SILC 1265, rue Saint-André, suite 102, Montréal, Québec H2L 3T1
Raoul Sfeir understands the importance of pursuing your studies and accessing a quality education.
Temporary Residence in Canada: Work, Study, Visits and More
A temporary stay in Canada can be an important step in your personal, professional or family plans. The authorized length of stay depends on your status and circumstances. Whether you wish to work, study or visit, Raoul Sfeir’s law firm helps you identify and apply for the appropriate immigration authorization.
Services offered:
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP)
A temporary resident permit (TRP) may authorize a person who is inadmissible or does not meet certain immigration requirements to enter or remain in Canada for a limited period, where an officer considers this justified in the circumstances.
Issuance is discretionary and may involve conditions. A TRP can be cancelled and does not erase the underlying inadmissibility. Depending on eligibility, a permit holder may also apply for authorization to work or study. Further permits may be considered, but are not guaranteed.
A TRP is different from a temporary resident visa (TRV), which does not overcome inadmissibility.
Raoul Sfeir’s law firm can assess your circumstances, help explain the reasons for the request, organize supporting evidence and prepare and follow up on the application.
Work Permits: LMIAs, Exemptions and Provincial Nominee Pathways
Who is this for?
Canadian employers and prospective workers, whether in Canada or abroad, seeking work authorization under federal requirements administered by IRCC, CBSA and ESDC and, in Quebec, the relevant MIFI requirements, including a CAQ where required.
Overview of possible pathways
LMIA-based work permits: the employer generally needs a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), subject to the applicable rules and exemptions. The worker must then qualify for an employer-specific work permit.
LMIA-exempt work permits: the International Mobility Program (IMP) includes categories such as eligible intra-company transfers, international agreement professionals, Francophone Mobility and certain reciprocal, public-interest, religious or charitable activities. Employer Portal submissions and compliance fees apply where required.
Open work permits: available only to qualifying categories and generally not tied to a specific employer. Examples include eligible graduates, spouses or common-law partners, certain permanent residence applicants and vulnerable workers.
International Experience Canada: Working Holiday may provide an open work permit. Young Professionals and International Co-op generally involve employer-specific work permits, subject to eligibility.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): a nomination may support a work permit application in an eligible category. Some permanent residence applicants may qualify for a bridging open work permit, depending on their nomination and circumstances.
Quebec: a CAQ is generally required for LMIA-based temporary work, subject to exemptions. LMIA-exempt work generally does not require a CAQ; the precise category must be checked.
How we can help
For employers:
Position assessment: job title, NOC and TEER classification, duties, language requirements, prevailing wage, working conditions and location.
Immigration strategy: assessing LMIA requirements, IMP exemptions and relevant provincial nominee pathways.
Advertising and recruitment: planning compliant recruitment, documenting results and preparing a transition plan where required, together with employment contracts or offer letters.
Employer compliance: setting up the relevant LMIA Online, Job Bank or Employer Portal accounts, preparing required submissions and fees, and maintaining employment records and policies.
Submission and follow-up: preparing applications, responding to requests for information, preparing for ESDC or IRCC inspections, and advising on work permit conditions and entry requirements.
For workers:
Personalized strategy: assessing LMIA-based permits, IMP exemptions, provincial nominee options and eligible open work permit categories, together with maintained status and extensions where applicable.
Work permit application: preparing forms, evidence of experience and education, credentials, language results where required and employer or provincial support letters.
Provincial nominee pathways: preparing expressions of interest or provincial applications, nomination documents and eligible work permit support requests, and planning the permanent residence stage.
Updates and compliance: reviewing work permit conditions, job changes, accompanying family members and extensions. We recommend preparing extensions at least 30 days before expiry; maintained status depends on meeting the applicable legal requirements.
Typical Pathways
1.
LMIA-based Hiring, Including a CAQ in Quebec Where Required
Assess the position, carry out recruitment where required, obtain a positive or neutral LMIA and a CAQ where required, and apply for an employer-specific work permit before starting work, subject to the applicable rules.
3.
Provincial Nomination and Work Permits
Depending on the stream: submit an expression of interest or provincial application, obtain a nomination and any applicable work permit support letter, and apply for permanent residence. A nomination does not itself authorize employment, and work permit eligibility must be assessed separately.
2.
IMP Exemption: Intra-company Transfer
Assess the qualifying corporate relationship and executive, managerial or specialized-knowledge role; complete the Employer Portal submission and fee payment where required; apply for an employer-specific work permit; plan entry and any subsequent extension, subject to eligibility.
4.
Open Work Permits
Examples include a PGWP after eligible studies, an open work permit for an eligible spouse or common-law partner, a bridging open work permit for a qualifying permanent residence applicant, or an open work permit for a vulnerable worker experiencing or at risk of abuse in their employment. Each category has specific requirements.
Study Permits: Canada and Quebec
Who is this for?
Students accepted by a designated learning institution (DLI) who can demonstrate the required financial resources and meet the applicable immigration requirements, including admissibility.
Required attestations
Outside Quebec: a provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) is generally required unless an exemption applies. Eligible master’s and doctoral students at public DLIs are among the exempt categories.
Quebec: a Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) is generally required, subject to exemptions. The attestation of CAQ issuance must contain the wording required by IRCC and serves in place of a PAL/TAL where applicable.
How we can help
Admission and application requirements: checking the designated learning institution (DLI), Quebec Acceptance Certificate (CAQ) and provincial or territorial attestation letter (PAL/TAL) requirements, including applicable exemptions, and planning the application timeline.
Financial evidence: organizing proof of tuition, living expenses and transportation costs under the applicable federal or Quebec requirements, using appropriate documents such as bank statements, guaranteed investment certificates and student loan evidence.
Study plan and forms: presenting a coherent explanation of your proposed studies, ties to your country of residence and choice of program, and preparing complete application forms.
Work during and after studies: assessing eligibility for off-campus work, any authorization required for placements, and a post-graduation work permit (PGWP), based on the program and current rules.
Accompanying family: assessing whether your spouse or common-law partner qualifies for an open work permit under the applicable restrictions.
After graduation: planning the transition to a PGWP and, where eligible, economic immigration or provincial nominee pathways to permanent residence.
Visitor Visa (TRV)
Who is this for?
Travellers planning to visit Canada for tourism, business or family visits.
A temporary resident visa (TRV) is placed in your passport and may allow one or multiple entries. Its validity is determined by IRCC and does not determine how long you may stay. Visitors are usually authorized to stay for up to six months per entry unless a different period is specified. An extension may be requested.
Visa-exempt travellers may need an electronic travel authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. An eTA is linked to your passport and is generally valid for up to five years or until the passport expires, whichever comes first. Entry remains subject to the border officer’s assessment.
How we can help
Requirements assessment: determining whether you need a visitor visa or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), based on your nationality and itinerary, for tourism, business or family visits.
Application planning and preparation: an explanatory letter, financial evidence, travel history and itinerary, ties to your country of residence (employment, family and assets), and an invitation letter where appropriate.
Submission and follow-up: filing online, responding to requests for additional documents, and advising on visitor status extensions. We recommend applying at least 30 days before your authorized stay expires.
For studies lasting more than six months, a study permit is generally required. Business activities that go beyond permitted business visitor activities may require a work permit. We help identify the appropriate category.
Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents
Who is this for?
Parents and grandparents of eligible Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
What does a super visa allow?
Eligible visitors can stay for up to five years per entry. A multiple-entry visa may be valid for up to ten years, depending on the circumstances.
An extension of the authorized stay may be requested from within Canada through a visitor record, subject to IRCC approval.
Key requirements include:
Eligible private medical insurance valid for at least one year, with at least CAD 100,000 in coverage for health care, hospitalization and repatriation, and compliant payment arrangements.
Insurance from an eligible Canadian insurer or a foreign insurer that meets IRCC’s requirements, including the applicable OSFI authorization requirements.
The host must meet the applicable income requirement based on family size.
An immigration medical examination and compliance with the general eligibility and admissibility requirements.
Visa-exempt applicants must follow the super visa procedure applicable to them and may need an eTA to travel to Canada by air.
How we can help
Host and applicant eligibility: assessing family size and the applicable income requirement.
Compliant medical insurance: reviewing the insurer’s eligibility, coverage, proof of payment and policy conditions.
Application preparation: an invitation and support letter, financial evidence, ties to the applicant’s country of residence, forms, biometrics and an immigration medical examination.
IRCC submission and follow-up: advice on entry conditions and visitor record extensions. We recommend applying at least 30 days before the authorized stay expires.
Medical insurance must remain valid during the stay, and proof must be available for presentation at entry. A visitor record extends an authorized stay but does not guarantee re-entry to Canada.
