Visa for Canada

Are you planning to stay in Canada for a longer period of time or even emigrate? Generally speaking, it is not that easy to secure a permanent visa for Canada. But your chances increase if you are a skilled worker. You also have the option of staying in Canada for a limited period of time. Find out more about your visa options in this article.

As a German tourist, you may enter Canada with a visitor visa, also known as Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). Processing your eTA can take several days so please make sure you apply well before your visit. If your eTA application is incomplete, it may be delayed or refused, which can incur high cancellation fees. To apply for your eTA, you need a valid passport (an ID card is not enough). Please note that with an eTA, you have to arrive in Canada by airplane, not by road or sea transport.

With a valid eTA, you can stay in Canada for up to six months. Your eTA is linked to your passport, so it remains valid for five years or when your passport expires. That means that if you need a new passport, you will also need a new eTA. Please note that an eTA does not give you permission to work in Canada. You will need a work visa for this purpose.

As a skilled worker, you can also apply for a permanent visa. Preparing to emigrate to Canada can be a very long and tedious process. Our goal is to break it down as much as possible and support you along the way.  

Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) divides jobs and qualifications into so-called TEER categories.

1. To qualify for the Skilled Worker Program, you need at least 67 out of 100 points. 

You get points for:

• Language skills (28 points max.)
• Occupational training/apprenticeship (25 points max.)
• Work experience (15 points max.)
• Age (12 points max. – you get the most points if you are between 18 and 37 years old)
• Canadian employment contract that spans over at least one year (10 points)
• Adaptability (10 points max.)

2. You must also meet the requirements for one of the following programmes:

Canadian Experience Class

for skilled workers with at least one year of work experience in Canada within the last three years (TEER categories 0-3)

Federal Skilled Worker Program

for skilled workers with work experience in Canada or other countries that meet additional language and education requirements (TEER categories 0-3)

Federal Skilled Trades Program

for skilled workers in trade jobs with work experience in other countries, a job offer or a Canadian Certificate of Qualification and solid language skills. You will receive the Certificate of Qualification from your Canadian province once your qualification has been reviewed.

You must also have sufficient funds and state a potential address for residence.

3. You will then create a profile using the Express Entry System, an online system that processes applications from applicants for the above-mentioned programmes.

You will need the following documents to register:

• Your passport
• A language test from a recognised language institute
• An “Educational credential assessment report” to assess your qualifications
• A job offer or employment contract from a Canadian company (if available)
• Proof of work experience
• “Certificate of Qualification” for skilled trades (if available)
• Proof of sufficient financial means

If you get enough points, you will be included in an applicant pool. From there, your profile will be re-evaluated using a separate points system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). As part of this process, your skills, training and qualifications, language proficiency, work experience and other factors will be assessed once again. All profile submissions are evaluated as part of fortnightly invitation rounds. It is crucial that you are among the best in your candidate group. You will have a leg up if you get more than the minimum amount of points. If you are among the top candidates, you will receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence within the next 60 days.

This programme is also dedicated to skilled workers, but each province and territory is in charge of actioning it themselves, which is why there are different requirements for each applicant. Once you know which province or territory you want to apply to, please make sure you find out about the corresponding requirements.

You can apply for the Provincial Nominee Program online using the Express Entry System, or contact your province or territory directly. To apply online, set up a profile and state the provinces and territories you are interested in. If your profile is chosen, you will receive a “notification of interest”, in which case you can contact the province or territory directly. If you get a nomination, you must add it to your profile, which gives you an extra 600 points towards the Comprehensive Ranking System. Then you cross your fingers and hope to get an invitation to apply for permanent residence.

If you do not want to apply via the Express Entry System, please send your application directly to the province or territory of your choosing. Check first to see if you qualify for the PNP of the respective province or territory. Then you can apply via the Permanent Residence Portal. If you get a nomination, you can apply for permanent residence online.

Do you have family or relatives in Canada? If so, they might be your gateway to a permanent visa for Canada. However, the family sponsorship process comes with strict requirements.

Your Canada-based family member or relative has to meet the following criteria:

• Canadian citizenship or permanent residence permit
• Canadian residence
• Sufficient financial means to cover themselves and you/the person planning to emigrate to Canada

Only the following family members can come to Canada on a family sponsorship:

• Brother, sister, nephew, niece or grandchildren if underage and orphaned
• Spouses and life partners
• Son or daughter (either underage or no older than 22 and financially dependent)
• Parents
• Grandparents

Other relatives such as aunts and uncles may also enter Canada on a family sponsorship if the following criteria apply:

• if the person already living in Canada no longer has any living close relatives, or
• if they have no other relatives in Canada.

If you qualify for this programme, you will need to complete several applications. The competent Canadian authority will then review whether your sponsor ticks all the boxes before checking if you meet all the relevant criteria as an applicant. If your application is approved, you will get a so-called “Confirmation of Permanent Residence”. You must have this document on you when you enter the country.

Do you have a business idea that you want to start in Canada? Then a start-up visa might be the right choice for you. To qualify, your business idea has to be innovative and your new company should have the potential to create jobs in Canada and be globally competitive.

Requirements:  

• You must present your business idea to an organisation and get their approval.
• You must have the required language skills.
• You must have sufficient financial means to secure your livelihood in Canada.

Once you have decided on a programme that is right for you, please do your research and allow extra time for any approvals you may need. If you plan to emigrate to Québec, please gather all the information you need, as the local regulations differ from those for the rest of Canada.