The Canadian High Commission

P.O. Box 5209  
7/8 Shantipath, Chanakyapuri  
New Delhi - 110 021, India

Telephone numbers:

General Enquiries: 687-6500  
Immigration Enquiries: 0172-716021/24  
Fax: 688-6736

Canada offers a range of visas for foreigners. A detailed list is given below.

Immigration visas

There are six different immigration visa categories. These are:

(i) Skilled worker class Immigration
(ii) Business Class immigration
(iii) Family class immigration
(iv) International adoption
(v) Provincial nomination
(vi) Quebec selected immigration visas

Skilled worker class immigration

These visas are issued to those applicants who are educated and have sufficient work experience. With those they may be able to find a job and live in Canada permanently.To apply for skilled worker class immigration visa, it is essential that the applicant must fulfill certain criteria. These are:

• The applicant must posses minimum work experience as prescribed by the Canadian government
• The applicant must prove that he has the necessary funds to settle in Canada
• The applicant must have the necessary language skills - in English or in French
• The applicant must pay the necessary fees - Processing Fee, Right of Permanent Residence fee and others.
• The applicant must score enough points in the six selection factors so as to meet the pass mark.
• The applicant must meet certain health and medical requirements.  
  

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Minimum work experience

• The applicant must have at least one-year full time work experience.  He must have gained this experience in the last 10-year period.
• He must be paid for that work. His work experience must be in the category of Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B on the National Occupational Classification (NOC) of Canadian government.
• He must not have gained experience on a work that is listed in the restricted occupation list of the NOC.

Those who fail to possess minimum work experience are prohibited from applying for immigration based on skilled worker category.

Language testing

The applicant must have a minimum proficiency in one or both of the official languages spoken in Canada – English and French. Possessing proficiency in one or both the languages is one of the six selection factors that are used as a bench mark for issuing immigration visas for skilled workers. Based on the applicant’s proficiency in English or French, he may be awarded a maximum of about 24 points. The applicant can gain points based on his ability to:

·        Listen

·        Speak

·        Read and

·        WriteTo demonstrate your proficiency, it is essential to sit for some language tests. Approved language tests are stated as under:

In English

·        IELTS: International English Language Testing System – the applicant must sit for the "General Training" option.

• CELPIP: Canadian International Language Proficiency Index Program

In French

• TEF: Test d'Evaluation de Francais

For IELTS

The applicant can assess his points in the IELTS from the following table:

Test Score Equivalency Chart

For CELPIP

The applicant can assess his points in the CELPIP from the following table:

Test Score Equivalency Chart

 
For TEF

The applicant can assess his points in the TEF from the following table:

Test Score Equivalency Chart

Based on the above tables the applicant can decide the proficiency level.

Benchmark chart

The applicant can use the following chart for assessing the language skills based on the skill level. This chart is prepared based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks.

If the applicant can use both the languages – English and French, then, he has to decide which is his first language.  If the applicant is comfortable in English, then, he can fix it as his first language. In case if his French is better than his English, then, he can opt for French.

The applicant can calculate his language points based on the following table:

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Proof of Funds  

It is essential for the applicant to have sufficient funds to support himself and his family until he gets a job. For that purpose, before leaving to Canada, he has to have some minimum amount of funds.

Based on the following table, the applicant can calculate the minimum amount of funds needed to maintain himself and his family.

Funds table