Canada visa types
Explore Canada visa categories — work permits, study permits, family sponsorship, visitor visas, and permanent residence pathways.
34 visa types across 7 categories
Browse Canada visas
Canada visa types each have different requirements, timelines, and eligibility rules. Browse by category to find the right option, with processing times and links to official Canada sources.
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Showing 34 of 34 visa types
Most popular visa types
Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker)
Express Entry is an online system for applying for permanent residence through Canada’s economic immigration programs.
Study Permit
A Canada Study Permit allows you to study at a designated learning institution in Canada.
Global Talent Stream (GTS)
The Global Talent Stream (GTS) lets Canadian employers hire highly skilled foreign workers quickly under the Global Skills Strategy.
Work visas
Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
Canada BOWP guide covering eligibility, qualifying PR streams, IMM 5710, and how to keep working while IRCC reviews your permanent residence file.
Spousal Open Work Permit
The Canada spousal Open Work Permit allows some spouses or partners of temporary residents to work legally in Canada.
Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allows you to gain Canadian work experience after completing an eligible program of study.
Work Permit (Employer-Specific)
A Canada work permit lets you take temporary employment in Canada, but you need authorization from IRCC. Approval isn’t automatic.
Open Work Permit
An open work permit gives you broad access to the Canadian labour market. You’re not tied to one named employer.
International Experience Canada (IEC)
IEC is for eligible young people from partner countries to work and travel in Canada through a few defined categories.
LMIA-Based Work Permit
An LMIA-based work permit allows you to work in Canada only after your employer secures a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment.
Intra-Company Transferee Work Permit
A Canada Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) allows you to move from a foreign branch of a multinational company to a related Canadian enterprise.
Caregiver Immigration Programs
Canada’s caregiver immigration process allows you to apply for temporary work or permanent residence through specific caregiver pathways.
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP)
The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) is for Canadian employers who need to hire temporary foreign workers for seasonal farm work when local labour.
CETA Professional Work Permit
The CETA work permit lets certain EU professionals work in Canada temporarily under a trade agreement.
CPTPP Professional Work Permit
The CPTPP Professional Work Permit allows certain nationals of CPTPP member countries to work in Canada in a defined professional capacity.
Family visas
Spousal/Partner Sponsorship
Canada spousal sponsorship allows you to sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner for permanent residence through IRCC.
Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship
Canada’s parent sponsorship process lets you seek permanent resident status for your parents or grandparents through a formal family sponsorship stream.
Visit & tourism
Temporary Resident Visa (Visitor Visa)
A Canada visitor visa is a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) issued by IRCC for short-term travel.
Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA)
The Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is a pre-screening requirement for certain air travelers to Canada.
Super Visa (Parents and Grandparents)
The Super Visa allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens or permanent residents to visit Canada for extended stays.
Other pathways
Private Sponsorship of Refugees
Canada refugee sponsorship allows people in Canada to help refugees come to Canada and start a new life.
Refugee Claim (Asylum)
A refugee claim lets you ask Canada for protection if returning to your home country would put you at risk.
Humanitarian and Compassionate Considerations
A Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) application lets you ask Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to grant exemptions from certain.
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
A Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) lets you enter or remain in Canada even if you’re otherwise inadmissible.
Government-Assisted Refugee (GAR)
The GAR program is for refugees selected for resettlement by the Government of Canada.
Other
Quebec Skilled Worker Program
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is for those who want to settle in Quebec as permanent residents.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class targets skilled workers with Canadian work experience who want to become permanent residents.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled trades workers seeking permanent residence.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lets provinces and territories select immigrants who can support their local economies.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program allows eligible skilled workers and international graduates to apply for permanent residence in Canada’s Atlantic provinces.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) creates a direct pathway to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to settle in smaller.
Start-up Visa Program
The Start-up Visa Program allows you to apply for permanent residence if you plan to launch an innovative business in Canada.
Self-Employed Persons Program
The Self-Employed Program lets you immigrate to Canada as a permanent resident if you plan to work for yourself in cultural or athletic activities.
Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP)
The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP) gives skilled French-speaking candidates a pathway to permanent residence in specific Canadian communities.
Canada visa resources
Cross-cutting guides for requirements, fees, processing times, and common mistakes.
Tips for choosing a visa type
- Match your purpose of travel to the right visa category before comparing options.
- Check official processing times — they vary by visa type and location.
- Review required documents early; some visas need employer or school sponsorship.
- Understand the difference between nonimmigrant (temporary) and immigrant (permanent) visas.
- Use official government sources to verify eligibility — VisaMind provides guidance, not legal advice.
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