Skilled Workers

• Canada accepts immigrants in the skilled worker class based on education, work experience and other criteria that show how they would benefit the Canadian workforce. Potential immigrants must prove that they already have an offer of employment in Canada or experience in an occupation listed as desirable by the CIC (see a list of these in Resources). Applicants must also show an ability to communicate and work in English or French.
  
  

Family

• Canada accepts immigrants in the family class based on their relationships to Canadians who are already citizens or permanent residents. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor his spouse, dependent children or other eligible relatives such as parents or grandparents to immigrate to Canada. In the application process, the sponsor must prove that his financial situation allows him to care for those who are immigrating.
  
  

Investors

• Canada accepts immigrants through the Business Immigration Program based on their capacity to enhance the development of the Canadian economy. Immigrants in this class can be investors, entrepreneurs and other self-employed people. While applications for this class include the standard background and criminal checks, the most important factor for this class is that the applicant make an investment in Canada of at least $400,000 or own a Canadian business.
  
  

Canadian Experience

• Canada allows temporary foreign workers or foreign students already in Canada to apply for permanent residency in the Canadian experience class. To qualify, potential immigrants must have two years of full-time work experience in Canada or have graduated from a Canadian university or college and have one year of full-time work experience. This work experience must be managerial, professional or technical in nature.
  
  

Refugees

• Canada accepts those who need protection and fear returning to their home countries in the refugee class. To qualify for the refugee class, applicants must show that they may be subjected to cruel or unusual punishment, torture or death if they return to their home countries. Refugee claims can be made at the port of entry when arriving in Canada or at any CIC office. If the claim is accepted, applicants for refugee status are heard on a case-by-case basis by the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada.