Canada immigration guides

Canada's main economic route, Express Entry, needs no job offer. You are scored on age, education, language and work experience, and invited to apply for permanent residence if your score clears the cut-off in a draw. A provincial nomination adds 600 points. Until 2 November 2026 a job offer adds no points. From 3 November 2026 an offer in a high-wage occupation adds 50 to 100 points, with no LMIA needed (what changes).

What these guides cover

The score. How the Comprehensive Ranking System awards points, where most applicants lose them, and the one change that usually raises a score most. The calculator does the arithmetic for you.

The 2026 categories. IRCC confirmed in February 2026 that health care and social services, trades, and French-language proficiency continue as category-based draws, alongside new categories for doctors, researchers and senior managers with Canadian experience, and transport occupations. Candidates in a category can be invited at lower scores than the general pool, with 12 months of qualifying experience in the past three years.

Provincial nominations. Dozens of streams across the provinces, and the 600 points a nomination adds.

The money. Settlement funds by family size ($15,263 (IRCC, effective July 7, 2025) for one person, $28,362 for four) and the fees: $1,590 (IRCC, effective April 30, 2026) for the application, which already includes the $600 right of permanent residence fee, plus biometrics.

What paused. The Home Care Worker pilots stopped taking applications on 19 December 2025, until further notice. The healthcare Express Entry category is separate and running.

Our assessment checks you against every open UK and Canadian route in about three minutes and shows your score, where you stand and the first thing that would raise it. No card needed for that. Seeing every route in full needs a plan.