Family sponsorship and humanitarian routes account for most Colombians who became permanent residents of Canada recently, according to admissions data from IRCC, Canada's immigration department. Its family-based humanitarian programme for Colombians, Haitians and Venezuelans with relatives in Canada is closed, having received enough applications to fill its places. Among economic routes, skilled-worker programmes, such as those in Express Entry, the online system that invites top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent residence, were the largest group each year from 2022 to 2025. Colombia also has its own trade agreement: under the Canada-Colombia Free Trade Agreement, a professional or technician with pre-arranged work in a covered occupation can apply for a work permit, and a spouse or common-law partner for an open one, though the agreement does not itself lead to permanent residence.

Start with the approved language test that every Express Entry profile needs and an educational credential assessment, a report on what your degree equals in Canada. WES, an assessor IRCC designates, wants your certificado de notas (transcript) sent by your university in a sealed envelope signed or stamped across the flap, and a diploma copy uploaded to your account. If you also hold an especialización, a postgraduate level in Colombia's higher education system, have both assessed: Express Entry gives more points for two credentials, one from a programme of three or more years, than for a bachelor's degree alone (points criteria), but only when each has its own assessment.

The mistake to avoid is following IRCC's general advice to request police certificates as soon as your Express Entry profile is in the pool. For Colombia, IRCC asks for no police certificate with your application and tells you not to apply for the one it needs, the Background Verification Certificate, until its visa office sends a file number and instructions. Then contact Omnitempus, the service provider IRCC names, which sends the certificate straight to IRCC, and submit the original confirmation email it sends you.