Posted September 27, 2022 at 8:00 am EDT
If you are looking to move to Canada and become a permanent resident, here is an overview of some of Canada’s top economic immigration programs.
Immigration in Canada is overseen by the federal government, and the department is called Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
Canada has three main categories of immigration: economic class, family class, and refugees. The most popular of these is economic class immigration. These immigrants are eligible for permanent residency based on their work experience, education, and other economic factors.
Family immigration accounts for the second largest share. Canadian permanent residents and citizens can sponsor their spouse, domestic partner, children, parents, grandparents and others in this category.
Refugees can come to Canada if referred by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), a designated intermediary organization or a private group.
Hundreds of thousands of immigrants come to Canada each year as part of its economic immigration program. Some people start out in Canada as international students or temporary foreign workers, while others may be able to immigrate without any Canadian experience. The following immigration programs are a selection of some of the main ways immigrants are welcomed into Canada.
Express entry
Express Entry is the name of the application management system for the following three immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is a common path for candidates who have never worked or studied in Canada. To qualify for the FSWP you will need:
- at least one year of creditable work experience;
- a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of at least 7 on your English or French language test;
- at least one proof of education;
- to provide proof of funding (if you do not have a valid Canadian job offer); and
- to achieve at least 67 out of 100 points in the FSWP rating table.
The Canadian Experience Class is designed for people with Canadian work experience. To qualify for the CEC you will need:
- at least one year of eligible work in Canada within the last three years; and
- a CLB 7 or higher for jobs that fall under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) A category, or a CLB 5 for jobs that fall under the NOC B category.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is a special path for skilled tradespeople to become permanent residents of Canada. To qualify for the FSTP you will need:
- at least two years of manual professional experience within the last five years before the application;
- a minimum CLB of 5 for speaking and listening and 4 for reading and writing in English or French; and
- to provide proof of funding (if you do not have a valid Canadian job offer).
In order to receive your profile in the Express Entry system, you must be eligible for one of these programs. It is possible to be eligible for more than one at a time.
Express Entry uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to rank candidate profiles. The highest-scoring candidates will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency in Canada through express entry draws held approximately every two weeks.
Once you have received an ITA, you can officially apply for Canadian immigration. You have 60 days from receipt of the ITA to submit your application. Thereafter, IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within six months.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Most Canadian provinces and territories administer their own Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), except for Quebec, which has its own immigration system, and Nunavut. PNPs provide pathways to immigration that prepare candidates for economic success in their respective regions.
Some PNPs are managed by the Express Entry System. Eligible express submission candidates may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination. If you receive the nomination, 600 points will automatically be added to your score and virtually guarantees you an ITA in a subsequent Express Entry Draw.
There are also PNPs that are managed by the state’s application management system and do not use the Express Entry system. The province will evaluate your application based on the criteria of the PNP stream. If you are eligible, you will receive a letter of nomination and can apply to IRCC for permanent residency.
Canadian work or study experience
Canadian work or study experience can help open the doors to further Canadian immigration programs.
If you want to study in Canada, you need a study permit. You can apply for one once you have received an acceptance letter from a Canadian institution. Study permits allow you to go to school in Canada. They also allow you to work part-time during the school year and full-time during scheduled academic breaks.
To qualify for certain immigration programs, you need Canadian training from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Many of the programs offered at these DLIs qualify you for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), which allows you to work in Canada for up to three years.
However, if you are finished with your studies or cannot afford the international tuition fees, you may be able to get a work permit. There are two types of work permit programs in Canada, which together include more than 100 work permit options:
Temporary Foreign Workers Program (TFWP): Your employer must obtain a positive or neutral Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to support your work permit. The purpose of the LMIA is to enable employers to demonstrate to the Canadian government that hiring a foreign worker will not displace existing workers in Canada or exert downward pressure on wages.
An example of a TFWP is the Global Talent Stream. If you have a job opportunity for a specific tech job or with a specific tech company, you may be eligible for expedited work permit processing under this stream.
International Mobility Program (IMP): An LMIA is not required as the work performed is considered a significant benefit to Canada or is part of a mutual agreement. Most foreign workers come to Canada under the IMP.
Those wishing to start a business or become self-employed in Canada may be able to obtain a work permit with significant benefits, administered under the IMP category. If you are an entrepreneur or self-employed person, you must demonstrate to the Canadian government that your activities in Canada result in economic, social or cultural benefit.
Canadian employers face a tight job market. Admitting immigrants is one of the ways Canadians are trying to support long-term economic growth.
Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
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