A plain-language reference to the alphabet soup of Canadian immigration — IRCC, CRS, PNP, PGWP and more.
Who this is for & what you'll get. Canadian immigration runs on acronyms, and if you're applying — or helping a family member apply — from Ontario, the jargon can be overwhelming. This glossary defines roughly 40 of the terms and abbreviations you'll meet most often, grouped so related ideas sit together. Keep it beside you while you read government pages or fill out forms.
⚖️ This is a general guide, not legal advice. It can't account for your specific situation. Use it to get oriented, then confirm the details with a licensed Ontario lawyer.
How to use this. Immigration is federal, so these terms apply across Canada — but as an Ontario resident you'll also meet the provincial program (OINP) below. Definitions here are kept short and general; programs and criteria change, so always verify the current rules at IRCC for anything you're acting on.
Programs & Pathways
Express Entry — An online system the federal government uses to manage applications for several economic immigration programs. You create a profile, get ranked, and may be invited to apply for permanent residence. It is a system, not a program itself.
FSW (Federal Skilled Worker Program) — An economic immigration program, managed through Express Entry, for skilled workers with foreign work experience who want permanent residence.
CEC (Canadian Experience Class) — An Express Entry program for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to become permanent residents.
FST (Federal Skilled Trades Program) — An Express Entry program for skilled tradespeople (for example in construction or industrial trades) seeking permanent residence.
PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) — Programs that let a province or territory nominate people who want to settle there and have skills the local economy needs. A provincial nomination significantly boosts an Express Entry profile.
OINP (Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program) — Ontario's own PNP. It lets Ontario nominate candidates — including skilled workers and graduates — for permanent residence based on the province's needs.
IEC (International Experience Canada) — A set of programs allowing youth from partner countries to work and travel in Canada temporarily (such as working-holiday arrangements). Eligibility depends on your country and age.
Sponsorship — Where a Canadian citizen or permanent resident supports a family member (such as a spouse, partner, child, parent, or grandparent) to immigrate. The sponsor takes on responsibilities toward the person they sponsor.
Terms you'll hear together: Express Entry is the system; FSW, CEC, and FST are programs run through it; a PNP / OINP nomination plugs into it to raise your ranking.
Documents & Status
PR (Permanent Resident) — Someone who has been given the right to live in Canada permanently but is not a citizen. PRs can work and study almost anywhere in Canada and access many benefits, with some limits (for example, they generally can't vote).
PR Card (Permanent Resident Card) — The wallet-sized card proving permanent resident status, used especially when travelling back to Canada by commercial carrier.
COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) — The document confirming that permanent residence has been granted; you present it when you "land" or activate your status.
PRTD (Permanent Resident Travel Document) — A document a PR can apply for to travel back to Canada when they don't have a valid PR card (for example, if it expired while abroad).
eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) — An online travel authorization required for visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada. Verify whether it applies to a given nationality at IRCC.
TRV (Temporary Resident Visa / visitor visa) — A visa allowing a foreign national to enter Canada temporarily, such as to visit. Whether someone needs one depends on their nationality.
Biometrics — Fingerprints and a photograph that many applicants must provide as part of their application, used to confirm identity.
Inadmissibility — Legal reasons a person may not be allowed to enter or stay in Canada — for example, certain criminal, security, medical, or misrepresentation grounds. Found in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
Misrepresentation — Providing false information or withholding relevant facts on an application. It is taken very seriously and can lead to refusal and a ban.
Dual intent — Holding both a genuine intention to visit temporarily and a hope to immigrate permanently at the same time. This is permitted; an officer must still be satisfied you'll respect the terms of a temporary stay.
Maintained status (implied status) — If you apply to extend a work or study permit before it expires, you may generally keep working or studying under the same conditions while you wait for a decision. Verify the current rules at IRCC before relying on this.
Work & Study
Work permit — Authorization for a foreign national to work in Canada, usually for a set period. Some are tied to one employer; others ("open") are not.
LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) — A document an employer may need from the federal labour department showing that hiring a foreign worker won't negatively affect the Canadian labour market. A positive LMIA can support certain work permits.
IMP (International Mobility Program) — The stream of work permits that do not require an LMIA, often based on broader Canadian interests or international agreements.
PGWP (Post-Graduation Work Permit) — An open work permit that eligible graduates of approved Canadian institutions may get, letting them work in Canada after finishing their studies. Eligibility rules change — verify at IRCC.
BOWP (Bridging Open Work Permit) — An open work permit that may let certain permanent-residence applicants keep working while their PR application is processed, bridging the gap so they don't have to stop work.
SOWP (Spousal Open Work Permit) — An open work permit that may be available to the spouse or partner of certain workers or students, allowing them to work for (almost) any employer. IRCC narrowed eligibility sharply in 2025 — broadly, the worker must be in a higher-skilled occupation, or the student in a master's, doctoral or listed professional program. Verify the current criteria at IRCC.
DLI (Designated Learning Institution) — A school approved to host international students. You generally must have an acceptance from a DLI to get a study permit, and DLI status can matter for the PGWP.
Study permit — Authorization for a foreign national to study at a DLI in Canada, usually with conditions.
Terms you'll hear together: LMIA and IMP are the two routes to a work permit (with vs. without a labour assessment). PGWP, BOWP, SOWP are all open permits — not tied to a single employer.
Process & Bodies
IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) — The federal department responsible for immigration, refugees, and citizenship. It is the authority whose rules and fees you should always verify against.
CRS (Comprehensive Ranking System) — The points-based score used to rank Express Entry profiles. Points come from factors like age, education, language ability, and work experience. The highest-ranked candidates are invited to apply.
ITA (Invitation to Apply) — An invitation, issued in an Express Entry round, that lets a candidate actually submit a permanent residence application.
e-APR (electronic Application for Permanent Residence) — The online PR application a candidate submits after receiving an ITA, within the time IRCC allows.
ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) — A report from an approved organization confirming that a foreign degree or diploma is equivalent to a Canadian one. Often needed for Express Entry programs.
NOC / TEER (National Occupational Classification / Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) — The system that classifies jobs in Canada. The "TEER" categories indicate the skill and training level of an occupation. Your job's classification can affect which programs you qualify for. Verify the current classification at IRCC.
LICO (Low Income Cut-Off) — Income figures used in some immigration programs (such as the super visa and certain sponsorships) to check that a person can support those they're bringing. Verify the current LICO for your household size at IRCC — it changes.
Proof of funds — Documents showing you have enough money to support yourself and your family after arriving, required for some programs. Amounts vary — verify at IRCC.
Sponsorship undertaking — The binding promise a sponsor makes to financially support the family member they sponsor for a defined period, and to repay certain social assistance the person receives.
RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) — A licensed immigration consultant authorized to give immigration advice for a fee. Lawyers licensed by a Canadian law society (such as the Law Society of Ontario) may also provide immigration advice and representation.
Immigration medical exam (IME) — A health examination, done by an IRCC-approved panel physician, required for many applicants. A regular family doctor cannot perform it.
Police certificate — A document from a country's police or government showing whether a person has a criminal record there, often required to assess admissibility.
IAD (Immigration Appeal Division) — A tribunal within the Immigration and Refugee Board that hears certain immigration appeals, such as some sponsorship refusals and removal orders.
ATIP / GCMS (Access to Information and Privacy / Global Case Management System) — GCMS is the database IRCC uses to process applications; through an ATIP request you can ask for the notes in your own file, which can reveal why a decision was made or where an application stands.
A note on advice
Two kinds of professionals can legally help you for a fee: a licensed lawyer (e.g., licensed by the Law Society of Ontario) and an RCIC. Be cautious of anyone who is neither — taking advice or paying fees to an unauthorized "agent" is a known source of fraud and bad outcomes.
How Treadstone Law can help
Acronyms are easy to misread — and a single misunderstood term can send an application down the wrong path. Treadstone Law translates the jargon into a clear plan, tells you which programs actually fit your situation, and handles the application end to end.
- Flat, transparent fees — you know the cost before we begin.
- Online intake — start from anywhere in Ontario.
- All-province virtual service — our office is in Mississauga; we serve clients across Ontario.
📞 Call 1-844-900-1070, visit our immigration page, see our pricing, or start a file online.
This is not legal advice
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create a lawyer-client relationship. Ontario laws, tax rates, and government programs change, and how the law applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, speak with a licensed Ontario lawyer. Treadstone Law is licensed by the Law Society of Ontario — reach us at 1-844-900-1070 or start a file online.