Citizenship programs include:
- Express Entry:
The Express Entry program is a merit-based immigration system that allows qualified individuals to come to Canada as permanent residents. Applicants are evaluated based on factors such as age, education, work experience and language skills.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP):
They are immigration programs designed by the provinces and territories of Canada. Each province has its own PNP with specific selection criteria to attract immigrants who meet their labor and economic needs.
- Family sponsorship:
Allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their close family members, so they can reunite in Canada. This includes spouses, common-law partners, children, parents and grandparents. Sponsors commit to providing financial and social support to their loved ones for a specified period.
- Caregivers:
The Caregivers in Canada program is designed to attract workers who want to provide care for children, elderly or disabled people in the country. Caregivers can apply for permanent residency after meeting certain work experience and training requirements.
- Self-employed:
It is an option for individuals who have exceptional abilities in areas such as sports, art, culture or agriculture. Applicants must demonstrate that they can contribute significantly to the economic or cultural development of Canada as self-employed workers.
See full list of programs
Do you have questions about immigration or settling in Canada?
Our partners at Canada Visa have a free online assessment form which will help to determine the best immigration path for you. Once you have completed the form, Canada Visa will contact you to provide further help and answer any questions you may have.
Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) – What are they?
Part of the process of applying to many of Canada’s immigration programs is to prove language ability. The Government of Canada uses Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLBs) as a measure of English language ability. These CLBs are aligned to the band scores of IELTS for Canadian immigration.
We have created a handy calculator so that you can easily convert IELTS band scores to the equivalent CLB.
See calculator
Most programs require that you have an IELTS band score in the General Training version of the test, but make sure you check with the immigration program specifications before you register for your IELTS test.
Find out more about CLB to IELTS
How can I improve my CLB score?
Because the CLBs are aligned to IELTS band scores, the higher IELTS band score you achieve, the more likely your CLB score will be higher. To improve your IELTS band score, visit our IELTS preparation page to get a variety of resources, including:
- An IELTS Prep App
- IELTS test advice webinars
- Sample question papers
- Practice activities