Time Line

How fast can I get to Canada? It depends. Assuming your employer is ready to sponsor your application to work in Canada (that is, when your job interviews are over and the employer has offered you a letter of employment or a contract), the immigration process will range from a week to a year and a half, depending on your situation.

As a general rule, "priority occupations" get faster treatment. For your convenience, Lightbridge, our recruitment partner, has compiled a list of these on our web site.

The ultimate determining factor in processing time is your visa category and your residency. Temporary work permits for US citizens or US "Green Card" holders of visa exempt nationalities (e.g. British Green Card holders or a US Permanent Resident from Singapore), may have his work permit at the port-of-entry; within an hour or two (if the documentation is solid). Next, temporary work permits for non-US residents, such as those from Mexico or Europe, are generally issued within a month or two.

Permanent resident applications take longer due to stricter police certificate and medical requirements. After all, a permanent resident visa, similar to the US "green card", allows you to work in Canada indefinitely for as long as you're in Canada. Approval of permanent resident applications with arranged employment (via company sponsorship) takes from three to twelve months for US residents and six to eighteen months for most other countries.

Canadian Immigration | Time Line

How fast can I get into Canada? Canada immigration time line. Marc Laforce, certified Canadian immigration consultant.