A country of which a person is a citizen. A person may be a citizen of more than one country.

Your country of nationality is your country of citizenship.

See Country of citizenship.

The country a person is living in. A person’s country of residence may be different from their country or countries of citizenship.

Free French language training programs for adult newcomers to Canada. They are funded by the federal government and delivered by school boards, colleges and local organizations that provide services to newcomers.

A provincially-mandated organization, such as a regulatory body or a post-secondary institution, that is responsible for assessing the portability of foreign credentials.

In Canada, provincial and territorial governments are responsible for assessing and recognizing credentials.

When a person is not allowed to enter or stay in Canada because they have committed or been convicted of a crime for which they have not received a record suspension (formerly known as a pardon) or been rehabilitated under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The crime could have been committed and/or the conviction rendered in or outside Canada.

See Deemed rehabilitation, Criminal rehabilitation, Record suspension.

This term refers to an application process that allows a person who has committed or been convicted of a crime outside Canada to enter or stay in Canada. “Rehabilitation”, in this context, under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, means that the person is no longer considered inadmissible to Canada for a particular criminal offence.

A person can apply for rehabilitation if at least five years have passed since the act was committed and all criminal sentences have been completed. In order to be approved for rehabilitation the applicant must show that they lead a stable life and are not likely to commit more crimes.

See Criminal inadmissibility, Deemed rehabilitation, Record suspension, Rehabilitation.

Person employed in or with the Canadian Armed Forces, the federal public administration or the public service of a province or territory. Employment as a locally engaged person is not included.

An official letter sent by IRCC advising you of the decision on your case and what you must do next.

A person who has been convicted of a crime outside Canada may become admissible or be deemed rehabilitated after 5 or 10 years has passed, except in cases of serious criminality. No application is required to be considered for deemed rehabilitation. Whether someone qualifies for deemed rehabilitation depends on their individual circumstances.

See Criminal inadmissibility, Criminal rehabilitation, Record suspension, Rehabilitation.

A removal order issued by either a Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA) officer or the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) an independent administrative tribunal responsible for deciding immigration and refugee matters.

Departure orders are issued against people who have violated Canada’s immigration law. The person named on a departure order must leave Canada within 30 days. If they do not, the departure order becomes a deportation order.

A spouse, common-law partner or dependent child of a permanent resident or principal applicant.