Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is the primary federal department in charge of overseeing Canada's immigration programs. It is made up of several offices within Canada and various overseas visa offices dispersed around the globe. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is the federal department responsible for Canada's social programs and the labor market. ESDC plays an important role in the enforcement of employer compliance regulations and the administration of the TFWP. The Canada Border Services Agency is the federal department responsible for border and immigration enforcement and customs services.

Canada's provinces and territories also have jurisdiction when it comes to developing and administering some of Canada's permanent residence streams. These are commonly referred to as provincial nominee programs (PNPs) and are designed to address each region's unique economic migration needs. PNPs typically provide pathways to Canadian permanent residency for economic immigrants, international students or foreign nationals with family already in Canada. Once a foreign national has been nominated by a province, they must still submit an application to the federal government to become a Canadian permanent resident. Some nominees may also be eligible to obtain a work permit to facilitate employment in Canada until the federal-stage application is approved.