Canadian Immigration Glossary
Plain-English definitions of every Canadian immigration term and acronym you'll encounter — from IRCC to Express Entry to LMIA. 54 terms.
A
- AIP— Approval-in-Principle
- An IRCC determination that an applicant has met substantive requirements for inland permanent residence (often spousal), pending background and admissibility checks. Triggers eligibility for an open work permit.family sponsorship
B
- BOWP— Bridging Open Work Permit
- An open work permit available to applicants whose temporary status is expiring while their permanent residence application is being processed, typically under Express Entry.work permitexpress entry
C
- CEC— Canadian Experience Class
- An Express Entry program for skilled workers with at least one year of qualifying Canadian work experience in the previous three years.express entry
- CLB— Canadian Language Benchmark
- Canada's national standard for describing English-language proficiency on a 1-12 scale. The French equivalent is NCLC. Used in Express Entry and most economic streams.language testsexpress entry
- CAQ— Certificat d'acceptation du Québec
- A Quebec acceptance certificate required for foreign nationals studying or working in Quebec on certain pathways.quebecstudy permit
- CSQ— Certificat de sélection du Québec
- A Quebec selection certificate confirming that Quebec has approved a candidate for permanent immigration to the province; the federal government still completes admissibility checks.quebec
- CICC— College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants
- The Canadian regulator that licenses Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs and RISIAs) and disciplines unauthorized practice.appeals jr
- CRS— Comprehensive Ranking System
- The points-based system that ranks Express Entry candidates. Points come from age, education, language, work experience, adaptability factors, and arranged employment or provincial nomination.express entry
- COPR— Confirmation of Permanent Residence
- The document confirming an applicant has been approved for permanent residence; presented at the port of entry to land as a permanent resident.express entrypnp
D
- DLI— Designated Learning Institution
- A school approved by a Canadian provincial or territorial government to host international students. Only DLIs qualify applicants for study permits.study permit
E
- ECA— Educational Credential Assessment
- A report from an IRCC-designated organization (WES, ICAS, IQAS, CES, ICES) confirming a foreign credential's Canadian equivalent. Required for most Express Entry profiles using foreign education.credential recognitionexpress entry
- Express Entry
- Canada's federal economic immigration management system. Hosts profiles for FSW, CEC, and FST and ranks candidates by CRS score for Invitations to Apply.express entry
F
- FST— Federal Skilled Trades Program
- An Express Entry program for skilled trades workers with qualifying experience and either a job offer or a Canadian trades certificate.express entry
- FSW— Federal Skilled Worker
- An Express Entry program for skilled workers with foreign experience evaluated against the FSW points grid.express entry
G
- GCMS— Global Case Management System
- IRCC's internal case file system. Notes can be obtained via Access to Information requests and reveal officer reasoning on decisions.processing timesappeals jr
- GTS— Global Talent Stream
- A two-week-processing LMIA stream for high-skill tech and innovation occupations under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.work permit
- GIC— Guaranteed Investment Certificate
- A bank-issued investment held by international students under the Student Direct Stream and other study permit pathways as proof of funds.study permit
H
- H&C— Humanitarian and Compassionate
- Discretionary permanent residence applications for people who don't meet a standard category but have hardship grounds — establishment in Canada, best interests of children, conditions in country of origin.refugee humanitarianappeals jr
I
- IRPA— Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
- Canada's primary immigration statute, enacted in 2002. Sets out programs, inadmissibility grounds, and procedural rights.appeals jr
- IAD— Immigration Appeal Division
- A division of the Immigration and Refugee Board that hears appeals on sponsorship refusals, residency-obligation determinations, and removal orders.appeals jr
- IRCC (the department)— Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
- The federal department responsible for Canadian immigration and citizenship matters. Operated by the Government of Canada at canada.ca/immigration.
- IEC— International Experience Canada
- A youth-mobility program with three streams (Working Holiday, Young Professionals, International Co-op) under bilateral agreements with 35+ countries.work permit
- IMP— International Mobility Program
- A category of LMIA-exempt work permits issued under trade agreements, reciprocity, or significant benefit, identified by 'C' or 'R' codes.work permit
- ITA— Invitation to Apply
- An invitation issued to an Express Entry candidate to submit a complete electronic Application for Permanent Residence within 60 days.express entry
L
- LMIA— Labour Market Impact Assessment
- A document issued by Employment and Social Development Canada confirming an employer needs to hire a foreign worker. Most TFWP work permits require a positive LMIA.work permit
- LOA— Letter of Acceptance
- A formal admission letter from a DLI required for a study permit application.study permit
- LICO— Low-Income Cut-Off
- A Statistics Canada threshold used by IRCC to assess sponsor income for family sponsorship.family sponsorship
M
- MNI— Minimum Necessary Income
- The income threshold sponsors of parents/grandparents must meet for three consecutive tax years; equals LICO plus 30% for Super Visa.family sponsorship
N
- NOC— National Occupational Classification
- Canada's system for classifying occupations. NOC 2021 introduced TEER categories (0-5) replacing the previous skill levels.express entrywork permit
P
- PR— Permanent Resident
- A foreign national granted the right to live and work indefinitely in Canada, subject to a residency obligation. Not a citizen.pr maintenance
- PR card— Permanent Resident Card
- Wallet-sized identification document for permanent residents, valid 5 years. Required to re-enter Canada by commercial carrier.pr maintenance
- PGWP— Post-Graduation Work Permit
- An open work permit available to graduates of eligible Canadian DLIs. Length matches the program length, up to 3 years.work permitstudy permit
- PRRA— Pre-Removal Risk Assessment
- An assessment of risk an individual would face if removed from Canada. Available to most foreign nationals subject to a removal order.refugee humanitarian
- PFL— Procedural Fairness Letter
- An IRCC notice that an officer has concerns that may lead to refusal — e.g., genuineness of marriage, suspected misrepresentation. Applicant has 7-30 days to respond.appeals jr
- PEQ— Programme de l'expérience québécoise
- A Quebec immigration program for graduates and skilled workers; rules tightened significantly since 2020.quebec
- PSTQ— Programme de sélection des travailleurs qualifiés
- Quebec's main skilled-worker economic stream, replacing the legacy QSWP after 2024 reforms.quebec
- PAL— Provincial Attestation Letter
- A letter from a Canadian province confirming that a study permit applicant is included in the province's intake cap. Required for most study permit applications since 2024.study permit
- PNP— Provincial Nominee Program
- A program through which a Canadian province or territory can nominate immigrants for permanent residence based on local economic needs.pnp
R
- RAD— Refugee Appeal Division
- An IRB division that hears most appeals from Refugee Protection Division decisions.refugee humanitarian
- RPD— Refugee Protection Division
- An IRB division that decides refugee claims made in Canada.refugee humanitarian
- RCIC— Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
- A licensed immigration consultant authorized to give immigration advice for a fee in Canada. Licensed by CICC.
- RQ— Residency Questionnaire
- An IRCC request for further documentation establishing physical presence in Canada — common in citizenship and PR card files.citizenshippr maintenance
- RPRF— Right of Permanent Residence Fee
- A fee (currently $575) payable before becoming a permanent resident. Adult applicants pay it; dependent children are exempt.express entry
S
- SWS— Single Window Service
- The IRCC technology platform for online applications via the IRCC Account Portal.
- SOP— Statement of Purpose
- An applicant-written document for a study permit explaining program choice, study plan, and intent to leave at the end of authorized stay.study permit
- SDS— Student Direct Stream
- A study permit stream with simplified documentation requirements for applicants from specific countries. Status changed in 2024.study permit
- Super Visa
- A 10-year multi-entry visitor visa for parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents, with specific income and insurance requirements.trv etafamily sponsorship
T
- TFWP— Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- A program allowing employers to hire foreign workers when no Canadian is available; most permits require a positive LMIA.work permit
- TRP— Temporary Resident Permit
- A discretionary permit that overcomes inadmissibility for a temporary period. Issued case-by-case.appeals jr
- TRV— Temporary Resident Visa
- A counterfoil-style visa placed in a passport allowing entry to Canada as a visitor. Required for visa-required nationals; visa-exempt travellers use eTAs.trv eta
- TEER— Training Education Experience and Responsibility
- The NOC 2021 categorization (TEER 0-5) replacing prior 'skill levels.' Express Entry uses TEER 0-3 for most streams.express entry
V
- VAC— Visa Application Centre
- An IRCC-contracted location worldwide that collects biometrics and supporting documents for visa applications.medicals biometrics