Canada Immigration Programs
In spite of the global coronavirus pandemic, Canada has committed to the goal of accepting more than 500,000 new immigrants between the years 2023 and 2025.
Canada’s immigration system is widely regarded as one of the most accessible and adaptable in the world. There are approximately one hundred distinct Canada immigration programs available to families, skilled professionals, and business individuals seeking to settle in Canada.
What are the different immigration programs in Canada?
There are about one hundred distinct Canada immigration programs for settling in Canada as a permanent resident. Because of this, the process of immigration to Canada will be different for each and every person.
1. Express Entry
Express Entry is the fastest and primary Canada immigration program that Canada uses to manage applications for skilled worker positions within the country’s three primary economic class immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Candidates are given a score using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is determined by factors such as their age, education level, English and French language proficiency, and amount of professional experience.
About once every two weeks, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) website sends out an invitation to those applicants who have the highest CRS scores to submit an application for permanent residency.
2. Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another famous Canada immigration program that gives the provinces and territories of Canada the ability to nominate individuals who are interested in immigrating to Canada and settling in one of their respective provinces. Under the PNP, Canada hopes to provide a home to more than 80,000 new immigrants each year.
Every province and territory in the country has its own PNP, with the exception of Quebec and Nunavut. PNPs use methods called Expression of Interest (EOI), which are very similar to Express Entry, and hold periodical draws to invite the candidates who have the best scores. The following is a list of the Canada immigration programs under PNP that you are able to employ in order to immigrate to a specific province or territory in Canada:
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OPNP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
You can submit an application to the Provincial Nominee Program streams that are coordinated with Express Entry. These streams are referred to as “enriched” streams. You will have a greater number of alternatives available to you if you submit your application to an upgraded stream.
Express Entry candidates are awarded an additional 600 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if they are successful in obtaining a provincial nomination through one of these Canada immigration programs of PNP. This virtually ensures that you will be selected for an invitation to submit an application for permanent residence in the upcoming Express Entry draw.
3. Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Separate from programs run by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), as well as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), the province of Quebec operates its own immigration program with its very own set of selection criteria known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). Applicants who are granted permission to immigrate to Quebec are each awarded a Quebec Selection Certificate, also known as a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ).
QSWP is designed for skilled workers who are interested in becoming permanent citizens of Canada and immigrating to Quebec. In addition, the province of Quebec offers immigration programs for business owners and self-employed individuals who are interested in establishing a company in the province.
4. Family Sponsorship Programs
The government of Canada is dedicated to ensuring that families are able to remain united. As a result, they have a Canada immigration program known as Family Sponsorship Program which has set a goal to annually welcome more than 100,000 new immigrants.
This program makes it easy to bring your family members, including parents, grandparents, spouses or common-law partners, and dependent children to Canada. In order to “sponsor” your family, you will be required to sign an “undertaking.” This means that you will be accountable for the financial well-being of the individual whom you will sponsor.
5. Atlantic Immigration Program
The Atlantic Provinces of Canada each have their very own immigration scheme, which is referred to as the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). The primary objective of this Canada immigration program is to bring skilled workers to the Atlantic provinces, specifically New Brunswick, along with the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
Employers who want to take advantage of the AIP are required to locate an appropriate applicant and make a job offer to them. There is no requirement for them to carry out a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). After the candidate has accepted the offer, the employer is obligated to put the candidate in contact with a predetermined organization that will assist him or her in formulating a transition strategy. There is also the possibility of obtaining a temporary work permit for employers who are looking to rapidly fill the post.
6. Business Immigration Program
The Canada immigration programs can be sped up in a number of ways if you are a business person. There are many business immigration options available in Canada and the two most famous among them are Start-up Visa and Self-employed Visa. Both of these programs are administered by the federal government.
In the event that you would like to immigrate to Quebec, the province also has its own immigration programs for business people. Many of the PNP streams also have immigration streams that are tailored specifically for business people and other types of entrepreneurs.
7. Other Federal Immigration Programs
There are additional federal programs specifically geared toward skilled workers that exist to assist certain immigration candidates in obtaining permanent residency. The following are some of the additional federal programs:
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)
This Canada immigration program makes it possible for rural and remote communities to recruit and retain foreign workers. Participating communities act as the driving force behind efforts to recruit new immigrants and place them in jobs that are a good fit for them.
This Canada immigration program is for temporary foreign workers who are eligible and who are employed in the Agriculture and Agri-Food industry in Canada, are eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program. In order to be considered, candidates need to have a minimum of 12 months of work experience, a high school diploma, and the ability to communicate in at least one of the minimum required languages.
- Home Support Worker Pilot and Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Caretakers from other countries, such as babysitters and people who work in home support, are eligible for permanent residency through these Canada immigration programs. It is required that prospective caregivers have a minimum of 2 years of work experience that is directly related to the program for which they are applying.
What are the basic requirements of immigration programs in Canada?
In spite of the fact that each of the Canada immigration programs has its own unique set of eligibility requirements, the vast majority of immigration programs in Canada share a few essential requirements in common. The following is a list of common as well as essential requirements for immigration to Canada on the basis of one’s professional qualifications:
- The bare minimum qualification needed to work with ECA
- The outcome of the English and French proficiency tests, or IELTS Test Result
- Attain the minimum required number of CRS points
- Documents pertinent to work experience
- Medical Certificate and Police Clearance Certificate (PCC)
Why does Canada need immigrants?
Because Canada has an ageing population and a low birth rate, the majority of the immigrants it welcomes are skilled workers. For the sake of its existing workforce as well as future economic expansion, Canada requires these skilled workers. These skilled workers arrive with strong language abilities, extensive work experience, and education, in addition to a strong desire to succeed. As a result, they play an extremely important part in the efforts that Canada is making to support economic growth and social services such as education and health care for all citizens.
The family sponsorship route accounts for the arrival of the second largest group of immigrants. Since stable families are the foundation of Canada’s society and economy, the country extends a warm welcome to the friends and family members of its citizens and permanent residents. Families receive the necessary emotional support to flourish in Canada’s society and economy when they are given the opportunity to have close family members build lives for themselves in the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are a skilled worker then the best immigration program in Canada for you are:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
No, it is not. However, some immigration programs in Canada have more stringent requirements in terms of qualifications and the number of documents required. Canada immigration consultants in India can assist throughout the immigration process, from the very beginning to the very end.
Only a diploma is required to submit an application for permanent residency in any of the immigration programs in Canada. However, the Occupation (NOC Code) for which you are applying may require a higher qualification than this. This will depend on the specifics of the position. You need to have at least a graduate-level education or higher in order to score well on the immigration points system.
Express Entry is the quickest and most popular Canada immigration program. The majority of Express Entry applications are processed in less than or equal to six months.
Those who have been granted permanent residency status in Canada are free to settle and work wherever they like within the country. Working in Canada requires the appropriate authorization if the foreign national does not have permanent residency status in Canada. This permission is typically granted in the form of a work permit in Canada.
If you want to use the Federal Express Entry system or any of the PNPs, you need to have at least a CLB 7 level of English proficiency, which equates to an IELTS band 6 in all four skills. In order to increase your chances of being accepted into any of the Canada immigration programs, you need to demonstrate better levels of language proficiency.
