What is Canada's Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, CEC, FST)?

Skilled workers applying for permanent residence directly — no employer needed. Three programs feed one pool: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades. It lasts this is permanent residence from day one — a 5-year renewable PR card, not a temporary permit. It *is* the permanent route. Citizenship becomes available after 3 years of physical presence within a 5-year window.

What is Canada's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?

People willing to commit to a specific province. Every province except Quebec runs streams targeting its own labour shortages, and Quebec selects separately under its own system. It lasts leads to permanent residence. It is a permanent-residence route; the same 3-year physical-presence clock to citizenship applies.

What is Canada's Work permit (LMIA-based or exempt)?

People coming to work temporarily, often as a stepping stone to permanent residence via Canadian Experience Class. It lasts typically tied to the job offer, commonly 1–3 years, renewable. Indirect but well-trodden: one year of skilled Canadian work experience qualifies you for Canadian Experience Class, which competes in Express Entry with a strong CRS boost.

What is Canada's Study permit + Post-Graduation Work Permit?

Students at a designated learning institution, and graduates staying on to build Canadian experience. It lasts course length; the PGWP then runs up to 3 years depending on program length. The classic pipeline: study, then PGWP, then Canadian Experience Class via Express Entry. Study time itself confers no PR, and PGWP eligibility now depends on field of study.

GlobeQuest

Moving from Belarus to Canada

What your passport gets you at the border — and what it takes to actually stay.

Belarus

CanadaShort stay

Visa required

Belarus passport holders need a visa arranged in advance to enter Canada, usually through an embassy, consulate or accredited visa centre.

This is short-stay visitor policy only. It does not let you work, study or settle in Canada — that needs a residence permit.

Passport Index · updated 17 February 2026Canada's official immigration service

Long stay

How you actually move to Canada

Work / sponsoredHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker, CEC, FST)

Skilled workers applying for permanent residence directly — no employer needed. Three programs feed one pool: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades.

What you need

An eligible profile in one of the three programs (skilled work experience, language, education)
Language tests: IELTS/CELPIP for English, TEF/TCF for French
Educational Credential Assessment for qualifications earned outside Canada
A Comprehensive Ranking System score high enough to be invited in a draw
Proof of settlement funds unless you have a valid job offer or Canadian work authorisation

How long it lasts: This is permanent residence from day one — a 5-year renewable PR card, not a temporary permit.
Path to permanent residence: It *is* the permanent route. Citizenship becomes available after 3 years of physical presence within a 5-year window.
Cost: Around CAD 1,525 per adult in federal fees including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee, plus language tests, credential assessment and medicals.
Processing time: IRCC's service standard for Express Entry is about 6 months from a complete application.

Worth knowing

Canada cut its permanent-residence target to 365,000 for 2026, down from 485,000 in 2024. Fewer places against steady demand has kept CRS cut-offs higher than applicants expect.
Category-based draws — French language, healthcare, STEM, trades, education, and several Canadian-experience categories — clear at materially lower scores than general draws. Which category you fall into now matters more than your raw CRS.
A provincial nomination adds 600 CRS points, which effectively guarantees an invitation. That makes the PNP the real strategy for anyone whose general score is short.

Sources:IRCC — Express Entry IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Work / sponsoredHigh confidenceVerified July 2026

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

People willing to commit to a specific province. Every province except Quebec runs streams targeting its own labour shortages, and Quebec selects separately under its own system.

What you need

Meet a specific provincial stream's criteria — these vary widely and change often
Often a job offer or existing connection to the province (study, work, family)
Intent to reside in the nominating province
Then either an Express Entry-aligned nomination (+600 CRS) or a direct paper-based PR application

How long it lasts: Leads to permanent residence.
Path to permanent residence: It is a permanent-residence route; the same 3-year physical-presence clock to citizenship applies.
Cost: Provincial application fee on top of the federal PR fees; some provinces charge over CAD 1,000.
Processing time: Nomination can take several months, then federal processing on top.

Worth knowing

Federal PNP allocations were reduced alongside the overall target cut, so provinces have tightened streams and some have closed intake entirely mid-year.
The nomination carries an expectation that you actually settle in that province. It is not a formality.
Quebec is outside this system — it runs its own selection with a French-language requirement in practice.

Sources:IRCC — Provincial Nominee Program IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

Work / sponsoredMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Work permit (LMIA-based or exempt)

People coming to work temporarily, often as a stepping stone to permanent residence via Canadian Experience Class.

What you need

Either a job offer supported by a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, or an LMIA-exempt route: intra-company transfer, CUSMA/CETA professional, Global Talent Stream, or an International Mobility Program stream
Qualifications for the role and, where applicable, provincial licensing
Medical exam for some occupations

How long it lasts: Typically tied to the job offer, commonly 1–3 years, renewable.
Path to permanent residence: Indirect but well-trodden: one year of skilled Canadian work experience qualifies you for Canadian Experience Class, which competes in Express Entry with a strong CRS boost.
Cost: CAD 155 work permit fee plus, for employers, the CAD 1,000 LMIA fee where one is required.
Processing time: Highly variable — Global Talent Stream targets two weeks, while LMIA-based routes can take months.

Worth knowing

The Global Talent Stream is dramatically faster than a standard LMIA and is the route most tech hires actually use.
Temporary-resident volumes have also been curtailed since 2024, tightening both study and work permit streams.

Sources:IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

StudentMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Study permit + Post-Graduation Work Permit

Students at a designated learning institution, and graduates staying on to build Canadian experience.

What you need

Letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution
A provincial or territorial attestation letter for most applicants, following the 2024 cap
Proof of funds at the raised cost-of-living threshold
For the PGWP afterwards, a qualifying program and field of study

How long it lasts: Course length; the PGWP then runs up to 3 years depending on program length.
Path to permanent residence: The classic pipeline: study, then PGWP, then Canadian Experience Class via Express Entry. Study time itself confers no PR, and PGWP eligibility now depends on field of study.
Cost: CAD 150 study permit fee plus international tuition and evidenced funds.
Processing time: Varies by country; apply months ahead of term.

Worth knowing

The study-permit cap and the attestation-letter requirement made this route significantly harder from 2024 onward — treat pre-2024 guidance as obsolete.
PGWP field-of-study restrictions mean some programs no longer lead to a work permit at all. Verify before enrolling; this is the single most expensive mistake on this route.

Sources:IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

FamilyMedium confidenceVerified July 2026

Family sponsorship

Spouses, common-law and conjugal partners, dependent children, and — through a lottery — parents and grandparents.

What you need

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsor aged 18+
For spouses and partners, a genuine relationship and a sponsorship undertaking
For parents and grandparents, the sponsor must meet a Minimum Necessary Income for three consecutive years

How long it lasts: Grants permanent residence.
Path to permanent residence: It is a permanent-residence route.
Cost: Around CAD 1,205 for a spouse including the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.
Processing time: Spousal applications target about 12 months; parent and grandparent cases run far longer.

Worth knowing

Spousal sponsorship has no income requirement — unusual among comparable countries, and a genuine advantage over the UK or US.
The Parents and Grandparents Program operates by invitation from a limited pool, so it is not something you can simply apply for when you choose.

Sources:IRCC — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

On the ground

Where you'd land in Canada

Toronto

The most multicultural city in the world, and the rare place you can get permanent residence without an employer sponsoring you — if you can take the winter.

Full Toronto guide

Vancouver

Mountains, ocean and the most expensive housing in Canada — with three separate taxes aimed at it.

Full Vancouver guide

Montreal

Quebec picks its own immigrants, files its own taxes, and moves house on the first of July.

Full Montreal guide

Calgary

No sales tax, no health waiting period, and rents that finally caught up with the migration.

Full Calgary guide

Ottawa

The federal capital, where most government jobs need citizenship and the cheap rent is in another province.