👩‍🏭 Visas in Canada

 🇺🇸 American citizens

Visitor Status (No Visa Required)

• Stay: Up to 6 months

• Work: No

• Best for: House hunting, exploring before permanent move

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

Study Permit

• Popular path: Study → work permit → permanent residence

• Post-graduation work permit: Up to 3 years after studies

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

Work Permit

• Requirements: Job offer from Victoria employer

• Timeline: 2-8 weeks (online)

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit if job is skilled (NOC 0, A, B)

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/work-permit.html

Express Entry (Permanent Residence)

• Requirements: Skilled work experience + language test + education assessment

• BC PNP: Faster if you have BC job offer

• Timeline: 6-12 months

• welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/for-workers

NAFTA/CUSMA Work Permits

• For: Certain professionals (engineers, accountants, etc.)

• No job offer needed for some categories

• Timeline: 2-24 weeks

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/special-instructions/business-people.html

🇦🇺 Australian citizens | 🇳🇿 New Zealand citizens

Working Holiday Visa

• Age: 18-35 years old (Australia), 18-30 (New Zealand)

• Stay: Up to 1 year

• Work: Any job, 6-month limit per employer

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html

Study Permit

• Popular path: Study → work permit → permanent residence

• Post-graduation work permit: Up to 3 years after studies

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

Work Permit

• Requirements: Job offer + employer gets LMIA

• Processing: 6-10 weeks

• Pathway: Can lead to permanent residence

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/work-permit.html

Express Entry

• Strong candidates: English speakers with skilled work experience

• Provincial Nominee Program: BC actively recruits skilled workers

• welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/for-workers

🇨🇳 Chinese Citizens

Visitor Visa

• Required: Must apply in advance

• Stay: Up to 6 months

• Processing: 3-6 weeks

• Multiple entry available

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

Study Permit

• Popular path: Study → work permit → permanent residence

• Post-graduation work permit: Up to 3 years after studies

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

Work Permit

• Requirements: Job offer + LMIA

• Skilled workers in demand in Victoria tech sector

• Processing: 8-16 weeks

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/work-permit.html

Express Entry

• Language requirement: English or French test required

• Education: Foreign credentials must be assessed

• welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/for-workers

🇪🇺 EU citizens

Working Holiday Visa (Youth)

• Age: 18-30 years old

• Stay: Up to 2 years

• Work: Any job, any employer

• Application: Opens randomly throughout year (high demand)

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html

Study Permit

• Popular path: Study → work permit → permanent residence

• Post-graduation work permit: Up to 3 years after studies

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

Visitor Status

• Stay: Up to 6 months

• eTA required (quick online application)

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

Work Permit

• Requirements: Victoria job offer + Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

• Family: Spouse gets open work permit for skilled jobs

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/work-permit.html

Express Entry

• Advantage: English language (no test needed if educated in English)

• BC PNP stream available for skilled workers

• welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/for-workers

🇬🇧 UK citizens

Working Holiday Visa (Youth)

• Age: 18-30 years old

• Stay: Up to 2 years

• Work: Any job, any employer

• Application: Opens randomly throughout year (high demand)

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html

Visitor Status

• Stay: Up to 6 months

• eTA required (quick online application)

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/extend-stay.html

Study Permit

• Popular path: Study → work permit → permanent residence

• Post-graduation work permit: Up to 3 years after studies

• Family: Spouse can get open work permit

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/study-permit/apply.html

Work Permit

• Requirements: Victoria job offer + Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

• Family: Spouse gets open work permit for skilled jobs

• canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/work-permit.html

Express Entry

• Advantage: English language (no test needed if educated in English)

• BC PNP stream available for skilled workers

• welcomebc.ca/immigrate-to-b-c/for-workers

💼 Most Common Paths to Victoria

1. Working Holiday → Work Permit → PR

• Best for: Young professionals wanting to try Canada

• Timeline: 2-4 years to permanent residence

2. Study → Post-Graduate Work Permit → PR

• Best for: Career changers, gaining Canadian experience

• Timeline: 3-5 years

3. Direct Work Permit → PR

• Best for: Skilled workers with in-demand jobs

• Timeline: 1-3 years

4. Express Entry (Direct PR)

• Best for: Highly skilled workers with strong English/French

• Timeline: 6-12 months

📞 Immigration lawyers and resources

Immigration Lawyers in Victoria

• Here’s a list of all the lawyers practicing immigration law in Victoria, BC

Regulated Immigration Consultants

• Check CICC website for licensed consultants

Government Resources

• IRCC website: canada.ca/immigration

• BC PNP: gov.bc.ca/pnp

⚠️ Important Notes

• Processing times change frequently - check IRCC website for current times

• Job offers must be genuine - avoid immigration scams

• Language tests expire after 2 years

• Medical exams required for most work permits and PR applications

• Police certificates needed from countries where you've lived 6+ months