Family carries many Vietnamese to Canada: IRCC, Canada's immigration department, publishes admissions data in which sponsorship by a spouse or partner and nomination by a province have lately been the two largest ways Vietnamese citizens become permanent residents. For someone choosing to migrate, the Provincial Nominee Program is the leading economic route: each province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut nominates people its economy needs, and some of its streams are aimed at students. Many Vietnamese come as students: IRCC's study permit data place Vietnam among the top countries of citizenship, and a Canadian qualification can later support a nomination.

If you start as a student, IRCC's Ho Chi Minh City visa office asks for a study plan explaining your choice of school and programme, police certificates from adults even at this stage, and proof of funds such as recent certificates of deposit, bank books or evidence of your parents' income. For Express Entry later, the federal system that ranks skilled workers, have your Vietnamese degree assessed: points for it need an educational credential assessment, a report comparing it with Canadian qualifications. WES, one of the assessors IRCC designates, wants the transcript straight from your university, electronically or in an envelope the university sealed, plus word-for-word English translations and a copy of the degree certificate uploaded to your account.

The mistake to avoid is leaving the police certificate to relatives in Vietnam. IRCC asks for the Criminal Record Certificate No. 2 (Phiếu lý lịch tư pháp số 2), and although its page still sends applicants to justice offices, the procedure now runs through Vietnam's police: the Ministry of Public Security states that No. 2 cannot be requested through someone else, except by parents for a minor. A relative with your authorisation can obtain only a No. 1, which is not the certificate IRCC asks for. Request No. 2 yourself, in person, by post or online through Vietnam's national identity app.