Work-based programs
Federal economic programs for skilled workers, managed mostly through Express Entry. From November 3, 2026, Express Entry adds a Labour Market Integration factor for high-wage occupations (announced October 16, 2026).
Express Entry
The online system for the Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades programs. Open.
Read the guideCategory-based selection
The 10 Express Entry categories for 2026, from French and healthcare to physicians and senior managers.
Read the guideMedical doctors
Express Entry, reserved provincial nomination spaces and 14-day work-permit processing for physicians. Open.
Read the guideCaregiver pathways
The Home Care Worker Immigration pilots are closed to new applications. Intake was paused on December 19, 2025.
Read the guideFrancophone immigration
Federal, provincial and community pathways where strong French or Francophone settlement counts.
Read the guideAgri-Food Pilot
The federal pilot ended on May 14, 2025. Closed to new applications.
Read the guideRegional programs
Provinces, territories and communities select candidates who meet local needs and plan to settle there.
Provincial Nominee Programs
How the 11 participating provinces and territories nominate candidates, through Express Entry or outside it.
Read the guideOntario (OINP)
The Ontario Workforce Priority stream is now the only open OINP stream.
Read the guideRural and community immigration
The Rural and Francophone Community Immigration pilots, with designated employers in participating communities. Open.
Read the guideAtlantic Immigration Program
Permanent residence for skilled workers and graduates with an offer from a designated Atlantic employer.
Read the guideQuebec immigration
Quebec selects its own skilled workers. Candidates go through Quebec selection, then the federal PR stage.
Read the guidePNP finder
Find provincial streams that may match your profile.
Open the toolBusiness immigration
The federal Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons programs are paused. Quebec and several provinces and territories run their own business streams.
Federal business programs
Start-up Visa and Self-Employed Persons: both paused, with key dates and what happens to existing files.
Read the guideProvincial entrepreneur programs
Province-by-province status, minimums and the performance-before-nomination process.
Read the guideQuebec business immigration
Quebec's investor, entrepreneur and self-employed worker programs.
Read the guideBusiness immigration overview
All business routes compared, including C11 and C60 work permits and business visitors.
Read the guideCompare entrepreneur streams
Net worth, investment and language minimums side by side.
Open the toolFamily, protection and humanitarian
Family sponsorship
Citizens and permanent residents sponsoring a spouse, partner, child or other eligible relatives. The Parents and Grandparents Program is paused since July 15, 2026.
Read the guideRefugees and asylum
Asylum claims in Canada, refugee resettlement, private sponsorship and related processes.
Read the guideHumanitarian and compassionate
A discretionary request for permanent residence based on exceptional circumstances. Case by case.
Read the guideSpecial programs and program status
Special PR programs
The state-care pathway (open until January 21, 2027), the closed Hong Kong pathways and human rights defender resettlement.
Read the guidePaused and closed programs
Every program IRCC shows as paused or closed, with dates and what happens to existing files.
Read the guideActive public policies
Temporary measures that are still open, with their eligibility and expiry dates.
Read the guideSix checks before choosing a program
NOC and TEER
A job title is not enough. Your actual duties, NOC code and TEER category affect eligibility and points. Use the NOC finder.
Language results
Check the accepted test, the validity period and the CLB or NCLC level for the exact program. Use the language score converter.
Education assessment (ECA)
Many economic programs need an ECA for foreign education. An ECA is not a professional licence.
Funds and admissibility
Proof of funds is different from settlement costs. Medical, criminal, security and misrepresentation checks apply separately.
Public policies
Temporary exceptions are not general programs. Read the eligibility, start date and expiry of the exact policy.
Live intake status
Open, paused, closed, EOI and invitation mean different things. Check the live status before spending money. See all programs.
Official sources
IRCC and the responsible province or territory are the primary sources for every guide. Ghasedak Immigration Services summarizes the rules in plain language and links back to the official page. Program information explains the rules but cannot decide eligibility without reviewing your age, language, education, work history, family situation and documents.