Moving to Canada from Australia

Before beginning your immigration journey, you should understand which visa option is right for you. Below are some of the most popular Canadian immigration options for Australian citizens.

• Work Visas
• Student Visas
• Territory-Based Visas
• Family Visas
• Refugee Visa

Work Visas

Provincial Nominee Visa Program

Each province or territory in Canada has its own immigration process. If the local authority considers your skills, education, and experience necessary for improving the economy, they may nominate you for this visa option.

Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Visa

If you and your family members have lived in Canada under a temporary work visa, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency. Only those working in an essential occupation, as a healthcare professional, or recently graduated from a Canadian post-secondary education system can apply for this visa.

Express Entry Visa (for Skilled Immigrants)

Skilled workers gain priority express entry for the immigration process. If the following conditions apply, you may be eligible for this visa type:

• Canadian experience class – you have experience working in Canada during the three years prior to your application.
• Federal skilled workers program – skilled workers who meet educational background criteria with foreign work experience.
• Federal skilled trades program – skilled workers with a valid job offer, certificate, or qualification, who are qualified in a skilled worker trade.

Start-Up Visa

You could be eligible for a start-up visa if you have the funding and sponsorship to start a business in Canada that will benefit the economy. Your company must provide jobs in Canada, be able to complete on a global scale and be driven by innovation.

Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers Visa

Quebec, like many major cities in Canada, has its own rules for immigration, and is able to select immigration candidates most suited to life in Quebec. To apply, you must first apply to the Government of Quebec. Once you have received their approval, you can then apply for permanent residency with the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada immigration authorities.

Self-Employed Persons Visa

You can apply for a visa to move to Canada if you are self-employed. However, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• Have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics.
• Be able to bring this experience to improve Canadian cultural attractions and athletics.

Agri-Food Pilot Visa

If you are a worker in the agri-food industry, you might be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot Visa, designed to bring workers in to support the Canadian agricultural industry. To be eligible for this visa, the following must apply:

• You have Canadian work experience in relevant agricultural industries.
• You have a full-time and non-seasonal job offer in a relevant Canadian agricultural sector.
• You meet or exceed the Canadian language requirements.
• You have the required settlement funds.
• You maintain temporary resident status if you are already settled in Canada.

Permanent Residency for Hong Kong Citizens Visa

Since Hong Kong and Canada have both been part of the British Commonwealth, there are options for Hong Kong residents to obtain a Canadian visa if the following criteria apply:

• You are a temporary Canadian resident and recent graduate living in Canada.
• You have work experience in Canada in the last 3 years.

Territory-Based Visas

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Visa

To draw workers into rural areas and northern territories, Canada offers an immigration pilot. To access this pilot, you must have a job offer from a company in one of the approved territories. You must also have a recommendation for the visa from the community. The eligible areas change frequently, so contact us at Total Law to enquire about this visa type.

Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Visa

If you are an eligible skilled refugee, you may be eligible for the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Visa. You must have refugee status to apply for the visa, and you must be eligible for an economic immigration program. To be eligible for these programs, at least one of the following must apply:

• You have English or French skills
• You have work experience, job training, or education in a relevant field.
• You must have an offer for job opportunities in Canada for full-time work.

Francophone Immigration Visa

The Francophone Immigration Visa is designed to help bilingual or French-speaking immigrants work and live in Canada. This visa route helps you to find French culture and facilities outside Quebec and plan your life in Canada as a French-speaking person. The visa helps to connect companies with French-speaking professionals to outsource skills via the immigration process.

There are certain eligibility criteria Australian citizens must meet to obtain Canadian citizenship. Below is a list of the eligibility requirements to consider before applying for a visa to move to Canada from Australia:

• You must have a valid passport or relevant travel document.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a clean criminal history and no immigration-related convictions.
• You must provide evidence of your financial health and ability to afford your stay or life in Canada.
• You must have a medical examination letter from a licensed medical professional.
• You must have an invitation to Canada from an organisation, community, sponsor, employer, or family member.

The eligibility requirements can be more complex for each different visa type, but you must meet these basic requirements before considering moving to Canada. If you wish to learn more about the requirements for a specific visa type, you must take an assessment on the Canadian government website, which will let you know whether or not you are eligible.

If you are unsure about your eligibility for a Canadian visa after taking the assessment, you can access the services of an experienced Canadian immigration consultant at Total Law.

When you submit a Canadian Visa application, you can generally expect to receive a decision within 36 days of submission. The processing time starts on the day you submit your application. Using the Canadian Government website, you can check the status of your visa application – the processing time can vary from visa to visa.

If you application is refused you can appeal to the Canadian immigration office. You can make a residency obligation appeal if you are overseas when your visa is denied or a removal order appeal if you are in Canada when rejected.

Should you decide to appeal the decision, you can strengthen your case by using immigration lawyers. They will be able to support your appeal and help you to provide sufficient evidence to prove your eligibility for the visa.

You do not have to be living in Canada to apply for permanent residency. You can apply from either Australia or Canada. If you are on a travel or work visa in Canada, you can apply for permanent residency without returning to Australia.

Since the processing time begins when you submit your application, the processing time could take longer if you apply from Australia, especially if you are sending your application and supporting documents via the postal service.