Canada is a top destination for vacationers, business people, students and immigrants from every region of the globe. In addition to the 35 million visitors who travel to this amazing country each year, around 90,000 international students arrive annually to attend Canadian educational programs, plus another 250,000 foreign nationals are granted a Permanent Resident Visa to Canada yearly. Why are so many people traveling to Canada? The short answer is that Canada is a beautiful, immigrant-friendly country that offers foreign nationals many wonderful activities to enjoy, whether they are vacationing, on a business trip, studying abroad or have been approved for Canadian immigration. Good planning can help your trip to Canada go more smoothly, so you may find the following tips helpful.

Toronto on a sunny day

In most cases, you will need to get a visa to Canada, so check to make sure that you will meet the requirements for entry into Canada under the specific visa appropriate for your trip. It should be noted that some visitors to Canada do not need a visa, but most visitors will require a visa to Canada, plus all foreign nationals who enter Canada (either with or without a visa to Canada) must meet certain common criteria, such as not having a criminal conviction and being in good health. This applies to visitors, business people, international students and those who want to immigrate to Canada.

If you are planning a vacation, some of the “must-see” destinations in Canada include Niagara Falls in Ontario; the Canadian Rockies (for example, Jasper and Banff national parks in Alberta); and Canada’s incredible, cosmopolitan cities, such as Montreal in Quebec, Toronto in Ontario, Calgary in Alberta, and Vancouver in British Columbia, to name just some examples. There are also several major events held at various locations across Canada each year that are very popular with tourists and Canadian residents alike, such as the annual Montreal Jazz Festival (June 28-July 7, 2013) and the yearly Calgary Stampede (July 5-14, 2013).

International students have several great options to choose from in cities across Canada, whether to study English or French, learn a trade, or attend a top-rated Canadian university, such as the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia and McGill University. In addition to receiving an excellent education and enjoying the high standard of living available in Canadian cities, international students also have easy access to some of the most breathtaking beauty on Earth and endless outdoor activities (such as camping, water or snow skiing, hiking, boating, fishing, etc.).

Finally, qualified skilled foreign nationals who want to immigrate to Canada can find great Canadian employment opportunities all across this diverse country, depending on their qualifications and the need for their job skills in any particular province or territory. Having said this, around half of the 95,000 new Canadian jobs created in May 2013 were in the province of Ontario, while Saskatchewan, Alberta and Manitoba had the three lowest unemployment rates in Canada. Thus, if you are seeking a better life through Canadian immigration, you might consider moving to these provinces.

Whether you are planning your next vacation or business trip, want to study abroad, or are interested in Canadian immigration, traveling to Canada will surely be rewarding on many fronts.

This was a guest post written by Canadian visa expert – immigration services to Canada