Canada Immigration 2024

Canada immigration is the process of individuals moving to Canada with the aim of becoming permanent residents or citizens of the country. Canada offers various immigration pathways to skilled workers, students, and entrepreneurs to settle in the country and contribute to its economy and culture.

This article includes:-

Easiest Way to Immigrate to Canada

The easiest way to immigrate to Canada in 2024 is through the Express Entry pathway. Besides being the most popular immigration pathway, it is also the fastest with processing time as low as 6 months. Because Express Entry is the fastest and the most popular, it is also relatively competitive. However, with the introduction of category-based selections, getting an ITA in Express Entry draws has become easier. In 2024, Canada aims to invite approximately 116,000 applications through the Express Entry system. 

Immigration in Canada through various Programs

1. Express Entry

The fastest way to immigrate to Canada as a Permanent Resident. Three pathways come under Express Entry- the Foreign Skilled Worker Program, Canadian Experience Class, and the Federal Skilled Trades Program. If eligible for any one of these programs, applicants create an Express Entry profile, get a CRS score, and get an ITA in the draws if their score is equal to or more than the cut-off. Once they get an Invitation to Apply (ITA), they can apply to IRCC for Canada PR within 60 days or two months. 

The ultimate Express Entry Guide

• Express Entry Profile
• GC Key
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
• 67 Points Calculator
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
• Comprehensive Ranking System 
• Express Entry Draws
• Category-Based Selection

2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

3. Quebec Selected Skilled Workers

The Quebec Selected Skilled Workers is the pathway that invites eligible skilled workers who aim to settle in Quebec as permanent residents. 

4. Atlantic Immigration Program

Apply through the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) if you are a graduate from Atlantic Canada or a skilled worker. 

5. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a community-driven program designated to benefit smaller communities through economic immigration.

6. Agri-Food Pilot

Agri-Food Pilot pathway addresses the labor requirements of the Canadian agri-food sector.

7. Caregivers

Become a Canadian permanent resident as a caregiver.

8. Family Sponsorship

Family Sponsorship program allows eligible Canadian citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs) to sponsor their family members.

9. Start-Up Visa

Apply through Start-Up Visa stream if you aim to establish a business and create opportunities in Canada.

10. Self-Employed Pathways

You can apply through Self-Employed Pathway if you are a self-employed person in cultural or athletic activities.

11. Refugees

Immigrate to Canada as a refugee or sponsor a refugee to settle in the country.

Immigration for Skilled Workers

Skilled Workers are the backbone of the Canadian labor market and economy. They are the key to helping Canada fill the labor force gaps in the critical sectors of healthcare, trade, and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). As the climate crisis worsens, the country is bound to invite more skilled workers to support the country’s sustainable initiatives. If you are a skilled worker, you can apply through the following immigration programs.

• Express Entry 
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
  • Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
    • International Skilled Worker – Employment Offer
    • SINP ISW- Tech Talent Pathway
    • Occupation in-Demand
    • ISW Express Entry
    • Hard-to-Fill Skills Pilot
    • Skilled Workers with Work Permit
    • SINP Health Professionals
    • Hospitality Sector Project
    • Long-Haul Truck Driver Project
  • Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
    • Skilled Workers in Manitoba
    • Skilled Workers Overseas
  • Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
    • Employer Job Offer – Foreign Worker Stream
    • EJO- In-Demand Skills Stream
    • OINP Human Capital Priorities Stream (OINP HCP)
    • Skilled Trades Stream
    • French Speaking Skilled Worker
  • Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
    • Alberta Opportunity Stream
    • AAIP Express Entry streams
    • Rural Renewal Stream
  • British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
    • Skilled Workers
    • Health Authority
    • Entry Level & Semi-Skilled (ELSS)
    • BC PNP Tech
  • Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
    • NSNP Skilled Workers
    • NSNP Physician Stream
    • NSNP Occupations in-Demand
    • NSNP Express Entry
  • New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
    • NB Skilled Worker Stream
    • NB Transport Truck Driver 
    • Strategic Initiative Stream for French-Speaking Immigrants
  • Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
    • Skilled Workers Outside Canada
    • Skilled Workers in PEI
    • PEI Express Entry
    • Occupations in Demand
    • Intermediate Experience Stream
• Caregivers
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers
• Agri-Food Pilot
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

Immigration for Students

Canada offers various pathways for students to work and settle in the country. These pathways aim to attract and retain young talent in a country that is constantly plagued by an aging population. Below are all the pathways under PNP that assist students to become permanent residents.

• SINP Students with Saskatchewan Experience

• Manitoba PNP
  • Career Employment Pathway
  • Graduate Internship Pathway
• Ontario PNP
  • Employer Job Offer – International Student Stream
  • Masters Graduate Stream
  • Ph.D. Graduate Stream
• Alberta PNP
  • Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• British Columbia PNP
  • International Graduate
  • International Post-Graduate
• Nova Scotia PNP
  • International Graduates in-Demand
• New Brunswick PNP
  • New Private Career College Graduate Pilot Program
• Newfoundland and Labrador PNP
  • International Graduate Stream
• Prince Edward Island PNP
  • International Graduates 

Canada Immigration for Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs and business persons contribute to Canada’s economy by generating revenue and creating jobs for Canadians and permanent residents. Thus, IRCC offers pathways to help applicants establish or buy a business in Canada, employ its population, and further strengthen the economy. If you are an entrepreneur or a business person you can immigrate to Canada through the following pathways.

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
  • SINP

• Entrepreneur Category
• International Graduate Entrepreneur Category
• Farm Owner and Category 
• MPNP

• International Student Entrepreneur Pilot (ISEP)
• Business Investor Stream- Entrepreneur Pathway
• MPNP Business Investor Stream – Farm Investor Pathway 

• OINP
  • Entrepreneur Stream
• AAIP
  • Rural Entrepreneur Stream
  • Foreign Graduate Entrepreneur Stream
• BC PNP
  • Base Category
  • Regional Pilot
  • Strategic Project
• NSNP
  • Entrepreneur Stream
• NB PNP
  • NB Business Immigration Stream
• NLPNP
  • The International Entrepreneur
  • International Graduate Entrepreneur
• PEI PNP
  • Buy or Sell a PEI Business
  • Work Permit Stream

• Start-Up Visa
• Self Employed

---

Eligibility Requirements for Canada Immigration

Before applying to any of the Canada immigration programs, you must make sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements of that particular pathway. In addition, you must also meet the following conditions.

• You must be at least 18 years of age
• Must pass the medical examination and be of sound mind and body.
• All applicants undergo a background check. They must not have a criminal record. This is ensured by the Police Clearance Certificate or the PCC.
• Availability of sufficient funds. Most immigration pathways for Canada mandate the demonstration of sufficient funds. In other words, you must be able to establish that you have enough legal and liquid money to sustain yourself and your family (if applicable)
• You must have at least CLB/NCLC 4 in English or French.
• You must be admissible in Canada
• Compliance with Canadian immigration laws is mandatory

Note: Although there is no age limit for Canada Immigration, applicants in the age groups 25-45 years are preferred by most of the immigration programs. 

Read: The age limit for Canada PR

Canada Immigration Points Calculator

Canada immigration points calculator popularly refers to the Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS score calculator that scores Express Entry profiles out of 1200 points. These points are assigned as follows:

• Core or Human Capital Factors (age, education, language proficiency, etc) – 500 points
• Transferability Factors – 100 points
• Additional Factors (Provincial Nomination, Canadian education, etc) – 600 points

While the CRS or Canada immigration points calculator is exclusively for Express Entry, many PNP pathways have their own assessment grids to score applicants. The higher the score, the better the chances of getting an ITA or Invitation to Apply in the various PNP draws.

Canada Immigration Process

Immigrating to Canada as a permanent resident includes the following steps.

1. Choose a suitable Immigration program from the list of options discussed in the article above.

2. Create a profile: In case the immigration program is completely online like Express Entry, make an online profile and submit all the necessary information. In the case of the Provincial Nominee Program, each province has its own online profile portal. For instance, in the case of SINP, the online profile portal is called OASIS.

3. Confirm your eligibility: All the information you supply to your profile is then assessed and gets you a score. Different immigration programs have different calculators. For example, Express Entry has the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program has SIRS or Skills Immigration Registration System, etc. Invitation to Apply is given to those applicants who get the eligible score to apply to the IRCC for Canada PR.

4. Get your documents ready: An Invitation to Apply from any Canadian immigration program implies that you can apply to IRCC for a PR visa through that particular pathway. Once you receive an invitation, get your documents ready. An ITA during the Canada immigration process must not be confused with a Canada PR. An ITA is only an invitation to apply for Canada PR and is in no way the end of the immigration process.

5. Once you have been invited to apply in the Express Entry draw or have received your provincial nomination, create an account in the Permanent Residential Portal. 

6. Begin a new application

7. Select the immigration program you are applying through. In case you are applying through the Express Entry system, you will need to create and apply through your Express Entry profile. 

8. Pass your medical exam and get PCC and biometrics.

9. Upload all the documents and forms required.

10. Pay the application fee. 

11. Sign the declaration 

12. Submit the PR application

13. Get a COPR or Confirmation of Permanent Residence once your application is assessed and approved.

Documents Required

Although each immigration program has its own set of paperwork, some documents are generally required in all. Before applying for Canada PR, one must be prepared with the following documents:

• Medical Tests: If you plan to immigrate to Canada, you must show the government that you’re in good health and pose no biological threat to the Canadian population. This ensures you won’t harm the country’s resources but contribute to its progress. Your medical tests will confirm your stable health and ability to support yourself in Canada.

• Language Tests: You’ll need valid language tests to demonstrate your English or French proficiency. Tests like CELPIP and IELTS for English and TEF and TCF for French are accepted by Canada. A good language score, often a minimum CLB 4, is crucial for Express Entry and other immigration programs.

• Proof of Funds: Moving to and settling in a new country can be expensive. It’s necessary to prove that you’re financially prepared to start anew in Canada without relying on the country’s resources. The minimum required amount varies depending on the immigration program.

• ECA (Educational Credential Assessment): As an international graduate, an ECA validates that your education matches the Canadian standard, supporting your credentials during the immigration process.

• Proof of Identity and Age: Providing birth certificates and identity cards showing your age is essential to confirm your legal adult status and ability to manage responsibilities.

• Police Clearance Certificate (PCC): A PCC is crucial in most Canadian immigration programs, signifying your clean record and social responsibility. This document identifies any potential inadmissibility issues.

• Passport: Having a valid passport is essential for immigration to Canada. Even after obtaining your PR, a passport is required for travel and identification purposes. It is one of the most important documents on your checklist.

Cost of Canada Immigration

The cost of submitting a Canada PR application is CAN $1,365. This includes the application processing fee of CAN $850 and the right to permanent residence fee of CAN $515. However, the total cost of Canada Immigration is more than the PR application fee. It includes many other expenses such as the expenses incurred in:

• Language proficiency tests like CELPIP, IELTS, TEF, and TCF
• Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Additional PNP program fee (if applicable)
• Medical Exam
• Work Permit (if applicable)
• Biometrics
• Police Clearance Certificate

Read: Total Cost of Canadian Immigration from India

Processing Time

The processing time for Canada immigration depends on the pathway you are applying from. For example, if you are applying through the Express Entry pathway, it might take as little as 6 to 9 months. On the other hand, if you are applying through the Provincial Nominee Program, it might take at least 9 months or longer. Submitting a complete and updated application helps IRCC process your application faster. It also reduces the chances of rejection.

Immigration Programs	Processing Time
Canadian Experience Class	5 months
Federal Skilled Worker Program	6 months
Family Sponsorship	10- 24 months
Provincial Nominee Program (Non-Express Entry)	14 months
Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry)	8 months
Quebec-selected Skilled Workers	10 months
Atlantic Immigration Program	6  months
Caregivers	31-34 months
Start-Up Visa Program	37 months
Self-employed program	54 months
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot	12-18 months
Agri-Food Pilot	Less than 12 months

Read: Processing time for all Canada Immigration programs

Note: Processing time for Canada immigration might change weekly. This might result in some discrepancies in the data.

Canada Immigration vs Citizenship

Canada immigration is the process of settling in the country as a skilled worker or an entrepreneur as a permanent resident. On the other hand, Canadian citizenship makes an individual a legal member of the country. While Canadian permanent residents enjoy many of the benefits enjoyed by the county’s citizens, they cannot vote and hold government administrative positions.

To become a Canadian citizen, you must first become a permanent resident. Citizenship is usually obtained:

• By Birth – People who are born in Canada are Canadian citizens despite the status of their parents.
• By Descent – Children born to Canadian citizens get citizenship even if they are born outside Canada
• By Naturalization – People can get Canadian citizenship if they apply for it and meet eligibility requirements such as permanent residency, admissibility, etc. Not all permanent residents get Canadian citizenship. However, all Canadian citizens by naturalization are permanent residents.

Learn everything about Canadian Citizenship

Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2024

On November 1, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada announced the Canada Immigration Levels Plan for 2024-2026. According to the plan, the country aims to invite at least 4,85,000 immigrants in the year 2024. 

It will also prioritize economic immigration and reunification of families through sponsorships. At the same time, IRCC also aims to increase the number of Francophone immigrants or permanent residents outside Quebec by at least 6% in 2024. Below is an overview of the Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2024.

Canada Immigration Level Plan 2024
Immigration Program/Category	Target Immigrants (low range)	Target Immigrants (high range)	Overall Target
Express Entry	90,000	116,000	110,770
Provincial Nominee Program	105,500	117,000	110,000
Atlantic Immigration Program	4,000	9,000	6,500
Start-Up Visa and Self-Employed Persons Program	3,500	7,000	5,000
Caregivers, Agri-Food Pilot, Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, Economic Mobility Pathways project	6,500	14,500	10,875
Sponsorship of Spouses, Partners and Children	77,000	88,000	82,000
Sponsorship of parents and grandparents	27,000	36,000	32,000
Refugees and protected immigrants	66,000	93,000	76,115
Immigration on Humanitarian grounds	9,000	17,500	13,750
Overall Immigration target	430,000	532,500	485,000

Benefits of Canada Immigration

The advantages of immigrating to Canada are numerous and most have a positive impact on your lifestyle and overall quality of life. 

• Healthcare: Canadian citizens and permanent residents are entitled to free and universal healthcare and maternity care. The universal healthcare system of Canada is supported by taxes paid by both citizens and permanent residents.
• Education: The Canadian public school system offers free education to PR holders up to the age of 18. In comparison to international students, university tuition fees are also significantly lower for permanent residents.
• Worker benefits: Being a skilled worker in Canada also serves many benefits. Paid public holidays and 2 weeks of paid vacation are provided after you serve 12 months in your job. Additionally, your employers contribute 5.45% of your total salary to your Canadian pension plan.
• Pristine environment: Canada is consistently ranked the cleanest country by the WHO (World Health Organization) mostly because of the territorial and provincial governments constantly working towards the improvement of the environment.
• Quality of life: Canada offers a high-quality life with an excellent work-life balance and premium social facilities. The country boasts of a peaceful society with minimal crime and unrest.

Best Canada Immigration Consultants

Talent Connected Worldwide has recently been awarded the best Canada immigration company in India. This makes us the country’s one of the only award-winning CICC-licensed immigration consultancy firm. In addition to being CICC authorized, founder Rachal Sidhu (R527196) is also a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Immigration Consultants (CAPIC R 16157) which is the largest and the only non-profit organization for immigration consultants in Canada. 

Talent Connected Worldwide is the best immigration consultant because we:

• Provide complete and transparent information about your application.
• Give you a list of all immigration options with better success chances.
• Boasts of a high success rate in Canada PR through Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program, Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP), and other prominent pathways.
• Help you upload updated and complete paperwork.
• Get your application processed faster.
• Provide you with free IELTS preparation.
• Never make false promises or give guarantees regarding Canada PR.

Thinking of safe and successful Canada immigration? Think Talent Connected Worldwide.

Read More

Why does Canada need Immigrants?

Canada Immigration Latest Updates