Immigration and Citzenship
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Coming to Canada can be an exciting opportunity. This section includes basic information on becoming a permanent resident in Canada and how to become a Canadian citizen.
We’ve got the information for you!
Immigrating to Canada
Maybe you want to come to Canada to live or you want to help other family members to come. There are different ways to apply. You will need to decide which immigration program will work best for you and your family.
Immigration Category:
Family Class – Sponsoring a Relative
If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can help a family member come to Canada. You can sponsor a spouse, dependent children, parents or grandparents. The process to sponsor your family begins when you obtain a sponsorship application kit from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website listed below or by calling CIC’s Call Centre toll-free number at 1-888-242-2100. Once you are approved as a sponsor, your relative abroad will have to apply for permanent resident status through a Canadian Embassy. If you sponsor a relative to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you are responsible for supporting that person financially when he/she arrives. If needed, this would be for a period of three years for a spouse or children and a period of ten years for parents and grandparents.
Skilled Workers Class
Skilled workers have education, work experience, knowledge of English or French, and other abilities that will help them to contribute to Canada and to establish themselves successfully as permanent residents.
Business Class
The Business Immigration Program seeks to attract experienced business people to Canada.
Canada has three classes of business immigrants:
Investors
Entrepreneurs
Self-employed persons
For more information and application forms visit Citizenship and Immigration Canada website at www.cic.gc.ca or call 1-888-242-2100.
Provincial Nominee Class
This category is for immigrants who have skills, education and work experience that are needed by a particular province or territory.
For more information on the Alberta program, visit www.albertacanada.com/immigration
Permanent Resident Card
All new immigrants are issued a Permanent Resident Card when they come to Canada. This is official proof of permanent residence in Canada. You must show the card when re-entering Canada. The card expires every five years. It is important to check the expiry date and apply for a new card well before you plan to travel outside Canada.
Application kits to replace Permanent Resident Cards are available from the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website www.cic.gc.ca or call 1-888-242-2100.
Help with filling in the application is available from Kerby Centre (403) 705-3246.
Citizenship
Application for Canadian Citizenship
To apply to become a Canadian citizen, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older.
- Be a permanent resident (landed immigrant).
- Have resided in Canada for a total of three (3) years (1095 days) out of the four (4) years on the day before you apply. If you apply too early you will not qualify; you will have to apply again and pay new fees.
- Know enough English or French to carry on a simple conversation.
- Know enough about Canada’s history, geography, government, and the rights and responsibilities of a citizen to pass a test (adults 55 years of age and over do not have to take the test.)
More detailed information is available at the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website www.cic.gc.ca Application kits are available from the website or by calling 1-888-242-2100.
To prepare applicants for the citizenship test, classes are offered at Immigrant Services Calgary. Call (403) 265-1120
