?️ Which Route Are You On?
Most people from Taiwan come to Canada via one of these paths:
| Entry status | Common Purposes | Can be converted to | Maximum Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| eTA (visa-free) | Travel and short-term visits with family | Visitor -> Visitor Visa Extension | No restrictions |
| Working Holiday WHV | Experience life, save money, and explore immigrating | Work permit / study permit / PGWP | 35 years old |
| Student Visa | Study, work part-time, and obtain a PGWP | PGWP → CEC → PR | No restrictions |
| Work permit (LMIA) | Have an employer-sponsored job | CEC / LMIA → PR | No restrictions |
| PGWP | Working in Canada After Graduation | CEC / Skilled Worker PR | No restrictions |
? Working Holiday (Working Holiday Visa / IEC)
Taiwan gets roughly 600–800 spots each year, applied for through the IEC (International Experience Canada) program. For many people this is the first step to “test the waters” in Canada.
Eligibility requirements
- Aged 18–35 at the time of application
- A valid Taiwan passport
- Have sufficient funds (we recommend $2,500 CAD or more)
- Healthy, with no serious criminal record
✅ WHV Advantages
- An Open Work Permit lets you work for any employer
- Free to move around and take on any legal work
- It's a low-cost way to explore whether to stay in Canada or not
- Save money while working and prepare for further visa options at the same time
❌ WHV Restrictions
- Up to 1 year (for a second time you must go to a different farm to enter the draw again)
- Spots are limited, and competition has heated up in recent years
- The WHV itself does not lead directly to PR (it must be combined with other strategies)
? Study-Permit Route (Study → PGWP → CEC → PR)
This is currently the most common "standard" immigration path. The key points are as follows:
- Choose the right school and program: Not all programs grant a PGWP, so confirm the DLI list and PGWP eligibility
- Course length determines the PGWP: A 2-year program earns a 2-year PGWP, and a 3-year program earns a 3-year PGWP.
- Accumulate Canadian Experience during the PGWP period: Usually requires more than 1 year of full-time NOC TEER 0–3 work experience
- Apply for PR via Express Entry (CEC stream)：Selection by CRS score ranking
? LMIA work permit route
If you have an employer willing to apply for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) for you, this is another path toward PR:
- Employers need to prove to the government that "no suitable talent can be found locally in Canada"
- The fee is paid by the employer ($1,000 CAD application fee; IRCC explicitly prohibits employers from requiring job seekers to bear it)
- LMIA + work experience → Express Entry bonus points (50–200 points)
? A Quick Look at Express Entry Points (CRS)
| project | Highest score | How to Improve |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 110 | The younger you are the higher it is, peaking at 20–29 |
| Education Level | 150 | Master's/Doctorate > Bachelor's |
| English proficiency (IELTS/CELPIP) | 136 | CLB 9+ is the key threshold |
| Canadian work experience | 80 | The CEC stream matters most |
| Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) | 600 | Add 600 points at once for direct selection |
| An LMIA job offer | 50–200 | NOC TEER 0–1 adds 200 |
Year 1: Working Holiday Visa — Save Money and Explore Your Surroundings
Years 2–4: Apply for a 2-year college diploma, study while working part-time
Year 5: Graduate, apply for a 2-year PGWP, and start full-time work
Years 6-7: Accumulate 1 year of Canadian work experience -> CEC -> Express Entry -> Apply for PR
?️ What Is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?
Besides the federal Express Entry, each province also has its own nominee program. The ones Taiwanese people most commonly come across:
- BC PNP (BC skilled talent): For specific occupational categories, you can be nominated directly for an extra 600 CRS points
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP): Occupations with major labor shortages in the Toronto area
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: Living in a designated small city makes it easier to receive a nomination
❓ Visa FAQ
Can a working holiday be extended?
A WHV itself cannot be directly extended, but before it expires you can apply for another type of work permit (such as an LMIA work permit) or a study permit, to stay in Canada legally.
Do Taiwanese applicants need an additional immigration assessment?
不需要，台灣護照本身沒有額外的移民評估關卡。要注意的是這裡容易混淆兩件不相關的事：AOR（Acknowledgement of Receipt，收件確認）是 IRCC 收到「永久居留」類申請（例如 Express Entry、配偶擔保）後才會發出的收件確認信，跟國籍無關、所有申請人都會收到，並不是台灣人可以「跳過」的特殊程序；台灣護照持有者在辦 eTA（免簽電子旅行授權）或短期 TRV 時，走的是完全不同的入境審查流程，兩者不能混為一談。
Can my spouse come along?
Yes. When the main applicant holds a valid work permit or study permit, the spouse can apply for an Open Work Permit or Study Permit, depending on the status.
Can you apply if you have a bad record (DUI, minor offense)?
It depends on the situation. For minor offenses, you can apply for a Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) or Criminal Rehabilitation; we recommend consulting an immigration lawyer or advisor first.
What's the difference between PR and citizenship?
PR（永久居留）允許你無限期居住和工作，但不能投票、持加拿大護照或享有某些聯邦福利，且必須維持「居住義務」——每 5 年（1,825 天）中至少住滿 730 天，否則可能喪失 PR 身份。入籍公民的門檻不同：在申請前 5 年（1,825 天）中，需要在加拿大實際居住滿 1,095 天（3 年）才能申請入籍。這是兩個各自獨立的天數規定，細節請以 IRCC 官網最新公告為準。
Complete Guide to Visas and Immigration
Below is the series of articles on Canadian visas and immigration compiled by Let’s Canada, covering all the main pathways from short-term travel to permanent residence. Click each title to view the full guide:
? 短期入境 vs 境內延期
- Visitor Record 是什麼？和觀光簽證、eTA 有什麼不同？：eTA、Visitor Visa（TRV）跟 Visitor Record 三者的差異、maintained status 是什麼、打工度假到期前怎麼辦
- US-Canada Border Crossing Guide：陸路過境、Flagpole 出境刷新身份（已於 2024/12/24 取消）、NEXUS 卡申請、CBSA 報關規定
? Work and study
- 加拿大工作簽證總整理：Employer-specific vs Open、LMIA、GTS、CUSMA 專業人員許可（跟美國 TN 簽證不是同一件事）、IEC、RO 隱藏門路怎麼選
- Complete Guide to a Canadian Working Holiday (IEC/WHV): The pool lottery mechanism, application fees, the open work permit, and how to transition to PR after it expires
- The Complete Study Permit Guide: DLI-recognized schools, GIC deposits, the SOP statement of purpose, and the PGWP post-graduation work permit
- LMIA 完整解析：雇主如何聘用外籍員工、LMIA 詐騙識別
- GTS 完整解析：科技人才 2 週快速工作簽證通道、Category A/B 怎麼選
? 移民永久居留（PR）與身份
- Express Entry Complete Guide: The three major federal programs — FSW / CEC / FST — CRS score calculation, and category draw strategy
- A Complete Comparison of PR Application Routes: Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), family sponsorship, Quebec immigration — all the pathways compared at once
- Guide to Spousal and Common-Law Immigration Applications：擔保人資格、Inland vs Outland 申請路線、配偶開放式工作許可、假結婚風險
- 美國人可以直接取得加拿大國籍嗎？：血統傳承、2025 年 Bill C-3 修法、CUSMA 工作簽證與國籍常見誤解