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Canada

Visas and relocation: Canada

Visitor visa or eTA, study and work permits, Express Entry, provincial and family programmes.

Official portal

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

01

Visitor visa / eTA

The entry document depends on your passport, how you travel and your status: most people need a visitor visa, while visa-exempt nationals flying in need an eTA. A visitor is often admitted for up to six months, but the border officer decides.

Who it is for

  • The right entry document for your citizenship and mode of travel
  • A temporary purpose, sufficient funds and ties to your home
  • No grounds of inadmissibility
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps
02

Work permit

An employer-specific permit is tied to the employer and usually requires an LMIA or an exempt offer number. An open work permit is available only in specific situations.

Who it is for

  • A job offer and an LMIA, or a lawful exemption, for an employer-specific permit
  • Eligibility for an open permit only through a programme that provides for it
  • Qualification, experience and a medical examination where required
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps
03

Study permit

Study lasting more than six months usually requires a study permit. You need a DLI, funds and in most cases a PAL or TAL; Quebec has its own CAQ.

Who it is for

  • A Letter of Acceptance from a Designated Learning Institution
  • A PAL or TAL, or an official exemption; for Quebec, a CAQ
  • Funds for tuition, your family's living costs and the return trip
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps
04

Express Entry

The online system for the Canadian Experience Class, Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades programmes. Candidates enter a pool and receive invitations based on CRS scores and the current selection categories.

Who it is for

  • Meeting at least one of the three programmes
  • A valid approved language test
  • An ECA for foreign education and proof of experience or funds where applicable
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps
05

Provincial Nominee Program

Provinces and territories nominate candidates through their own streams. Some applications are linked to Express Entry and some run as non-Express Entry; Quebec uses separate programmes.

Who it is for

  • Meeting the stream of the province you choose
  • The intention to live in the nominating province
  • Occupation, experience, language, a job offer or a connection to the province, depending on the stream
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps
06

Family sponsorship

A citizen or permanent resident may sponsor a spouse or partner and dependent children; parents and grandparents have a separate programme, which IRCC lists as paused as of 2 August 2026.

Who it is for

  • The sponsor holds a suitable status and meets the requirements
  • A genuine family relationship
  • An undertaking of financial support and no bars affecting the sponsor or the applicant
5 documents 4 steps
Documents and application steps

For your citizenship

What citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan need

The baseline document list is the same for everyone, but the visa regime, legalisation and translations depend on your citizenship. Below are the differences, checked against official sources.

Russia

checked 04.08.2026

A visa is required: the eTA is not available to citizens of Russia or Kazakhstan

Visa-free entry on an eTA covers only nationals of visa-exempt countries. Citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan obtain a visitor visa or a permit under a specific programme; the application is filed online through IRCC with biometrics at an official centre.

IRCC · do you need a visa or an eTA

Prepare at home in advance

Kazakhstan

checked 04.08.2026

A visa is required: the eTA is not available to citizens of Russia or Kazakhstan

Visa-free entry on an eTA covers only nationals of visa-exempt countries. Citizens of Russia and Kazakhstan obtain a visitor visa or a permit under a specific programme; the application is filed online through IRCC with biometrics at an official centre.

IRCC · do you need a visa or an eTA

Prepare at home in advance

  • Police clearance certificate from Kazakhstan

    Issued through eGov.kz or a public service centre. Filing abroad usually requires an apostille and a translation by a sworn translator of the destination country.

    eGov.kz · criminal record information

  • Apostille on official documents

    Civil registry certificates, official statements and diplomas are accepted abroad only with an apostille affixed in the issuing country. It goes on the original or a notarised copy, depending on the authority's rules.

    Apostille in Kazakhstan · eGov.kz

Mark what you are missing

Save the list to your account: mark each item as ready, missing or expired, and you will see how many documents are still to collect.

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