Immigration Glossary
Type an immigration term into the search bar below, or scroll down to browse common immigration terms.
Canadian Language Benchmark : Canada has its own system for describing language proficiency according to Canadian standards. Language proficiency is ranked according to Canadian Language Benchmarks or CLBs. There are 12 CLBs that cover the range from the most basic ability (CLB 1) to complete fluency (CLB 12). Candidates for Canadian immigration through a federal economic immigration program are required to demonstrate their proficiency in either English or French by way of a standardized test recognized by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). Results of tests have a corresponding CLB for each of the four language components that are assessed: Speaking, Reading, Writing, Listening.
Comprehensive Ranking System: The CRS is used in order to determine a candidate’s position within the Express Entry pool among other applicants. The pool rank for prospective skilled applicants is determined by weighing factors such as work experience, language ability, level of education, age, and other factors that contribute to the candidate's potential to become established in Canada.
IRCC assigns a CRS Score to each eligible express entry profile. Candidates with higher scores are more likely to be drawn in Express Entry draws, and to receive an invitation to apply (ITA).
A dependant child is a biological or adopted child, under the age of 22, and neither married nor in a common-law relationship. Children who are 22 years and older but who are unable to support themselves because they suffer from a mental or physical condition are also considered dependants.
Educational Credential Assessment: A report issued by an organization designated by the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship that verifies the authenticity of a foreign diploma, certificate or credential, and assesses its equivalence to a Canadian educational credential. ECAs are usually valid for 5 years, after which they expire.
Express Entry is a management application system for immigration to Canada. This system facilitates the selection and processing of Canada’s federal economic immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Class, the Federal Skilled Trades Class, the Canadian Experience Class, and a portion of the Provincial Nominee Programs. Applicants make an "expression of interest" (EOI) in immigrating to Canada and, if they are eligible for at least one of the aforementioned programs, they then enter the Express Entry pool. The federal government and provincial governments, as well as Canadian employers, are then able to select candidates from this pool who will then receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA) for immigration to Canada under one of the programs. Express Entry aims to fast track the processing of skilled immigrants deemed most likely to succeed in Canada.
Expression of Interest: An expression of interest is the method by which a candidate communicates their interest in an immigration program, and provides the required information to the appropriate organization. Organizations such as IRCC and the provincial nominee programs respond to candidates on the basis of these expressions of interest, and may invite selected candidates to submit applications, by issuing the candidate an ITA or NOI.
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada: IRCC is the department of the federal government of Canada in charge of immigration and citizenship matters. IRCC develops and implements policies, programs, and services that facilitate the arrival of people and their integration into Canada, protects refugees and people in need of protection, and promotes the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship. It also grants citizenship, issues travel documents (such as passports), promotes multiculturalism, and advances migration policies in a way that supports Canada’s immigration and humanitarian objectives, among other things.
Invitation to Apply: Under the Express Entry System, candidates must first be invited in order to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). IRCC issues ITAs to candidates in the Express Entry pool in periodic draws. Candidates typically have 60 days to apply after having been issued an ITA.
Labour Market Impact Assessment: The Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a process in which Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) verifies and evaluates a job offer to make sure a foreign worker’s employment will not have a negative impact on the Canadian labor market. For many programs, it matters whether your job and/or work permit is LMIA-based, LMIA-exempt, or has no LMIA (such as an open work permit).
NOC stands for National Occupation Classification. The federal government, along with many immigration programs, use the NOC as a way of defining a candidate’s work experience, primary occupation, and job offers.
A NOC Code is a unique code in the NOC associated with a specific occupation in the NOC. A single NOC code can encompass a wide range of job titles. The Code is assigned based on the duties and responsibilities associated with the job. Typically, to count work experience with a NOC, you must show that you performed all the duties in the lead statement of the JOC, and most of the major duties.
Notification of Interest: Many Express-Entry integrated Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) use a process whereby they will issue candidates a Notification of Interest (NOI), to which the candidate will respond with an application to the appropriate PNP. For passive provincial EE streams, all eligible profiles in the EE pool could receive an NOI. For active provincial EE streams, candidates must typically submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) to the province in order to be considered for an NOI.
Provincial Nominee Program. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows provinces to nominate immigrants they believe will contribute to the economic vitality of their province. Many provinces have PNP streams aligned with the federal Express Entry selection system. The selection criteria for the specific PNP streams are determined by individual provinces, but in many cases they are similar to the selection criteria for Federal Skilled Workers. To be eligible for one of the Express Entry PNP streams, candidates must create an Express Entry profile online and must enter the federal Express Entry pool. By receiving a Provincial Nomination, a candidate is awarded an extra 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which significantly improves his or her chance of being invited to apply for permanent residence.
Prospective immigrants applying for permanent residency must prove that they have sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependents for at least six months upon arrival in Canada. The funds must be available and transferrable. However, if the applicant has arranged employment in Canada, then they do not need to prove sufficient settlement funds.