You have to first consider what your goals are in coming to Canada and decide if you are interested in visiting, studying, working or staying permanently.  It is recommended to contact a legal expert to assist you with your immigration goals to help you navigate your way through the immigration system.  A top immigration expert will find you the path to Canada that will generate the least amount of resistance in terms of cost, effort and time.

Canada is a tolerant, multicultural country with one of the highest standards of living in the world.  It is a member of the G7 nations that openly promotes and supports democracy, free speech and freedom of expression.  In 2022, Canada has opened up its immigration policies to grant permanent residence and citizenship to up to 500,000 foreign nationals a year.

Immigrating to Canada depends on what your life experiences are. There are a number of immigration programs are available that lead to permanent residency, including:

• Express Entry (EE): This is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada, due to its quick processing times. 
• Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): This is aimed at individuals who have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to a specific province or territory. 
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP): This program is for skilled foreign workers and international graduates who want to live and work in  Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick.
• Start-up Visa (SUV): Entrepreneurs with the skills to build innovative businesses in Canada, create jobs for Canadians, and compete on a global scale, can apply for a Start-up Visa. 
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP): This is a community-driven program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to live and work in a participating community. 
• Family Sponsorship: Family sponsorship provides a route for spouses, partners, children, parents, grandparents, and in certain cases, other relatives to live, work and study in Canada as PRs. 
• Quebec-selected Skilled Workers: This program is for skilled workers who wish to move as PRs and live and work in Quebec. 
• Caregivers: Caregivers can come to Canada to become a PR or work temporarily through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot or Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP). 
• Self-employed: The Self-employed Persons Program allows individuals with relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics to immigrate to Canada permanently as a self-employed person. 
• Agri-food Pilot: This program helps address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector and can be a pathway to PR.

Your family may be able to immigrate with you to Canada if they are processed for PR as your dependents. This includes:

• Spouse or common-law partner
• Dependent child
• Your spouse or common-law partner’s dependent child
• A dependent child of a dependent child

However, your dependents are not permitted to arrive in Canada before you. 

You can also sponsor eligible family members through the Family sponsorship program. This allows family members to live, work, and study in Canada. As a sponsor, you need to prove you will:

• Meet basic needs of food, shelter, and clothing for your family member
• Be able to support the family member financially for a period of time
• Not be receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability

In order to be eligible for Canadian citizenship, you must:

• Be a permanent resident
• Filed your taxes for at least three years
• Pass a citizenship test 
• Prove your language skills in English or French
• Not have a criminal record

There are several steps involved in applying for Canadian citizenship:

• Calculate your physical presence in Canada: You must have been physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years).
• Download and fill out an application package: Be sure to fill out the form correctly, include two certified citizenship photos and all supporting documents, such as immigration documents, proof of language, photo ID.
• Pay application fees: The fees for each adult citizenship application are $630 CAD and each minor application (less than 18-years-old) is $100 CAD. 
• Submit your application: Send your completed application package by mail or courier as soon as possible. 
• Take the citizenship test: Once your application has been reviewed, you may be invited to take a citizenship test within weeks after your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter. The citizenship test is based on the official citizenship study guide, Discover Canada: The Rights and Responsibilities of Citizenship. You can take the test in English or French. 
• Attend an interview: Immediately after your test, a citizen official will meet with you and check your language skills, verify your application and original documents and ask questions they may have.

Take the Oath of Citizenship: The citizenship ceremony is the final step to becoming Canadian and usually takes place within three months after your test.

The Express Entry (EE) system is one of the most popular ways for foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada. Express Entry is an online immigration application system that allows prospective newcomers to be considered as a skilled immigrant. A EE profile will determine your ranking and can be used to apply for:

• Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program: This program is for applicants with significant foreign work experience and/or a high level of education who want to immigrate to Canada permanently. 
• Federal Skilled Trades (FST) program: This program is for skilled tradespeople who want to immigrate to Canada.
• Canadian Experience Class: This program is for foreign nationals who have been working in Canada for a period of at least one year to apply for Permanent Residence (PR).

Foreign nationals will need a work permit to be allowed to work in Canada. However, sometimes you may be eligible to work in Canada without a work permit. 

There are two types of work permits:

• Open work permit: This allows you to work for any employer in Canada and you can only get an open work permit in specific situations.
• Employer-specific work permit: Also called a closed work permit specifies the name of the employer you can work for, location, and for how long you can work. 

The other way individuals from other countries can legally work in Canada is to apply for International Experience Canada (IEC) which is also known as a Working Holiday Visa. Learn more about IEC, check eligibility, and get information on processing times and fees on the government website. 

International students in Canada may also be eligible to work during their studies.  Some study permits list a condition that says you’re allowed to work on- or off-campus while in school. However, once you graduate, you’ll need to apply for a work permit in Canada or apply for a Post-graduate Work Permit (PGWP), or apply for permanent residence.

Canada provides the opportunity to gain a world-class education in a multi-cultural setting, making it a rewarding decision. To study in Canada as an international student, you need to apply for a study permit:

• Enroll at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). 
• Get your documents ready, including proof of acceptance, proof of identity, and proof of financial support. 
• Apply for a student permit online or via mail. 
• Prepare for arrival once your student permit has been approved. You will need to have the following documents:
• Passport and travel documents, including a letter of introduction
• Valid eTA or temporary resident visa
• Valid letter of acceptance from a school
• Proof of funds to support yourself in Canada 
• Any other letters of reference
• Proof of leaving Canada at the end of your stay

The cost of moving to Canada largely depends on which program you are applying to, as the amount will vary from program to program.  

• Express Entry and PNP: An individual applicant needs approximately $15,000 CAD to immigrate to Canada. Couples would need around $20,000 CAD, while families with children will require between $24,000 to $30,000 CAD. These amounts include everything from language tests to biometrics to PR fees to a police certificate. 
• Study permit: You must be accepted into a Canadian Designated Learning Institution in order to apply for a study permit. The cost is approximately $12,985 CAD, excluding tuition fees. International students should also factor in between $19,250 and $32,020 CAD per tuition year.
• Working Holiday Visa: Youth from over 30 countries can apply to live and work in Canada. More details about this program are available on the Government website. The average cost is approximately $3,350 CAD.