Canada is a beautiful country, one that is full of opportunities and natural wonder. If you’ve seen photos of Jasper Lake or Banff National Park, either online or in a coffee table book, you’d know that they are breathtaking. It may seem especially unfair when back home we’re breathing the thick, black smoke from vehicles on the roads of Delhi or Chennai or Bangalore, whilst those in Canada are enjoying a picnic in the gorgeous Jeanne-Mance Park or skiing in the spectacular mountains of Whistler.
Now, imagine playing in ankle-deep snow in Montreal or savouring a crisp evening in downtown Vancouver. Many have successfully migrated to Canada so far, and with the help of a qualified, accredited immigration consultant, so can you. There are several pathways to Canada. A good consultant will understand your unique needs and work towards making your PR application as strong as possible so that you have the highest chance of coming to this stunning country. Here are some of the immigration routes available to you:
Express Entry
You can immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker via Express Entry through federal skilled worker program, an online immigration application system. Start by finding out eligibility for express entry. If you’re eligible, that is, if you have the requisite CRS score, you’ll be asked to create an online profile. You will have 60 days to complete and submit your Express Entry profile. If you don’t upload your profile in this time frame, you’ll have to start again.
The following programs are covered under the express entry pathway:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
All the programs listed above have minimum criteria, including work experience, language ability and education, among other things. To learn more about them, please click here.
Provincial Nominee Program
The provincial nominee program or PNP is another excellent way to immigrate to Canada. Under this stream, you must be nominated by a Canadian province or territory. Each province or territory in Canada (except Quebec), sets in own eligibility criteria (skills, education, and work experience) for the PNP. For instance look at British Columbia PNP, Saskatchewan PNP and so on, and if you fulfill those criteria, you could be invited to apply.
The PNP is based on the priorities of the different provinces and territories. For example, one region might want to invite people with experience in the trades, while the other might want to bring in people with tech experience. However, note that more than 90% of the PNP programs require the applicant to have a job offer from a Canadian employer in that particular province.
Quebec-selected skilled workers
The process to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker to the province of Quebec is a little different from other provinces and territories. Quebec has its own rules and systems in place. To apply for immigration to Quebec, you must apply for a Quebec Selection Certificate from the Government of Quebec. If the province of Quebec feels you are a good fit, they will give you the certificate and ask you to apply to IRCC for permanent residence.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot program was introduced in 2017. The purpose of the visa is to encourage qualified individuals to stay and live in the Atlantic region, including New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador. Individuals who want to apply this visa must be either skilled workers with a valid job offer or students who have graduated from schools in these regions and received a job offer from a designated employer.
Business Immigration
The Canadian government is keen on boosting the country’s economy and hence welcomes individuals who can do so. Business Immigration is an excellent option if you wish to immigrate to Canada permanently. There are a number of pathways available under both federal and provincial programs. Some of them are as follows:
Start-up Visa: This visa is for those who want to start a business in Canada and create jobs for the locals. Apart from having other requirements, you also need to show that you have the support of a designated organization. These could include Canadian venture capitalists, angel investors or business incubators.
BC PNP Entrepreneur Immigration – Regional Pilot: This visa program is focused on attracting entrepreneurs from around the world to establish businesses in regional communities. An individual must be willing to make a personal investment of at least $100,000 in the proposed business within 610 days of arriving in B.C. on a BC PNP-supported work permit.
Self-employed: This visa is for those who have relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and are willing and able to make a significant contribution to the cultural or athletic life of Canada. It takes up to 22 months to process this visa and may require you to give biometrics as well as a part of your application.
There are other pathways to Canada apart from those listed above, including the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot and the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot programs. If you wish to immigrate to one of the most beautiful countries in the world, you can consult a licensed regulated immigration consultant by ICCRC to discuss your next steps. Applying for a Canada PR could be complex without an expert by your side. Good luck with your journey to Canada.
Recent Comments