Glossary

An address is the place where a person is living right now. It can be identified by such things as a street number, street name, apartment number, city, town, province/state and country.

For example: A student from Mexico studying in Canada should enter the address where he or she is living in Canada.

The citizenship test will evaluate your knowledge of Canada. During the written exam and the interview, you will be asked questions about

• history
• geography
• economy
• government
• laws
• symbols

A document becomes an affidavit when a person signs the document, in the presence of an authorized person, after taking an oath that what the document says is true and accurate.

An affidavit is often used in order to verify that a translation of a document accurately reflects what is stated in the original language of the document.

When referring to the age of a permanent or temporary resident in IRCC’s statistical information:

• for permanent residents, their age at landing and
• for temporary residents, their age at entry or on December 1.

An individual who has received a decision from IRCC, and who thinks that an error was made in that decision, can generally apply to the Federal Court of Canada and ask that the Court review the decision. Making an application to the Court for a review of the decision is called an Application for Leave and Judicial Review. A review means that the Court will read the decision and decide whether an error was made or not. If the Court decides that IRCC made an error, it will usually mean that IRCC has to make a new decision.

For more information on this process, see Apply to the Federal Court of Canada for judicial review.

Your application is “approved in principle (AIP)” if:

• you have received a letter from IRCC stating that you meet the permanent residence eligibility requirements, but
• you still have to pass the medical, security and background checks for you and, if needed, your family members.

A job offer arranged with a Canadian employer that is

• for work in a TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 occupation
• for a continuous period of 1 year or more

In some cases, the job offer must be approved by Employment and Social Development Canada.

See: Valid job offer

1. The identification and measurement of learning, credentials, and other forms of qualifications required for entry into programs of study or occupations (assessment may include testing, examinations, or other prescribed activities).
2. A process that measures knowledge, skills and aptitudes.

There are two types of authorized representatives: Compensated and Uncompensated.

• Individuals who receive some form of compensation for their services (either directly or indirectly): Compensated authorized representatives must be members in good standing with their accredited regulatory body.
• Individuals who provide such services for free: Examples of these individuals include friends, family members, and volunteers or staff members at charitable or non-governmental organizations (NGOS).

See Citizenship and Immigration consultant, Representative.

See Police certificate.

A person named in a life insurance policy to receive the death benefit payment when the person who owns the life insurance policy dies.

Before 1947, people born or naturalized in Canada had the status of British subjects. British subject status is relevant in determining Canadian citizenship under the 1947 Canadian Citizenship Act.

See Naturalization.

A category that includes investors, entrepreneurs and self-employed people. A person may become a permanent resident in this category based on his or her ability to economically establish in Canada.

The applicant’s spouse or common-law partner, and the applicant’s dependent children, are also included in this category.

Business experience is a term used when applying to immigrate as an entrepreneur to describe:

• at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.

Experience must have to do with:

• managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business

Or when applying to immigrate as an investor to describe:

• at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.

Experience must have to do with:

• managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business; or
• experience managing at least 5 full-time job equivalents per year in a business; or
• a combination of one year managing and controlling a percentage of equity in a qualifying business and one year of experience managing at least 5 full-time job equivalents in a business.

A person who:

• comes to Canada to take part in international business or trade activities,
• has no intent to enter the Canadian labour market, and
• works for and is paid by a company outside Canada or by a foreign government.

An organization that:

• is incorporated under Canadian or provincial law and has an ongoing operation in Canada, or
• has an ongoing operation in Canada that can generate revenue, is run for profit, and has a majority of voting or ownership interests held by Canadian citizens, permanent residents or Canadian businesses, or
• was created by the laws of Canada or a province.

A person described as a citizen under the Citizenship Act. This means a person who:

• is Canadian by birth (either born in Canada or born outside Canada to a Canadian citizen who was themselves either born in Canada or granted citizenship) or
• has applied for a grant of citizenship and has received Canadian citizenship (naturalization).

An office in Canada that handles citizenship and immigration applications. They are not open to the public.

There are CPCs in: Sydney, Nova Scotia; Mississauga, Ontario; Edmonton, Alberta and Ottawa, Ontario.

An office in Sydney, Nova Scotia that handles applications from several permanent immigration programs, including federal skilled workers and immigrant investors.

Our staff will make sure your application is complete, then send it to the visa office responsible for your home country.

A Canadian citizenship certificate is a document that proves that a person is a Canadian citizen.

The citizenship certificate is an 8½ x 11 paper size certificate that contains:

• your certificate number
• your Unique Client Identifier
• your name
• your date of birth
• your gender
• your effective date of Canadian citizenship

Before February 1, 2012, IRCC issued plastic wallet sized citizenship cards as proof of citizenship. These cards came with commemorative certificates. The commemorative certificates cannot be used as proof of citizenship.

A document translated into English or French by a:

• certified translator who is certified in Canada or
• translator who is not you, your family member or your representative or consultant
  • if the translator is not certified, you have to supply an affidavit from the person who completed the translation and a certified photocopy of the original document.

The document being translated must be the original document or a certified photocopy of the original document.

A photocopy of an original document. It must be readable and certified as a true copy of the original by an authorized person. The person compares the documents and marks on the photocopy:

• their name and signature
• their position or title
• the name of the original document
• the date they certified the document
• the phrase “I certify that this is a true copy of the original document.”

In Canada, examples of authorized persons who can certify the copies of your original documents include:

• notary public
• commissioner of oaths, or
• commissioner of taking affidavits

Check with your provincial or territorial authorities to be sure who can certify your documents.

Outside Canada, each country has different authorities to certify documents. A notary public may be able to certify your documents, but you should check with your local authorities to be sure.

You and your family members cannot certify copies of your documents. In this case, family member means your:

• parent
• guardian
• sibling
• spouse
• common-law partner
• conjugal partner
• grandparent
• child
• aunt
• uncle
• niece
• nephew
• first cousin

A certified translator is a member in good standing of a professional translation association in Canada or abroad. Their certification must be confirmed by a seal or stamp that shows the translator’s membership number.

All stamps and seals that are not in English or French must also be translated.

Any family member, representative or consultant of the applicant who may be a lawyer, notary or translator is not permitted to translate documents.

Note: A translator in the process of receiving their certification or accreditation is not considered a certified translator for IRCC’s purposes.

See Certified English or French translations

See Authorized representative.

See Oath of citizenship, Citizenship judge.

See Citizenship ceremony, Oath of citizenship.

A person who is authorized by the Minister under the Citizenship Act to perform the duties of a citizenship officer prescribed by the Citizenship Regulations such as:

• reviewing applications to see whether a person meets the requirements for Canadian citizenship and conducting interviews and hearings with applicants as necessary,
• planning interviews, tests, hearings and citizenship ceremonies,
• granting citizenship to applicants, and
• providing written decision of refusal to applicants including reasons for the refusal.

Citizenship applicants must prove their knowledge of Canada by taking a citizenship test.

Applicants between the ages of 18 and 54 (on the date of application) must take the test. It is usually a written test, but is sometimes taken orally with a citizenship officer.

The test assesses an applicant’s knowledge of:

• Canada, and
• The responsibilities and privileges of citizenship.

A client identification (client ID) number, also referred to as a unique client identifier (UCI), can be found on any official document issued by an IRCC office, case processing centre or a Canadian visa office outside Canada.

A client ID number can consist of up to 10 numbers (for example, 11-0000-0000).

A person who has never dealt with IRCC before will not have a client ID number.

A stage of higher education that comes after high school. Colleges offer one- to three-year diploma programs in academic or technical subjects.

A person authorized under provincial or territorial law to administer and witness a person who will swear to an oath on sworn statements.

See Interpretation Act (R.S., c. I-23, s. 19).
See Affidavit

A person who has been living with another person in a conjugal relationship for at least one year. The term refers to opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.

See the legal definition of common-law partner.

A points-based system used to assess and score a candidate’s Express Entry profile to rank them against other candidates in the pool. The CRS will assess the profile information candidates submit, including skills, work experience, language ability, education and other factors.

See: Express Entry profile

A person outside Canada who has had a binding relationship with a sponsor for at least one year but could not live with their partner. The term refers to both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships.

See The conjugal partnership category in IRPA.

A group authorized in writing by a sponsorship agreement holder (SAH) to sponsor refugees under the SAH’s sponsorship agreement. An example of a Constituent Group is a local congregation or chapter of a national church or organization that is a SAH.

A Government of Canada office that helps Canadian citizens abroad. They are led by a Consul General. They are not located in capital cities. Some consulates also provide immigration services.

Examples: Consulate General of Canada in New York City; Consulate General of Canada in Hong Kong.

See Visa office, High commission, Embassy.

A person’s name, mailing address, telephone number, e-mail address and fax number, if any.

See the legal definition of contact information.

• You must have a valid study permit or apply for the work permit in conjunction with a study permit.
• Your intended employment must be an essential and integral part of your program of study in Canada.
• Your employment must be certified as part of your academic program, by a letter from a responsible academic official of the institution.
• Your co-op or internship employment cannot form more than 50 percent of the total program of study.

Your country of nationality is your country of citizenship.

See Country of citizenship.

A provincially-mandated organization, such as a regulatory body or a post-secondary institution, that is responsible for assessing the portability of foreign credentials.

In Canada, provincial and territorial governments are responsible for assessing and recognizing credentials.

When a person is not allowed to enter or stay in Canada because they have committed or been convicted of a crime for which they have not received a record suspension (formerly known as a pardon) or been rehabilitated under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The crime could have been committed and/or the conviction rendered in or outside Canada.

See Deemed rehabilitation, Criminal rehabilitation, Record suspension.

This term refers to an application process that allows a person who has committed or been convicted of a crime outside Canada to enter or stay in Canada. “Rehabilitation”, in this context, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, means that the person is no longer considered inadmissible to Canada for a particular criminal offence.

A person can apply for rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the act was committed and all criminal sentences have been completed. In order to be approved for rehabilitation the applicant must show that they lead a stable life and are not likely to commit more crimes.

See Criminal inadmissibility, Deemed rehabilitation, Record suspension, Rehabilitation.

See Criminal inadmissibility, Criminal rehabilitation, Record suspension, Rehabilitation.

A removal order issued by either a Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) an independent administrative tribunal responsible for deciding immigration and refugee matters.

Departure orders are issued against people who have violated Canada’s immigration law. The person named on a departure order must leave Canada within 30 days. If they do not, the departure order becomes a deportation order.

See Removals on CBSA website.

A child who is under the maximum age and is not married or in a common law relationship. Generally, to qualify as dependants, children must

• be under 22 years old
• not have a spouse or common-law partner

Note: a child’s age is usually “locked in” when we get a complete application.

Use our online tool to check if your child qualifies as a dependant.

Exception: Children who are at the age limit or older can qualify as “over-age” dependants if they

• have depended on their parents for financial support since before they reached the age limit and
• can’t financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition

Previous age limits:

The age limit has changed in recent years. If your application has been in process for a while, one of the older definitions of dependent child may apply. Generally, we use the rules in place when we get your complete application. Previous age limits for a dependent child:

• From August 1, 2014 to October 23, 2017: under 19 years old
• On or before July 31, 2014: under 22 years old

Note: The rules for over-age dependants are different for applications that were submitted on or before July 31, 2014.

There are different types of dependent children. On your immigration application forms, you must select which type your dependent child is.

You can use our online tool to check which type of dependant your child is.

Type A

The dependant is under the age of 22 and single (not married and not in a common-law relationship).

Type B

This dependant type only applies if your child’s age was locked in before August 1, 2014.

The dependant has been continuously enrolled in, and in attendance, as a full‑time student at a post-secondary institution accredited by the relevant government authority and has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent either:

• since before the age of 22, or
• since marrying or entering into a common-law relationship (if it happened before the age of 22)

Type C

The dependant is 22 years of age or older, has depended substantially on the financial support of a parent since before the age of 22, and is unable to provide for himself or herself because of a medical condition.

Dependant types used on applications submitted between August 1, 2014, and October 23, 2017

Type 1

The dependant is under the age of 19 and single (not married and not in a common-law relationship).

Type 2

The dependant is 19 years of age or older, has been financially dependent on a parent since before the age of 19 due to a physical or mental condition.

A removal order issued by either a CBSA officer or the IRB.

It requires the person to leave Canada due to serious offences or serious violations of Canada’s immigration law. A person deported from Canada may not return without written permission from the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

See Removals on CBSA website.

This is a private organization that has been designated by the Minister to participate in Start-Up Visa.

Angel investor groups are made up of members who invest their own capital in start-ups, usually in exchange for equity.

Angel investor groups help their members in a variety of ways, which can include:

• identifying investment opportunities
• pooling their capital
• standardizing the investment process for angel investors

This is a private organization that has been designated by the Minister to participate in Start-Up Visa.

Business incubators help start-ups grow by offering a range of services, which can include:

• physical space and facilities
• capital
• business mentoring
• networking connections

A school in Canada that a student must be accepted at before they can qualify for a study permit (as of June 1, 2014). Consult the designated learning institutions list (DLI) for schools at the post-secondary level.

All primary and secondary schools in Canada are automatically designated. They do not appear on the list. Applicants for primary and secondary schools do not need a DLI number on their application form.

See Secondary school.

This is a test that shows if your language skills meet our standards in each of these four categories:

• listening,
• speaking,
• reading, and/or
• writing.

There are agencies “designated” to give the tests. This means they are approved to do so by IRCC.

These tests are given to see if you meet the language requirement for your application.

This is a private organization that has been designated by the Minister to participate in Start-Up Visa.

Venture capital funds raise and manage capital to place equity investments in start-ups with high growth potential.

Venture capital funds support start-ups through their investment and can also provide:

• operational experience
• technical knowledge
• networks
• mentorship

A Government of Canada office led by an Ambassador. They are located in the capital city of a non-Commonwealth country. They usually provide the full range of consular and trade services.

In Commonwealth countries, Embassies are called High Commissions and are led by a High Commissioner.

Some Embassies and High Commissions also provide immigration services.

Examples: the Embassy of Canada in France, Paris and the High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom in London

See High commission, Consulate, Visa office

• the name of the employer a person can work for,
• how long a person can work, and
• the location where a person can work (if applicable).

A person who holds this type of work permit can only work for the employer for the length of time specified, and if applicable, at the location shown on the permit.

• has business experience, and
• has a legally obtained net worth of at least C$300,000.

As a condition of maintaining permanent resident status as an entrepreneur, the person also agrees to:

• control at least one-third of the equity in a qualifying Canadian business,
• actively manage the business, and
• create at least one full-time job for a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

• cost more to treat than the cost of caring for an average Canadian or
• interfere with timely services to Canadian citizens or permanent residents.

See the legal definition of excessive demand.

A removal order issued by either a Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB).

Usually, a person removed due to an exclusion order cannot return to Canada for one year without written permission. People issued exclusion orders for misrepresentation cannot return for five years without written permission.

See Removals on CBSA website

An electronic system to manage applications for these immigration programs:

• the Federal Skilled Worker Program
• the Federal Skilled Trades Program
• the Canadian Experience Class or
• a portion of the provincial nominee program.

• is approved by IRCC;
• is a member of the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (CDIC);
• helps immigrant investors make and redeem their investments.

A legal civil document with information about members of a family. It can be used to prove your relationship with other family members. It’s used in many European and Asian countries. Other names for a family booklet include:

• family register
• Livret de famille (France)
• Livrete de família (Portugal)
• Libretto internazionale di famiglia (Italy)
• Koseki (Japan)
• Hukou (People’s Republic of China)

An immigrant selected as a permanent resident based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other criteria that have been shown to help people succeed in the Canadian labour market. Spouses and children are included on the application.

Quebec selects its own skilled workers, under the Quebec skilled worker Class (QSW).

A person who is not a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident.

See the legal definition of foreign national.

See the legal definition of a student.

A temporary resident who is legally allowed to work in Canada on a temporary basis.

An international agreement that provides the basis for giving some foreign business people easier access to Canada. Many countries that are members of the World Trade Organization have signed the agreement.

Three kinds of business people are covered:

• business visitors,
• professionals and
• employees transferred within a company to work in Canada.

A person may have one or more given names.

A person who is outside Canada and has been determined to be a Convention refugee and who receives financial and other support from the Government of Canada or Province of Quebec for up to one year after their arrival in Canada.

GARs are selected from applicants referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other referral organizations.

See Health insurance.

See Health card.

See the legal definition of health card.

A Government of Canada office, is the same as an embassy, but is located in the capital city of a Commonwealth country.

Example: High Commission of Canada to the United Kingdom in London

See Embassy, Visa office, Consulate.

People who would not normally be eligible to become permanent residents of Canada may be able to apply on humanitarian and compassionate (H & C) grounds.

(H & C) grounds apply to people with exceptional cases. Factors that are looked at include:

• how settled the person is in Canada,
• general family ties to Canada,
• the best interests of any children involved, and
• the degree of hardship that the applicant would experience if the request is not granted and they must leave Canada in order to apply for permanent residence.

(H & C) decision makers will not look at the risk factors that are looked at in an in-Canada refugee protection claim or a pre-removal risk assessment (PRRA). These factors which are outside the scope of an (H & C) application include persecution, danger of torture or risk to life or risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment.

• Immigrant visa and record of landing (IMM 1000),
• Confirmation of permanent residence (IMM 5292),
• Permanent resident card,
• visitor record,
• work permit,
• study permit or
• temporary resident permit.

• is licensed and insured,
• is qualified to help you through the legal process, and
• meets the standards of learning, competence and professional conduct.

When a person is not allowed to enter or stay in Canada. Reasons can include security concerns, criminal offences, human rights violations, health or financial reasons, and failure to comply with Canada’s immigration laws.

Find out more about inadmissibility.

• information a person must know about an application before sending it to IRCC and
• help with filling out forms and required supporting documents.

These guides are posted on the IRCC website.

This program lets employers hire or bring in foreign workers without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Some workers are exempt from the LMIA process. This applies when there are shared benefits for Canadians and other advantages for Canada.

These people can include:

• international students who graduated from a Canadian school
• people working in Canada temporarily under free trade agreements, such as NAFTA
• people taking part in International Experience Canada
• some permanent resident applicants settling in Canada while their application is finalized, and
• spouses of highly-skilled foreign workers.

See Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

• has business experience
• has a legally obtained net worth of at least C$1,600,000, and
• has made an investment of C$800,000

When a candidate’s profile is pulled from International Experience Canada or Express Entry pool. They then have a limited time to fill out and submit an online application.

A process where we invite candidates from a pool to apply for:

• a work permit through International Experience Canada or
• permanent residence through Express Entry.

We hold these rounds on a regular basis.

See also: Invitation to apply, pool

A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a document that an employer in Canada must usually get before hiring a foreign worker.

A positive LMIA will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker can do the job. A positive LMIA is sometimes called a Confirmation letter.

If you need an LMIA, your employer must send an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The biological or non-biological parent listed on the original birth certificate or birth record of a child.

This does not include

• parents who adopted the child after they were born
• legal guardians

• a study permit, or
• a work permit, or
• extended stay for a parent or grandparent from a country that does not require visas (the Super Visa program).

Applicants must present the letter when they arrive in Canada.

A letter from a person in Canada on behalf of a friend or family member who wants to visit. This may be helpful if the visitor is from a country where visas are required to travel to and enter Canada.

The letter should explain how they plan to help the visitor and whether they have the financial means to support the person during a longer visit.

A letter that event organizers need to give delegates when they apply for a visa to come to Canada.

The letter should include information on the event to establish:

• the delegate’s purpose of travel to Canada, and
• plans once in Canada.

The letter should also indicate if financial assistance is given to delegates, such as airline tickets and accommodations.

• Universities: Offer degree-granting programs at the undergraduate (bachelor’s) graduate (master’s), and postgraduate (doctoral, post-doctoral) levels, and may also offer programs leading to certificates or diplomas in various academic disciplines.
• Colleges: Offer academic or professional training programs leading to diplomas or certificates (includes CEGEPs in Quebec, which is generally mandatory before attending university).
• Trade: Non-university educational institutions in Canada that offer vocational trades and/or technical programs (such as vocational institutions, or private career colleges).
• Other post-secondary: Post-secondary studies that are not undertaken at university, college or trade school. This includes studies at language institutions and private institutions, and in university qualifying programs.
• Secondary or less: Includes primary and secondary schools in Canada.
• Other: Studies that cannot be classified at any of the above levels of study.

To freeze information so that it does not change over time, regardless of how long processing takes.

For example, we lock your child’s age when your application is received. This is called the lock in date. Lock-in dates vary depending on your immigration program or category. When we process your child’s application, we use the age on lock in date to see if your child qualifies as a dependant.

See the lock in dates by immigration or category.

• sponsor a family member to immigrate to Canada, or
• host parents or grandparents for an extended stay.

• extend or change the conditions of your work permit
• extend or change the conditions of your study permit
• extend your stay as a visitor

• would pose a danger to Canadians or
• be very expensive to treat in Canada.

See Background check, Police certificate.

• pose a danger to public health,
• pose a danger to public safety or
• place excessive demand on health or social services.

• sponsor a family member to immigrate to Canada, or
• host parents or grandparents for an extended stay.

• Passports and travel documents;
• Visas;
• Diplomas, degrees, and apprenticeship or trade papers;
• Birth, marriage, final divorce, annulment, separation or death certificates;
• Police certificates.

Lying on an application or in an interview with an IRCC officer is also an offence under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Citizenship Act.

Misrepresentation bars a person from being granted Canadian citizenship for a period of 5 years.

If misrepresentation is found to have occurred after someone becomes a citizen, this can result in the revocation of their citizenship and this individual must wait ten years before they can be granted citizenship again.

See Temporary Resident Visa.

Family members who are dependent on the principal applicant but who are not immigrating to Canada. They include a spouse or common-law partner, dependent children, and the children of a dependent child.

These people must be listed on the principal applicant’s application for permanent residence. They should have a medical exam so they can remain eligible for sponsorship at a later date.

An agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico. Under it, citizens of each country can enter the other more easily for business.

NAFTA applies to four types of business people:

• business visitors,
• professionals,
• people transferred within a company to work in Canada, and
• traders and investors.

A person authorized by a province or territory’s law to be an official witness to the signing of contracts, deeds and other legal documents. They can also certify documents. Depending on the province or territory, a notary may also be able to draft documents, such as contracts. The requirements to be a notary differ in each province and territory.

• be loyal to the King
• obey Canada’s laws and customs
• fulfill the duties of a Canadian citizen

In order to become citizens, people aged 14 or over must take the oath. Reciting the oath is the final requirement for Canadian citizenship.

See Citizenship ceremony, Citizenship judge.

• Summary offences — These are less serious. The maximum penalty for a summary offence is usually a $5,000 fine and/or six months in jail.
• Indictable offences — These are more serious and include theft over $5,000, break and enter, aggravated sexual assault and murder. Maximum penalties vary and include life in prison. Some have minimum penalties.

• who is listed as ineligible on the list of employers who have failed to comply with conditions, or
• who, on a regular basis, offers striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massages.

See Points

See Travel document.

For a more detailed definition, see the legal definition of permanent resident.

For applicants who apply on or after October 11, 2017, this is the amount of time a permanent resident must be physically present in Canada to be eligible for a grant of Canadian citizenship.

Applicants who apply under subsection 5(1) must be physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days in the five years immediately before the date of application. This includes time as a:

• permanent resident (PR)
• temporary resident (lawfully authorized to remain in Canada)
• protected person

These requirements do not apply to children under 18 years old who apply under subsection 5(2).

Exceptions apply for certain Crown servants and certain family members of Crown servants.

Refers to two things:

1. the scoring system used to assess eligibility for federal skilled workers and self-employed immigrants. Points are earned for six factors: education, English and/or French skills, work experience, age, arranged employment in Canada, and adaptability. A person must have a minimum number of points to qualify in each category.
2. the unit of measurement used in the Comprehensive Ranking System to score Express Entry candidates.

See Pass mark

See Background check, Medical examination.

People who meet certain criteria are put into one or more pools of candidates. This is a group of people that we may invite to apply for:

• a work permit for International Experience Canada or
• permanent residence through Express Entry.

See: Express Entry, International Experience Canada

• graduated from an approved program of study at an eligible post-secondary institution in Canada that is participating in the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program
• applied to IRCC within 90 days of completing all degree or program requirements.

It allows the bearer to work legally in Canada after completing studies.

See University, College.

An online form that people fill out to find out if they are eligible for Express Entry or International Experience Canada. Eligible people are put into one or more pools of candidates. We invite some candidates from the pools to fill out applications.

• are in prison, on parole or on probation in Canada, or serving a sentence outside Canada,
• have been convicted of an indictable offence in Canada or an offence outside Canada in the four years before applying for citizenship, or
• are charged with, on trial for, or involved in an appeal of an indictable offence in Canada, or an offence outside Canada.

For a complete list of prohibitions, refer to Situations that may prevent you from becoming a Canadian citizen.

See certificate of Canadian citizenship.

See Refugee claimant.

• full-time job equivalents are equal to or greater than two,
• total annual sales are equal to or greater than $250,000,
• net income in the year is equal to or greater than $25,000, and
• net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than $125,000.

• full time job equivalents are equal to or greater than two,
• total annual sales are equal to or greater than $500,000,
• net income in the year is equal to or greater than $50,000, and
• net assets at the end of the year is equal to or greater than $125,000.

A certificate from Quebec’s ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration

• A temporary worker must apply for a CAQ and receive an attestation of issuance of their CAQ before coming to work in Quebec.
• A foreign student must apply for a CAQ and receive an attestation of issuance of their CAQ before coming to study in Quebec.

See Confirmation of permanent residence, Permanent resident card

See Criminal inadmissibility, Criminal rehabilitation, Deemed rehabilitation.

See Protected person.

It can be used to travel anywhere except the country the person is a citizen of or the country of claimed persecution.

An organization that sets the standards and practices of a regulated occupation.

Within each province and territory, a regulatory body exists for each regulated occupation.

See Deemed rehabilitation, Criminal rehabilitation.

• at least two one-year periods of experience in the period from five years before the application date to the day a decision is made on the application.

Experience must be in one of these areas:

• self-employment in cultural activities or athletics or,
• participating in cultural activities or athletics at the world-class level

See Resumption of citizenship.

A person who has the permission of someone wanting to immigrate to Canada or obtain Canadian citizenship to conduct business with IRCC on their behalf. The representative can be paid or unpaid. When someone appoints a representative, they may also authorize IRCC to share information from their case file with this person. Canada’s citizenship and immigration laws cover representatives and defines the terms of their services.

See Citizenship and Immigration consultant, Authorized representative.

For applicants who apply before June 11, 2015, this is the amount of time a permanent resident must live in Canada to be eligible for a grant of Canadian citizenship.

Adults must have lived in Canada for at least three years (1,095 days) in the four years immediately preceding the date of application. It does not apply to children under 18 years old.

The amount of time a permanent resident must live in Canada to keep their status as a permanent resident.

In most circumstances, permanent residents must live in Canada for at least two years (730 days) out of five. There may be times when you can count time outside of Canada meeting this requirement.

A visitor, worker or student who loses status can apply to restore it within 90 days. To be eligible, you must:

• submit the application within 90 days of losing status
• explain the facts and circumstances that prevented you from complying with the conditions of the permit, and
• meet all the remaining conditions on the permit.

There is a fee to restore status.

The process by which a former citizen may resume his or her Canadian citizenship back after one year of residence in Canada as a permanent resident preceding immediately the date of application. They must become a permanent resident first.

See Renunciation of citizenship.

A person’s citizenship may be revoked (taken away) for any one of these reasons:

• false representation
• fraud
• knowingly hiding information

If a person’s citizenship is revoked, they must wait 10 years before they can be granted citizenship again.

An institution that provides an education to students who have completed elementary school. These schools usually include grades 9 through 12 (although, in some areas, they start with grade 7). In the province of Quebec, secondary grades are called grades 1 through 5.

Applicants for primary and secondary schools do not need a designated learning institution (DLI) number on their application form.

A service provider organization (SPO) is an agency that provides services for newcomers to Canada.

Service provider organizations offer programs that can give newcomers resources and training to live and work in Canada. Their programs can help refugees who often have a difficult time with day-to-day tasks like finding an apartment, taking public transportation, or making a doctor’s appointment.

These organizations can also help refugees complete forms, get permanent resident cards, health insurance, social insurance numbers, etc. They also offer interpretation and translation services to help with such special needs as giving medical backgrounds to doctors.

Visit IRCC’s website for more information on the many services provided by SPOs.

This term can refer to one of two things.

1. Sufficient and available funds that economic immigrants must prove they have to settle in Canada. The funds must be:
   • available,
   • transferable and
   • not committed to debts or other obligations.

   These funds will cover fees, relocation costs and costs to settle.

2. Funds allocated by the Government of Canada to pay for measures to develop welcoming and inclusive communities, or to help newcomers settle into their new communities.

For Express Entry, a sibling means your brother or sister related to you by:

• blood (biological):
  • brother or sister
  • half-brother or sister
• adoption:
  • adopted brother or sister
• marriage:
  • includes a step-brother or step-sister who is not related to you by blood or adoption and your parents are married or in a common law relationship
  • this is true on both the date you submit your profile and when you submit your application for permanent residence

To get points for having at least one sibling in Canada, they

• must be 18 years old
• must be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada
• can be the brother or sister of your spouse or common-law partner who will come with you to Canada.

A visa that allows someone to enter Canada only once.

See Temporary resident visa.

An incorporated organization that signs an agreement with IRCC to sponsor refugees abroad.

A SAH can authorize other groups in the community to sponsor refugees under its agreement. These groups are known as “constituent groups.”

A document issued by IRCC that authorizes a foreign national to study at an educational institution in Canada for the duration of the program of study. It sets out conditions for the student such as:

• whether their travel within Canada is restricted and
• when they have to leave.

Your surname is your family name. When filling out applications, type your surname as it appears on your passport, travel or identity document or any letters you got from the visa office or case processing centre where you sent your application (even if the name is misspelled). Do not use initials.

If you do not have a surname on your passport, travel or identity document, enter all your given name(s) in the surname field and leave the given name field blank.

Taxation years are the same as calendar years (January 1 to December 31). To be eligible for an adult grant of citizenship, you must have met your personal income tax filing obligations in 3 taxation years that are fully or partially within the 5 years immediately before the date you apply.

Example:

You apply for an adult grant of citizenship on June 1, 2019. The taxation years that fall fully or partially within the 5 years immediately before the date of application are 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 and 2014. 2019 cannot be used, as you would not yet have filed taxes for 2019.

The training, education, experience and responsibilities (TEER) required to work in an occupation. The TEER categorization system of the 2021 NOC replaced the skill type and level structure of the 2016 NOC system.

This program allows employers to hire foreign workers to fill short-term labour and skill shortages when no Canadians are available to do the job. A Labour Market Impact Assessment is needed to hire through this program.

Foreign workers hired as part of this program are referred to as temporary foreign workers. They may get a work permit only after a Labour Market Impact Assessment has concluded that no Canadians are available to do the job.

See Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).

See temporary resident visa.

Documents issued to allow a person to visit, work in or study in Canada for a specific period. Temporary resident documents have an expiry date.

Examples of temporary resident documents are study permits, work permits and visitor records.

An official counterfoil document issued by a visa office abroad that is placed in a person’s passport to show that he or she has met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (a visitor, student or worker). A counterfoil is a specially designed sticker on which missions abroad print visa information.

Informally known as a visitor or tourist visa, the TRV may be issued for single or multiple entries to Canada.

See Multiple-entry visa, Single-entry visa, Visitor visa.

See Passport.

A stage of higher education that comes after high school. Universities issue three types of degrees: bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate. People must usually complete high school to qualify for university. In Canada, “college” does not refer to a university.

In Quebec, students attend a CEGEP (college) between high school and university.

A job offer, in writing, for Express Entry candidates that is

• for continuous, paid, full-time work (at least 30 hours a week)
• for work that is not seasonal and lasts at least 1 year
• for work in TEER category 0, 1, 2 or 3 of the 2021 NOC
• supported by a labour market impact assessment (unless an exemption applies)

A document that includes a person’s immigration information such as the date and place that you where you came to Canada.

It can be used to prove your immigration status. It cannot be used for travel and is not an identity document.

An official counterfoil document issued by a visa office abroad that is placed in a person’s passport to show that he or she has met the requirements for admission to Canada as a temporary resident (a visitor, student or worker). A counterfoil is a specially designed sticker on which missions abroad print visa information.

Canadian visas include:

• temporary resident visas (sometimes called visitor visas) and
• permanent resident visas.

At missions abroad, controlled documents are comprised of counterfoils and seals, which are issued together as a visa. Counterfoils are the documents on which missions print visa information. Seals are documents that are affixed over counterfoils when they are placed in an applicant’s passport to prevent tampering.

Visa application centres (VACs) help you submit temporary residence applications to a visa office for a fee. They can serve you in your preferred language and provide services to areas without easy access to a visa office.

VACs receive applications, check that they are complete and send them to the correct visa office for processing. They don’t represent the Government of Canada and don’t make decisions on your application.

They don’t offer advice about the programs you should apply to, how to answer questions on your application or any other immigration topic.

Visa offices can be located in Canadian embassies, high commissions and consulates. They process applications and provide information about immigrating to Canada.

The services they provide vary from office to office.

See Embassy, High commission, Consulate.

Visiting student: Students at a foreign institution (home institution) who attend a post-secondary Canadian institution (host institution) for a determined period (not a full degree or program) with the intent of transferring the credits earned at the host institution back to their home institution. Visiting students pay fees to the host institution.

Exchange student: Similar to a visiting student as they attend a host institution in Canada. Exchange students do not pay tuition fees to their host institution as these fees are covered by an exchange agreement between the host and home institutions.

See Multiple-entry visa, Single-entry visa, Temporary resident visa.

A document issued by IRCC that authorizes a person to work legally in Canada. It sets out conditions for the worker such as:

• the type of work they can do,
• the employer they can work for,
• where they can work, and
• how long they can work.