Canada Work Visas
As Canadian immigration specialists Global Visas assist with the complete range of Canadian visas and immigration services from short stay visit visas through to applications for permanent residency and Canadian citizenship. We help with applications for the Federal Skilled Worker visa and we provide corporate work permit services helping Canadian companies to source the employees they need.
To find out how Global Visas can help you, visit our online assessment area today. Whether you’re an individual looking to extend your Canadian visa, or a Canadian company bringing employees from overseas to live and work in Canada, our team of specialist Canadian immigration consultants are committed to helping you obtain the right visa service for your needs.
Federal Skilled Worker Visa
The Federal Skilled worker visa is a direct route to permanent residency in Canada designed for the most highly skilled migrants whose skills and qualifications will be of the greatest economic benefit to Canada. Skilled worker visas are based on a points assessment which examines a candidates’ education, language skills, work experience and age as well as the likelihood of them adapting to life in Canada. Extra points may also be awarded for a pre-arranged job offer, although unlike a Canadian work permit, a prearranged offer of employment is not mandatory.
Candidates must obtain a minimum of 67 points across the assessment areas with education and language proficiency the most heavily weighted factors. Language proficiency is assessed on the four areas or writing, reading, speaking and listening, and although proficiency in both the official languages of Canada, English and French is not essential, candidates must have a high level of competence in at least one of these languages.
Quebec Immigration – Applying for a Quebec Skilled Worker Visa
The Province of Quebec also offers a skilled worker visa which like the Federal skilled worker visa provides a route to permanent residency with the possibility of applying for Canadian citizenship after the three year minimum residency requirement. However, although the Quebec Skilled Worker Visa assesses candidates on many of the same criteria as its Federal counterpart, since Quebec is a predominantly French speaking province, more emphasis is paced upon the candidates ability to communicate in French than in English, although once again proficiency in both languages will gain extra points. Extra points may also be awarded where children are included in the applicant’s dependents.
The factor of employment is also treated differently under the Quebec skilled worker visa and applicants must gain at least 8 points in this area in order to qualify. 12 points may be obtained where a candidate will relocating to Canada to perform a job in a specialist occupation, and 15 points are available under the Quebec Immigration Assured Job Program for candidates who already have an approved offer of employment which has undergone labour market testing. Where candidates do not qualify for either of these options, the minimum of 8 points must be achieved through assessment under the Quebec Immigration Employability and Professional Mobility Program. A Global Visas immigration consultant will be able to discuss the requirement of this programme with you.
Canadian Work Permits
The process of applying for a Canadian work permit is employer led and allows Canadian employers to seek employees from overseas where they have been unable to fill positions from within the domestic workforce. To ensure that no existing Canadian citizens or Canadian permanent resident is displaced by the proposed employee, all job offers must be approved by the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). Unlike a skilled worker visa, work permits are not issued as a route to permanent residency and do not permit their holder to live and work in Canada per se. Applicants may only work for their specified employer in the position outlined and must have a firm offer of employment in order for an application to be submitted.
Canadian Business Visas
Canada also offers a range of business visas, known collectively as the Canadian Business Immigration Program which provide routes to permanent residency based on a candidate's proven business experience and ability to invest in a Canadian enterprise.
Canadian Entrepreneur Immigrant Programme
The Canadian Entrepreneur Visa is based on a points system similar to that employed in the skilled migrant visa although like all business visas the points threshold is significantly lower. Many of the same key factors are assessed including a candidate’s experience, qualifications, age and adaptability and proficiency in either English or French is essential though ability in both will secure extra points.
However, as a business visa this route aims to attract candidates who can further the economic development of Canada through managing a business and creating jobs. As a result a candidate must have a minimum of two years proven business experience and must be able to invest a minimum of $300,000 CDN.
The Canadian Immigrant Investor Program
Canadian Investor visas use a similar points system to that used in entrepreneur visas with the same points threshold and the same key assessment factors. However, the investor visa focuses more on the candidate's ability to invest a large sum in the Canadian economy and focuses less upon proved business experience. The key requirement for this Canadian immigration service is that candidates must be able to invest a minimum of $400,000 CDN and in addition, candidates must be able to demonstrate that their net worth is at least $800,000 CDN.
The Canadian Self-Employed Immigration program
The third component of the Canadian Business Immigration Program is the Canada Self Employed Visa which once again uses the same points based format as the other Canadian business visas with age, experience, qualifications and adaptability being the focus of the points evaluation and proficiency in English or French an essential requirement. However, unlike Canadian investor visas and entrepreneur visas, the self employed option does not require a minimum net worth or proof of business experience. The self employed visa requires a candidate to either buy and manage a farm or to submit a business proposal for a venture which will be of benefit to the sporting or cultural development of the country. Applicants must be able to show that their venture is viable and that they have sufficient financial support to carry out their proposals and to support themselves and any dependents joining them in Canada.
Visit the Global Visas online assessment area today to begin your Canadian work visa or business visa application. Just take a few moments to fill in one of our simple online assessment forms and a consultant will contact you directly.
