Important Links

I. Immigration

A. Immigration in General

To find about more about how to immigrate to Canada, please visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC) website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca

For all the forms required to apply for immigration to Canada, please visit the following website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/index.html

B. Business Immigrants

i) Entrepreneur

The Entrepreneur Program seeks to attract experienced persons that will own and actively manage businesses in Canada that will contribute to the economy and create jobs. Entrepreneurs must demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth of CDN $300,000 and are subject to conditions upon arrival in Canada. For more information, visit the following website:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/business/entrep-l.html

ii) Investor

The Immigrant· Investor Program seeks to attract experienced persons and capital to Canada. Investors must demonstrate business experience, a minimum net worth of CDN $800,000 and make an investment of CDN $400,000. For more information, please refer to:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/business/invest-l.html

iii) Self-Employed

Self-employed persons must have the intention and ability to create their own employment. They are expected to contribute to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. They may create their own employment by purchasing and managing a farm in Canada. For further information, visit:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/business/self-l.html

C. Skilled Worker

Canada's citizenship and immigration programs help build a community of citizens respected throughout the world. Applying to come to Canada as a Skilled Worker is not difficult. Consult the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website to find all the information and forms you need to make your application:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/skilled/index.html

D. Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Alberta Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is an employer driven program operated by the Government of Alberta, in conjunction with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (ClC). Employers unable to fill skilled positions with Canadian residents may present their business case to the PNP and apply for approval to recruit a specified number of foreign candidates to fill these positions. Skilled Workers cannot initiate the process. For further information, please refer to:

http://www.alberta-canada.com/pnp/

II. Foreign Worker Programs * Please note: Human Resources & Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is now officially Service Canada *

A. Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW)

Every year over 90,000 foreign workers enter Canada working temporarily to help Canadian employers address skill shortages in Canada. Please visit the following website for further information on working temporarily in Canada:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/index.html

Trades which require Alberta certification:

http://www.tradesecrets.gov.ab.ca/quick_facts/pdf/designated_trades_certification.pdf

Application to Work in Canada: Work Permits:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/work.html

The Worker's Role: Temporary workers must also meet the requirements that apply to all temporary residents in order to come to Canada. Find out what you must do before working in Canada:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/worker-1.html

The Employer's Role: Before a foreign national may work in Canada, you, as an employer, must check with Service Canada to confirm the job offer you have made to the foreign worker. Find out what you must do before you can hire a foreign national:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/employer-1.html

What Service Canada will do: Service Canada's role is to provide advice to CIC regarding the impact on the Canadian labour market that the entry of a foreign worker will have:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/hrdc-1.html

The Canadian Embassy will process the Work Permit application and issue the Work Permit with potential to be renewed. Application to Change Conditions or Extend Your Stay in Canada as a Worker:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/applications/extend-worker.html

B. North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)

The NAFT A is restricted to citizens of the United States and Mexico. It allows for the transfer of executive and management personnel, and persons with specialized knowledge, to an enterprise's operations which are located in the territory of another NAFTA party. The NAFTA applies to four specific categories of businesspersons: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors. To find out more, please refer to:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/you-asked/section-18.html

C. General Agreement on Trades in Services (GATS)

Under the GATS, Canada has committed to facilitate market access for certain businesspersons who are foreign service providers in specified sectors. Three categories of businesspersons are covered: business visitors, professionals and intra-company transferees. For more information, please visit:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/you-asked/section-18.html

D. Canada-Chile Free Trade Agreement (CCFT A)

The CCFT A is modelled on the NAFT A and makes it easier for Canadian and Chilean citizens to temporarily enter the other country. The rules and requirements are similar to those under the NAFTA and cover the four categories of business persons: business visitors, professionals, intracompany transferees, and traders and investors. To find out more, please refer to:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/you-asked/section-18.html

E. Seasonal Agriculture

Employing agricultural foreign workers can help you as a producer meet your labour needs during peak agricultural periods. The Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SA WP) allows the organized entry of foreign workers to work in agricultural labourer occupations in Canada. To find out more, please refer to:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/epb/lmd/fw/seasagri.shtml

F. Pilot Project for Hiring Foreign Workers in Occupations that Normally Require a High School Diploma or Job Specific Training

When planning to hire foreign workers in occupations that usually require at most a high school diploma or a maximum of 2 years of job-specific training, Service Canada has developed a pilot project that will carefully balance your labour needs with your comprehensive efforts to hire Canadians, and the well-being of the foreign workers in Canada. For more information on this program, please refer to:

http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/epb/lmd/fw/lowskill.shtml

G. German-Canadian Youth Mobility Program

The German-Canadian Youth Mobility Program offers both Canadian and German graduates and young professionals (between the ages of 18~35) the opportunity to strengthen their qualifications through practical experience in their field of professional training. The duration of placements within this program will not exceed 12 months. The program welcomes applicants from all professions. A Service Canada Labour Market Opinion is not required. For further information (*German), please refer to the following website:

http://www.arbeitsagentur.de/