Canada Immigration Lawyers for Australians

Total Law are a team of international immigration lawyers and consultants working in several countries around the world. 

We have a dedicated team of CICC-accredited Canadian immigration lawyers committed to delivering the highest quality of service for those looking to move to Canada. If you’re an Australian national looking to move to Canada, our legal team are poised to help and assist. 

We have already helped hundreds of businesses and individuals successfully immigrate to their chosen countries. And with our Australia to Canada immigration services, we can do the same for you as well. 

We have the requisite experience and knowledge to assist with all your immigration queries and issues, including specific guidance for Australian nationals to help inform their journey to Canada. 

For more information about our services and what we could do for you, reach out to us today and speak to one of our advisers. Call us on +44 (0) 333 305 9375 or reach out to us online.  

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For example, skilled professionals may qualify for permanent residence through Express Entry, while younger Australians may be eligible to work and travel under the International Experience Canada (IEC) program.

The main pathways include:

Australian citizenship does not automatically grant permission to live or work in Canada. Applicants must meet the conditions of their chosen immigration route.

Total Law assists Australian applicants with temporary residence, permanent residence and other Canadian immigration matters.

Our team can review your circumstances, identify relevant immigration programmes and explain the evidence required for an application.

Canadian Permanent Residence

Permanent residence allows eligible foreign nationals to live and work in Canada on a long-term basis.

Australians may qualify through Express Entry, provincial nomination, family sponsorship or another eligible immigration programme.

Applicants must meet the requirements of the route they choose. These may include work experience, education, language ability, financial resources or qualifying family relationships.

Canadian Work Permits

Australians who want to work in Canada may qualify for an open or employer-specific work permit.

An open work permit allows employment with most eligible Canadian employers. An employer-specific permit restricts employment in accordance with its conditions.

Some applications require a qualifying job offer, while others are available without one.

Our team can advise on work permit eligibility, employer documentation and application requirements.

Canadian Study Permits

Australians planning to study in Canada may need a study permit.

Applicants must obtain acceptance from a designated learning institution and meet the relevant financial and immigration requirements.

Some applicants must also provide a provincial or territorial attestation letter, while exemptions apply to certain categories.

Total Law can assist with study permit applications and advice concerning accompanying family members.

Canadian Family Sponsorship

Australians with eligible Canadian family members may qualify for permanent residence through sponsorship.

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor certain relatives, including qualifying spouses, partners and dependent children.

Applications require evidence of the relationship and confirmation that both the sponsor and applicant meet the relevant requirements.

Yes. Australian citizens aged 18 to 35 can apply through International Experience Canada, provided they meet the eligibility requirements.

IEC offers three categories to eligible Australian citizens:

• Working Holiday: An open work permit for eligible applicants who want to travel and work in Canada
• Young Professionals: An employer-specific work permit for eligible applicants with a qualifying professional job offer
• International Co-op (Internship): A work permit for eligible students completing a work placement related to their studies

Australian applicants may qualify for a stay of up to 24 months, depending on the category and their circumstances.

Applicants must satisfy requirements regarding their passports, health insurance, financial resources, and admissibility.

For example, IEC applicants are required to demonstrate access to at least CAD $2,500 to help cover their initial expenses.

Participation limits also apply. Australian citizens cannot assume they can complete a Working Holiday and then a separate Young Professionals participation.

IEC is a temporary immigration programme. Anyone hoping to remain in Canada permanently will need to qualify under an appropriate immigration pathway.

Australians who want to settle in Canada may qualify through several permanent residence programmes.

Express Entry

Express Entry is an online application management system covering three federal economic immigration programmes:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Federal Skilled Trades Program

Applicants must first meet the eligibility requirements of at least one programme.

Eligible candidates create a profile and are ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which considers factors such as age, education, language proficiency and skilled work experience.

IRCC issues invitations to selected candidates through invitation rounds. Creating an Express Entry profile does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Provincial Nominee Program

The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows participating provinces and territories to nominate eligible applicants who can contribute to their local economies.

Each province has its own immigration streams and eligibility requirements.

Some applicants apply through Express Entry-linked streams, while others use the non-Express Entry process.

Applicants must intend to live in the province or territory that nominates them.

Family Sponsorship

Australians with qualifying family members in Canada may be eligible for permanent residence through family sponsorship.

Eligibility depends on the relationship, the sponsor’s immigration status and the applicable requirements.

An immigration lawyer can help assess which pathway is available based on your family circumstances.

The documents required depend on the immigration programme and your personal circumstances.

An Australian applicant seeking permanent residence through Express Entry will have different requirements from someone applying for a Working Holiday work permit.

Depending on the route, documents may include:

• A valid Australian passport
• Educational certificates and transcripts
• An Educational Credential Assessment, where required
• Approved English or French language test results
• Employment references and evidence of work experience
• Proof of sufficient funds
• Police certificates
• Immigration medical examination results
• Marriage, birth or relationship documents, where relevant

Additional documents may be required based on your immigration history, country of residence and chosen programme.

Are There Additional Document Requirements for Applicants in Australia?

Some applications processed through the Canadian visa office responsible for Australia may have supplementary document instructions.

For example, study permit applicants may need to provide additional information about their proposed course, education history and reasons for studying in Canada.

Applicants should follow the checklist and instructions issued for their application rather than relying on a generic list of documents.

Total Law can help review the relevant requirements and identify any missing supporting evidence.

Australian citizens travelling to Canada for a short visit do not need a Canadian visitor visa.

However, Australian passport holders travelling to Canada by air must have a valid electronic travel authorisation (eTA), unless an exemption applies.

An eTA is linked electronically to the traveller’s passport.

Australians entering Canada by land or sea do not require an eTA, although they must carry a valid passport and satisfy the entry requirements.

An eTA does not grant permission to work or study in Canada where a permit is required. It also does not guarantee admission, as Canadian border officials make the final entry decision.

These rules apply to Australian citizens. People living in Australia who hold passports from other countries may face different entry requirements.

The process depends on whether you are applying for permanent residence, a work permit, a study permit or another immigration programme.

Most applicants will need to complete the following stages.

Step 1: Choose an Immigration Pathway

Identify the programme that best matches your reason for moving to Canada.

Consider your qualifications, work experience, age, family circumstances and long-term plans before deciding which route to pursue.

Step 2: Check the Eligibility Requirements

Review the conditions of your chosen programme.

For skilled immigration, this may involve assessing your work experience, educational qualifications and language ability.

For an employer-specific work permit, you may need a qualifying job offer and supporting employer documentation.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents

Prepare the required forms and supporting evidence.

Documents issued outside Canada may require translation, and some applicants may need medical examinations or police certificates.

Check whether any Australia-specific document instructions apply.

Step 4: Submit Your Application

Applications are submitted through the relevant IRCC process.

You will need to complete the required forms, provide supporting documents and pay the applicable government fees.

Some applicants must also provide biometrics.

Step 5: Receive a Decision and Prepare to Travel

IRCC may request additional information while processing your application.

If your application is approved, follow the instructions provided before travelling to Canada.

The documents you receive will depend on whether you applied for temporary or permanent residence.

The cost of moving to Canada depends on your immigration route, family circumstances and relocation plans.

Immigration-related expenses may include:

• Canadian government application fees
• Biometrics fees, where applicable
• Language testing and educational assessments
• Medical examinations and police certificates
• Document translation costs
• Immigration legal or consulting fees

Applicants should also budget for travel, accommodation, health insurance and initial living expenses.

Some immigration programmes require proof that you have sufficient funds to support yourself and any accompanying family members.

Government fees and financial requirements can change, so applicants should check the current amounts before submitting an application.

Canadian immigration processing times vary according to the programme and the circumstances of the application.

For example, Express Entry applications, provincial nominations, study permits and employer-specific work permits are processed under different procedures.

Processing may be affected by:

• The immigration programme
• Whether the application is complete
• Background and admissibility checks
• Requests for additional documents
• IRCC application volumes

Applicants should consult IRCC’s current processing-time estimates for their chosen programme.

An immigration lawyer can help identify the relevant requirements and review an application for completeness, but cannot guarantee a decision within a particular period.