General Information
The following information applies only to applications to permanently immigrate. It does not apply to Work Permits, Students or Visitors or if you plan to live in Quebec.
Spouses and dependant children can immigrate with the person who meets the immigration requirements.
You and your dependants must not have a serious criminal record or be a security risk.
You and your dependents must be healthy.
If your application is approved, you will be given a visa that expires one year after you passed your medical examination.
Permanent Residence Status
When you first immigrate you are given a probationary status called "permanent residence". You can be deported from Canada if you do not meet the residency requirements, if you get a serious criminal conviction or if there were problems in your application. In general, the residency requirement is that you must be present in Canada for 2 years out of every 5 year period. However, there are some important exceptions to this rule.
Canadian Citizenship and Passport
After 3 years residing in Canada, you can get Canadian citizenship and a Canadian passport.