, you will need a Temporary Resident Visa "TRV" or an Electronic Travel Authorization "eTA" unless you are a US citizen.
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The TRV is a document issued by a Canadian immigration visa office outside of Canada, which shows that you have met the requirements for admission to Canada as a visitor and can be for a single entry or for multiple entries. The TRV does not necessarily mean that the Canadian port of entry officer will admit you into Canada. That is why it is very important to demonstrate the temporary nature of your stay and to show that you have the necessary funds to cover your needs during your stay. Your medical condition and absence of a criminal record may also be taken into account.
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As of March 15, 2016, travellers with passports from visa-exempt countries entering Canada by air will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) - Canada.ca.
Visitor visas can have different durations depending on your interest in staying in Canada. As a visitor, you are eligible to enroll in a language course (English or French) in Canada without a study permit, for any language program of less than six months duration.
Super visas Parents and Grandparents
Visitors are admitted to Canada for a maximum period of six months, after which, if they wish to stay longer, they must apply for an extension of their stay.
However, if you have children or grandchildren who are permanent residents or Canadian citizens, there is a specific visa for this situation. Unlike the visitor visa, the Super Visa for parents and grandparents is valid for ten years and allows you to stay in Canada for a maximum period of two years during your first visit, without needing to apply for an extension of your stay.
Business Visas
The business visitor category facilitates entry for individuals who conduct business or commercial activities in Canada and still require a TRV or eTA to enter Canada. You may wish to come to Canada as a business visitor for the purpose of purchasing Canadian goods or services on behalf of a foreign entity; receiving training from a Canadian parent company to work outside Canada; training employees of a Canadian subsidiary of a foreign company or attending business meetings, conferences, conventions, fairs...
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Therefore, you must meet the following general criteria: i) you do not intend to enter the Canadian labour market, ii) the activity in Canada must be international in scope and iii) documentation attesting to the desired status in Canada, such as a letter of support from a parent company, an invitation letter from a Canadian company or any other document relevant to the purpose of the business trip.
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As of September 7, 2021, if you qualify for the exemption for fully vaccinated travellers, you may be able to enter Canada. You will also need to meet all entry requirements.
Regular Skilled Worker Program
The Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP) is for you if you want to immigrate to Québec permanently to work.
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ARRIMA selects candidates through the ARRIMA portal and invites them to apply for permanent selection through a Québec Selection Certificate "CSQ". To be selected, you must have training and professional skills that will facilitate your integration into the labour market in Québec.
Other factors are also taken into account, such as: language proficiency; your age; the characteristics of your spouse and the presence of children.
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Additional points and selection priority are awarded to applicants with a Validated Job Offer. This is another application where your employer confirms a permanent job offer to you.
If you are currently working or studying in Quebec, you may be eligible for the PEQ (Programme de l'Expérience Québécoise), which is a faster way to apply for immigration.
Validated job offer
A validated job offer is a permanent job offer from a Quebec employer that is accepted by Quebec Immigration. In order for your job offer to be accepted, you will need to demonstrate to Quebec Immigration that your employer meets the requirements and eligibility to hire you and that you also have the skills and experience for the position.
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Once your validated job offer has been accepted by Quebec Immigration, you may receive 8 points for Montreal or up to 14 additional points for the rest of Quebec for your Quebec Skilled Worker Selection Factors Points Grid. Other requirements are needed for all validated job offers:
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Your employer must have been in business in Quebec for at least one year;
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You must meet the requirements to perform the job;
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Your employer must offer you a salary that is equal to or higher than the national average for your years of experience in the field;
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The employer's recruitment efforts and advertising of the job to other Canadians;
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Once your validated job offer has been approved by Quebec Immigration, you will be invited to apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate "CSQ" on the Quebec Skilled Worker Program's online portal: Mon Projet Québec. Note: Your application will benefit from priority processing times since you have a positive validated job offer.
Québec Experience Program
The "Programme de l'Expérience Québécoise (PEQ)" is a fast-track immigration stream that allows you to quickly obtain a Certificat de Sélection du Québec "CSQ" and apply for Canadian permanent residence.
This program contains two pathways in which you can apply: Quebec Graduate and Worker with a Post-Graduation Work Permit:
1. Quebec Graduate:
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You must demonstrate that you have graduated from one of the following eligible diplomas within the last 3 years: Bachelor's degree; Master's degree; Doctorate; Diplôme d'études Collégiales (DEC) technical level; Diplôme d'études Professionnelles (DEP) of 1,800 hours or more; Diplôme d'études Professionnelles (DEP); Attestation de Spécialisation Professionnelle (ASP) for a minimum of 1,800 hours;
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You must also present proof of knowledge of French by showing a final academic transcript from your study program completed in Quebec that was entirely in French -OR- showing a French language test result of a B2 level.
2. Holder of a postgraduate work permit:
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Have a valid work permit;
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Have at least one year of work experience in the last two years;
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You must have a job in a skilled occupation (NOC 0, A, B) at the time of filing;
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Proof of knowledge of French by submitting a final academic transcript showing that you have completed a study program of at least three years in Quebec that was entirely in French -OR- French language test results showing that you have reached a B2 level.
Quebec Immigration
Work Permit
If you have a potential employer in Canada, you may be able to come to work and gain Canadian work experience that will eventually allow you to apply for permanent residence in Canada through immigration programs.
Work permit with labour market impact assessment (LMIA)
Regular LMIA Applications: The standard process is divided into two steps: the employer applies for an LMIA for a temporary foreign worker and the foreign employee applies for the work permit visa;
NOTE: To determine whether the job offered in Canada is a high or low wage position, you must check whether the wage offered is higher or lower than the median average in your province. The employer must then conduct and provide evidence of recruitment efforts to hire Canadians and permanent residents before offering the jobs to a temporary foreign employee.
Streamlined LMIA applications: In Quebec, some jobs may qualify for this streamlined process. It removes the recruitment requirement from the LMIA application. The Quebec government determines regional occupation needs, based on labour shortages.
Once your LMIA application is approved, you will be able to apply for a closed work permit visa which can be valid for up to two years.
Family Sponsorship
Your family members can live, study and work in Canada if they become permanent residents of Canada. You can sponsor certain family members to come to Canada if you are at least 18 years old and are:
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Canadian citizen or;
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a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or;
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permanent resident of Canada
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You may sponsor a foreign national with whom you are married, who is a common-law partner or conjugal partner, as well as their spouses or same-sex partners are also eligible to sponsor under this program and are not discriminated against under Canadian law.
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The family class sponsorship program also allows you to include your dependent children on your application. You can also sponsor your adopted children, your grandchildren, your parents, and your grandparents.
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If you have a potential employer in Canada, you may be able to come to work and gain Canadian work experience that will eventually allow you to apply for permanent residence in Canada through immigration programs.
Study Permit
Canada is among the country with the highest quality educational institutions in the world. Depending on your qualifications, there are various programs available to further your education and you can apply for vocational studies, undergraduate studies and postgraduate studies.
If you have received an acceptance letter from your desired program, the next step is to obtain your study permit before coming to Canada. Make sure you know what the requirements are, as they differ depending on the length of the program and whether or not your family members are accompanying you.
Additionally, if you plan to study in Quebec, you will need to complete and submit a Quebec Certificate of Acceptance (CAQ) before applying for your study permit.
NOTE: Your application must convince the Immigration Officer of the temporary nature of your stay in Canada.
Humanitarian and compassionate considerations
If you want to become a Canadian permanent resident but do not qualify for any program and are in an exceptional situation, you may qualify to apply for permanent residence on humanitarian grounds.
These applications are dealt with on a case-by-case basis and the following factors are used to determine whether an application for humanitarian permanent residence should be granted: i) the level of establishment in Canada, ii) family ties in Canada, iii) the best interests of the child, and iv) the consequences if the application is refused.
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NOTE: Each case is evaluated separately and the immigration officer must be convinced that there are sufficient grounds to obtain permanent residence through a humanitarian and compassionate application.
Citizenship
Once you are a permanent resident of Canada and have resided in Canada for the required number of days, you may apply for Canadian citizenship. The days of your physical presence in Canada must be clear and not subject to confusion. If your application is approved, you will be called to take a citizenship test and finally to take the oath of citizenship. Once you have obtained Canadian citizenship, you may apply for a Canadian passport.
To be eligible, you must have lived in Canada for at least three of the last five years (1,095 days), filed your tax return, passed a citizenship test, demonstrate your knowledge of English or French, and other requirements may apply.