With are more than 80 ways to immigrate, Canada’s ambitions plan invites more than 1 Million immigrants in 3 years time. However, there are no easy ways or a single path that fits all. One should discover the most suitable path for their profile and create a strategy to achieve the goal.

EXPRESS ENTRY (EE)

Express Entry is system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to manage the applications received for the following programs:

1. Federal Skilled Worker (FSW),
2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and
3. Federal Skilled Trades (FST).

Applicants eligible for this program can create a profile and later on receive Invitation to apply (ITA) to apply to immigrate to Canada based on their scores as per Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Steps to follow under Express Entry system:

Step 1: Find out if you are eligible for Express Entry;

Step 2: Complete your language test and obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA);

Step 3: Submit your profile;

Step 4: Wait for Invitation to Apply (ITA), for permanent residence from IRCC;

Step 5: Submit your Application for Permanent Residence (APR) to IRCC and pay your fees to IRCC. Your medical exam and police certificates needs to be submitted at this stage. IRCC will then provide you with an Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR);

Step 6: Submit your biometrics, upon request from IRCC;

Step 7: IRCC finalizes applications in 6 months or less. Once your application is approved you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and a permanent resident visa (if you are from a country that requires a visa);

Step 8: Travel to Canada, complete your landing process and become a Permanent Resident (PR) of Canada.

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (PNP)

Canada has more than 80 programs under PNP system. It allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate and settle in a particular province or territory (except Quebec and Nunavut).

Out of multiple PNP programs with provinces, each province has at least 1 Express Entry linked PNP program. An applicant gains 600 additional points to their profile, if linked with Express Entry system.

The provinces issue nominations to foreign nationals who meet program-specific criteria and demonstrate their intention to reside in that particular province. All provinces are their streams are listed below:

PILOT PROGRAMS

Canada operates Immigration pilot programs that are limited term programs specifically designed to address the needs of particular areas of economy, skills and location in Canada. They aim to bring unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled foreign nations to address the shortages and create a path to permanent residence for those who want to live and work permanently in Canada.

Quebec Immigration

Quebec is Canada’s 2nd most populated province with a stable economy boosted by Aviation, IT, Gaming, AI, Energy, Natural Resources to name few sectors. Canada-Quebec Accord 1991 provides an exclusive right to Quebec for selecting its own immigrants which is monitored by Quebec’s Immigration Ministry, the ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI).

Quebec’s economic immigration programs are:

Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

This Regular Skilled Worker Program is the main immigration category for skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada and reside in Quebec.

Learn more about the Quebec Skilled Worker Program

Quebec Experience Program (Programme de l’expérience québécoise (PEQ))

It is a popular immigration option for international students who have obtained an eligible diploma from a Quebec post-secondary institution and skilled workers with eligible work experience in the province.

Learn more about the Quebec Experience Program

Quebec Business Immigration

Foreign nationals who can prove they have the resources can apply for immigration to Quebec under a wide range of business immigration programs for investors, entrepreneurs, and self-employed individuals.

Learn more about Quebec Business Immigration

Caregiver Program

A CARER (also referred to as caregiver or family caregiver) takes a caring role for someone who needs help because of a physical or cognitive condition, an injury or a chronic life-limiting illness. Various programs have been terminated or not accepting application e.g. Caring for Children (terminated June 18, 2019), Caring for People with High Medical Needs (terminated June 18, 2019), Interim Pathway for Caregivers (not accepting applications). There are 2 programs that are still of interest:

1. Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

Although the LCP is officially closed to new applicants, individuals can apply for permanent residence through the program if they have at least 2 years of work experience in the program and:

• working in Canada with LCP work permit; or
• approved for their first LCP work permit based on an employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application submitted on or before November 30, 2014. 

Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots

It replaces the earlier programs and provides eligible caregivers with a pathway to permanent residence by providing work permit to the caregivers who have a job offer in Canada, once they have acquired 2 years of Canadian work experience.

Caregivers with work experience in NOC 4411 (excluding foster parents) will be eligible for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot.

Caregivers with work experience in NOC 4412 (excluding housekeepers) will be eligible for permanent residence through the Home Support Worker Pilot.

Also needed:

• Language tests results showing a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5;
• 1 year of Canadian post-secondary education or the foreign equivalent; and
• be Admissible to Canada.

* Caregivers already working in Canada on a work permit who meet these criteria can also apply for permanent residence through the new pilots.

Each program will accept a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants each, for a total of 5,500 principal applicants, per year.

Key aspects of this program:

• Occupation-specific work permits for caregivers: providing the ability to change jobs quickly if necessary,
• Open work permits for spouses/common-law partners and study permits for dependent children: to allow the caregiver’s family to accompany them to Canada.

Employers hiring a caregiver from overseas will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment.