Immigration FAQs

No — hiring a lawyer is not mandatory, and IRCC does not give special treatment to applications filed by a representative. That said, immigration rules change often and small mistakes can lead to refusals, delays, or even bans. A lawyer helps you choose the right program, present your case persuasively, and avoid errors that are costly to fix later.

Both are authorized to represent you before IRCC, but lawyers complete significantly more legal training and are regulated by a provincial law society. Importantly, only lawyers can represent you in Federal Court if your application is refused and needs to be challenged. If there's any chance your matter could end up in litigation, a lawyer can handle your file from start to finish.

The easiest way is to book a consultation with us. We'll review your situation, explain your options honestly, and outline the next steps and expected fees. From there, you decide whether you'd like us to handle your matter. More importantly, if you retain us after the consultation, we'll deduct the consultation fee from the retainer.

Yes. Many of our clients are applying from abroad, and we work with people around the world by phone and video call. Wherever you are, we'll keep you informed at every stage of your application.

Legal fees depend on the type and complexity of your matter, so we discuss them openly at the consultation stage — together with the government fees that apply to your application — before you decide whether to retain us. Book a consultation to get a clear picture for your situation.

Most visitors can stay for up to six months from the day they enter Canada, though a border officer can authorize a shorter or longer period. If you want to stay longer, you must apply to extend your stay before your current status expires. Learn more on our Temporary Resident Visa & Temporary Resident Permit page.

Most full-time students at a designated learning institution can work up to 24 hours per week off campus during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks, without a separate work permit. Your study permit must authorize you to work, and exceeding the limit can put your status and future applications at risk. Visit our Study Permits page to learn more.

Apply to extend or change your status before it expires — timing is critical. If your status has already lapsed, you may still have options, such as restoring your status within 90 days, but the window is short. Contact us as soon as possible so we can review your situation.

In most cases, yes — the majority of Canadian work permits are employer-specific and require a job offer, often supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). There are important exceptions, including post-graduation work permits, certain spousal permits, and International Experience Canada for young people from partner countries. Our Work Permits page explains the main routes, and we can assess which one fits your situation.

A Labour Market Impact Assessment is a document your employer obtains from the federal government to show that hiring a foreign worker will not negatively affect the Canadian labour market. Not every work permit needs one — many workers qualify under LMIA-exempt categories such as intra-company transfers, free-trade agreements, and other International Mobility Program streams. Determining whether an exemption applies is often the first strategic question in a work permit file. Learn more about work permits.

Sometimes — but the rules have narrowed considerably in recent years. Spousal open work permits are now generally limited to the spouses of students in certain graduate and professional programs, and of workers in specific occupations. Because eligibility now depends on your exact program or job, confirm your situation before making plans. See Work Permits and Study Permits, or book a consultation.

Most graduates of eligible Canadian institutions can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), with a length tied to the program completed. Recent changes have added field-of-study requirements for some programs, and a PGWP is issued only once in a lifetime, so program choice and timing matter. For many graduates it is the bridge to permanent residence through Express Entry. More on study permits.

Express Entry is Canada's main system for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents. Candidates create a profile, receive a score based on factors like age, education, language ability, and work experience, and the highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence. Our Permanent Residence page explains the programs in more detail.

If you're a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may be able to sponsor your spouse, partner, dependent children, and in some cases other family members. A strong, well-documented application matters — refusals can mean long delays before your family is together. Visit our Family Reunification page to learn more.

It depends on the type of application, where you're applying from, and IRCC's current workload — and processing times change without notice. No lawyer or consultant can guarantee a timeline, and you should be cautious of anyone who does. What we can do is prepare your application thoroughly the first time, which helps avoid the delays caused by requests for more information or refusals.

Yes — provincial entrepreneur programs are currently the primary route for business owners, with nearly every province and territory operating its own stream. Most follow a work-permit-first model: you establish and actively run the business under an agreement with the province, and are nominated for permanent residence once you meet its terms. Requirements vary widely, so we have published free guides to every provincial business immigration program, and our Business Immigration page gives an overview.

The Start-Up Visa program has been closed to new applications, and the federal Self-Employed Persons Program has been paused. For most entrepreneurs, provincial nominee entrepreneur streams are now the realistic pathway to permanent residence through business ownership. Our Business Immigration page explains the current landscape.

It depends heavily on where you settle. Minimum investment requirements range from roughly one hundred thousand dollars in some regional and territorial programs to several hundred thousand dollars in the larger provinces, with separate net worth requirements on top. Our provincial guide library sets out the current thresholds for every program.

Most adult permanent residents qualify after being physically present in Canada for at least 1,095 days (three years) within the five years before applying, meeting their tax-filing obligations, and — for applicants aged 18 to 54 — demonstrating language ability and passing the citizenship test. Our Citizenship Applications page covers the process and requirements.

Possibly — and the law recently changed in your favour. As of December 2025, the first-generation limit was removed, so many people born abroad to a Canadian parent who was also born abroad are now recognized as citizens and can apply for proof of citizenship. For children born or adopted abroad after mid-December 2025, the Canadian parent must show three years of physical presence in Canada. These files can involve tracing status across generations, and we can help you assess your claim. See Citizenship Applications.

Yes. Permanent residents must generally be physically present in Canada for at least 730 days within every five-year period, and falling short can lead to loss of status — often surfacing at a border crossing or PR card renewal. Some time abroad can count toward the requirement, and humanitarian factors can be raised, so get advice before a shortfall compounds. Permanent Residence.

No. The card and the status are separate things. A PR card is a travel and identity document, while permanent residence itself ends only if an officer formally determines you no longer meet the residency obligation, a removal order comes into force, you renounce your status, or you become a Canadian citizen. With an expired card you can still live, work and study in Canada. Travel is the practical difficulty: commercial carriers will not board you for a flight, train, bus or boat back to Canada without a valid card, so from abroad you would need a Permanent Resident Travel Document. Renewal is also when IRCC reviews your days of physical presence, which is where a shortfall tends to surface. Permanent Residence.

Often, yes. Depending on your situation, options may include reapplying with a stronger application, appealing the decision, or challenging it in Federal Court through judicial review. Deadlines for appeals and judicial review are strict, so reach out quickly — our Immigration Litigation page explains how we can help.

For many people, yes. Under recent changes to the law, people who entered Canada after 24 June 2020 generally must make their refugee claim within one year of arriving, or their claim may not be referred for a full hearing. If you fear returning to your home country, speak to a lawyer as soon as possible — our Refugee Law page has more information.

You may be able to apply for permanent residence on humanitarian and compassionate (H&C) grounds. These applications consider factors like your establishment in Canada, the best interests of any children affected, and the hardship you would face if required to leave. Learn more on our Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) Applications page.

A criminal record does not automatically end your options, but it can make you inadmissible, meaning you need special permission to enter or immigrate. Depending on the offence and how much time has passed, the solutions include a Temporary Resident Permit, criminal rehabilitation, or in some cases a legal opinion that you were never inadmissible at all. Inadmissibility & Criminal Rehabilitation.

It is the permanent solution to criminal inadmissibility: an application demonstrating you have been rehabilitated, available once five years have passed since you completed your full sentence. For some single, less serious convictions, you may be deemed rehabilitated by the passage of ten years without any application at all. Once approved, rehabilitation does not expire. Learn more.

A TRP allows a person who is inadmissible to enter or remain in Canada temporarily when their reasons for coming outweigh the risks. It can be issued for a single entry or for up to three years, and it often serves as the practical bridge while a permanent solution, such as criminal rehabilitation, is pursued. Learn more.

Yes — impaired driving committed after December 2018 is treated as serious criminality under Canadian immigration law, which means the passage of time alone is not enough. Entry typically requires a Temporary Resident Permit or an approved criminal rehabilitation application, which catches many travellers by surprise, including visitors from the United States. Inadmissibility & Criminal Rehabilitation.

Misrepresentation means providing false information or withholding material facts in an immigration matter — even unintentionally, and even where a representative acted on your behalf. A finding typically carries a five-year ban on applying and can lead to loss of status or removal. If you have received a procedural fairness letter raising misrepresentation, get legal advice before responding. Learn more.