FAQ

We are also able to assist in English, and we welcome inquiries regardless of your nationality.
Please note that depending on your citizenship, you may need a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) rather than an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to travel to Canada. We are happy to confirm which one applies to you.
We can currently provide support in Japanese and English only. Please feel free to reach out through our contact form.

Yes, absolutely. We provide extensive support to clients living in other cities across Canada, as well as those living in Japan or other countries. For clients outside Canada, we offer consultations by phone, Zoom, or email.
Please note that the licence held by our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants covers immigration and permanent residence matters for all Canadian provinces except Quebec. Quebec operates its own immigration system, which requires a separate Quebec licence, so we are unable to support permanent residence applications through that province.
You can review each of our services on our services page, and inquiries are welcome through our contact form.

Our consultations are available by appointment only.
Appointments can be requested through our contact form or our official LINE account. Your time slot is reserved once the contract has been signed and payment has been completed.
Available time slots vary by business day, so please also check our business hours. Details of our services and fees are listed on the services page.

For applications such as an employer-specific work permit or permanent residence, we use a staged payment system rather than a single lump sum. The application process is divided into several stages: the first payment is made when the contract is signed, followed by subsequent payments as each stage is completed. The number of payments depends on the application category and permit type.
For permits that are completed in a single step, such as study permits, visitor records, and post-graduation work permits, we ask for payment in full when you engage us.
If you decide to discontinue a staged application partway through, no fees are charged for stages that have not yet been carried out (fees already incurred for completed stages are not refundable). Please also note that the regulations of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) do not permit contingency-fee arrangements, so fees are not refunded if an application is refused.
Payment terms may vary depending on your contract. For details, please see our services page.

Documents used for visa applications are stored in a locked cabinet in a secure location and are retained for six years in accordance with the regulations of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC). After this period they are securely destroyed. This ensures the safety and privacy of our clients' documents.
For more on how we handle personal information, please see our policy on personal information.

Consultations regarding visas and permanent residence require information that only the individual concerned can provide, such as their employment situation. Misunderstandings that arise when information is passed through a third party can lead to significant problems later, so we ask that inquiries be made directly by the person concerned. This allows us to provide accurate and appropriate support.
At Shiraishi VisaJP Canada, anyone considering a Canadian visa or immigration application is welcome to contact us, whether or not you decide to proceed with a contract.

Requirements may change from time to time in response to economic conditions in Canada, such as the employment situation and the unemployment rate.
LMIA-based work permits in particular have been revised repeatedly in recent years - for example, whether a low-wage position can be supported depends on the unemployment rate in the region. Proof-of-funds amounts for the study permit and the selection approach used in Express Entry are also subject to change.
For this reason, requirements you researched previously may no longer be current. Please confirm the latest requirements at the time you intend to apply. We also announce each change in our visa news.

A visa refusal in the United States does not in itself determine the outcome of a Canadian visa application.
However, application forms ask whether you have ever been refused a visa or denied entry to any country, and once declared, an answer cannot later be withdrawn. Please answer accurately and never make a false declaration.
In addition, the immigration authorities of the United States and Canada share information, so depending on the reason for the refusal - a denial of entry, for example - it may have a bearing on the assessment of your Canadian application. If you have any concerns, please discuss your situation with us through our consulting service.

Choosing a consultant to act as your representative offers a number of significant advantages. If the processing of your application is delayed or additional documents are requested, your consultant can communicate directly with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on your behalf. This reduces the work involved in preparing documents before filing and eases the mental burden while the application is in progress. If your employer is supporting the application, using a representative also greatly reduces their workload.
Please note that we file all representative applications through a dedicated representative account. For that reason, we are unable to take over an application that you have already registered or submitted through your own account. If you are considering using a representative, we recommend speaking with us at the very beginning, before you create an account.
For details, please see our services page.

Because we file all representative applications through a dedicated representative account, we are unable to take over a case that you have already submitted yourself. For the same reason, we cannot check the progress of, or resolve issues with, an application on which we are not the representative.
If you are in Canada, we recommend contacting the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) call centre. If you are outside Canada, please use the IRCC web form. In either case the inquiry must be made by the applicant.
If you would like us to act as your representative for a future application, please see our services page and talk with us before you create an account.

Depending on the reason for the refusal, reapplying may well be possible.
The first step is to check the refusal letter from IRCC for the stated reason. A successful re-application usually depends on addressing that reason directly with additional documents or an explanation. Analysing the refusal and planning a re-application is handled by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant through our consulting service or as part of a representative application.
Please start by telling us about your situation through our contact form.

The level of English proficiency required depends on the category you apply under, and there are some categories where a language test is not required at all.
That said, in categories that go through Express Entry - such as the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker program - your language scores account for a large share of your points. Meeting the minimum is not enough; the higher your score, the better your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
To discuss which category may be realistic for you and what score you would need, please use our consulting service.

First, permanent resident status itself and the expiry date printed on your PR card are two different things. An expired card does not necessarily mean you have lost your status, and if you meet the residency obligation you may simply be able to renew the card. Please note that a PR card can only be renewed from inside Canada; if you are currently outside Canada, you will need a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD) to return.
If your permanent resident status has genuinely been lost, or if you voluntarily renounced it, you would need to apply for permanent residence again and go through the standard application process.
The options available differ considerably from case to case, so please contact us with your specific circumstances.

Requirements differ by occupation and by visa or permanent residence category, so not having completed high school does not by itself rule out pursuing permanent residence.
That said, in categories that go through Express Entry, education is one of the scoring factors, so the bar is higher if you cannot expect points for education. Some clients therefore study at a Canadian college or university, obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), and build Canadian work experience while also raising their education points.
Which route is realistic depends on your individual background, so please discuss it with us through our consulting service.

Full-time employment is generally defined as working 40 hours or more per week. However, for visa and permanent residence applications the threshold for full-time work can vary by category, and the definition may also differ by province.
Under categories such as the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), it is enough to meet the required period on a full-time equivalent basis, and part-time hours can be combined to reach it. Note, however, that work performed while studying on a study permit does not count; the qualifying period begins once you hold a Post-Graduation Work Permit.
We are happy to check whether your hours meet the requirements through our consulting service.

When applying as a common-law partner under the family class or a similar category, a continuous period of cohabitation of at least 12 months is required. If cohabitation is interrupted, you will need to establish another 12 months of living together, with the count starting again from zero.
For temporary separations such as a short trip home, around two weeks is generally not considered a problem, whereas a separation of a month or more can be. What matters just as much is whether you can produce documents showing that you were living as one household throughout - a joint bank account, a lease in both names, or documents confirming the same address, for example.
Because the assessment depends on the length of and reason for the separation, please discuss your situation with us through our consulting service.

Generally speaking, people employed in higher-skill occupations - referred to as 'skilled occupations' - are more likely to meet the eligibility criteria for permanent residence categories.
The Canadian government classifies every occupation under a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, and each code is assigned a TEER level. Skilled occupations are those in TEER 0 to 3. As a rough guide, TEER 0 covers management positions, TEER 1 covers professional roles normally requiring a university degree or professional credential, and TEER 2 and 3 cover technical roles requiring college or vocational training.
TEER is determined by the actual duties performed, not by the job title. We can assess which NOC and TEER your position falls under through our consulting service.

To work in Canada you need a work permit. Unless you already hold an employer-specific work permit, plan to obtain one, or already have permanent residence, job seekers need to confirm that a prospective employer is able to sponsor a work permit and, in most cases, to apply for an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment).
In practice, finding an employer from outside Canada who will support an LMIA is not easy. For that reason, many people first come to Canada on an International Experience Canada (Working Holiday) work permit and look for work after arriving, or graduate from a Canadian college or university and obtain a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Please note that we do not provide job placement or job introduction services. For the range of work permits available, please see our work permits page.

An employer-specific work permit sponsored by your employer allows you to work only for that employer. After you resign you are not permitted to work for another employer, but you may legally remain in Canada until the permit's expiry date.
If you wish to keep working in Canada, you would need to apply for a new work permit under a new employer, or, depending on your circumstances, consider switching to another type of permit. If you simply wish to remain in Canada without working, applying for a visitor record (extension of stay) is another option.
The available options differ from case to case, so please contact us with your situation.

When applying for an employer-specific work permit, you must be employed at a wage at or above the average for that occupation and region.
In addition, an LMIA is classified as either a high-wage or a low-wage position, and in urban areas where the unemployment rate exceeds a set threshold, LMIA applications for low-wage positions are not accepted. The list of affected regions changes as unemployment figures are updated.
Both the prevailing wage and the criteria themselves change over time, so please confirm the latest information at the time you plan to apply.

To apply for an employer-specific work permit, year-round full-time employment is generally required, though there are some exceptions such as agricultural workers. Full-time is generally treated as 30 hours or more per week.
If you are currently employed part-time and wish to obtain a work permit, we recommend first confirming with your employer whether full-time employment will be available.
Many permanent residence categories also require full-time equivalent work experience, so it is worth checking your hours at an early stage.

To obtain an employer-specific work permit, you generally need a job offer from a sponsoring employer together with approval of that job offer by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), known as an LMIA.
However, these are not the only work permits available in Canada. Depending on your circumstances, some do not require an LMIA at all - for example the International Experience Canada (Working Holiday) work permit, the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) for graduates of Canadian colleges and universities, the spousal open work permit, the intra-company transferee work permit, and the CPTPP work permit.
For the full list, please see our work permits page.

To work in Canada, a work permit is required. Once you hold one, you will be issued a Social Insurance Number (SIN), which allows you to legally receive a salary and handle income tax matters.
There is an exception for students who hold a study permit and are enrolled full-time in a post-secondary program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI): they may work off-campus up to the weekly limit set by IRCC during academic sessions, and full-time during scheduled breaks. Language school programs are not generally eligible for off-campus work.
The maximum number of hours permitted is revised by IRCC from time to time, so please confirm the current limit. For details, see our off-campus work page, and for the types of work permit available, our work permits page.

Because the best approach depends on your business plan and individual circumstances, we strongly recommend planning with a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant who can advise on your specific case.
The main options for starting a business in Canada include the business owner work permit, which lets you stay in Canada on a work permit while you start your business; the intra-company transferee work permit, if you already have a corporation in Japan or elsewhere; and, for permanent residence, the Start-up Visa or the business streams of the Provincial Nominee Programs.
Because applying directly through a permanent residence business stream is demanding, many clients begin with a work permit and launch the business first. For corporate clients, please also see our corporate support services.

We handle every type of Canadian visa. For corporate clients this includes the intra-company transferee work permit (ICT), the post-doctoral researcher work permit, the CPTPP work permit, and the LMIA-based work permit.
The most suitable permit depends on the occupation and the form of the assignment, so please start by talking with us. For an overview of what we offer companies, please see our corporate support services.

After the free consultation, if you decide to formally engage us, we will enter into a contract. Payment of processing fees is generally required in full at that point; however, for corporate clients we are flexible regarding the timing and method of payment.
We accept payment by e-Transfer (if you have a Canadian bank account), credit card, or Wise. As we are a Canadian company, we are unable to accept transfers to a bank account in Japan.
If you have any specific preferences, please let your contact person know. For corporate clients, please see our corporate support services, and for fees our services page.

We are happy to communicate directly with your employees to suit your needs, including explaining application documents and walking them through the visa process.
Please note that we can provide support in Japanese and English only; we are unable to offer support in other languages.
For an overview of what we offer companies, please see our corporate support services.

To act as a sponsor, the employer must provide a job offer that meets the required conditions and provide employment consistent with that offer. The specific requirements vary depending on the occupation.
For an LMIA-based work permit, the employer must also demonstrate that it has recruited within Canada before applying - for example, by advertising the position to Canadian citizens and permanent residents for a set period. A permanent 'always hiring' notice on the company's own website does not count as recruitment. Year-round, full-time employment at or above the prevailing wage for the occupation and region is also required.
We are happy to explain the process to employers directly. For details, please see our corporate support services.

The insurance system in Canada is quite different from Japan, with a particularly robust public healthcare system. Unlike in the U.S., there is no involvement from private health insurance companies.
Public health insurance is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents, although some provinces also allow temporary residents staying beyond a certain period to enrol. To apply, you will need to provide documents such as a birth certificate, permanent residence card, or passport. Permanent residents are immediately eligible, but in British Columbia, Ontario, and New Brunswick there is a three-month waiting period.
Health cards are issued to those covered by provincial health insurance, and registration is handled through the provincial health ministry. Your card can only be used in the province where you are registered, so if you move to another province you will need to obtain a new one. When visiting another province as a tourist, you can use your card in an emergency. This insurance covers most medical treatment free of charge, with the exception of dental care.
During the waiting period, or any period when you are not eligible, you will need private medical insurance. For the International Experience Canada (Working Holiday) work permit, you may be asked at the port of entry to show proof of medical insurance covering your full stay; if this cannot be confirmed, your work permit may be issued only for the length of your insurance coverage, so please take care.