- To be eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the applicant must score at least 67 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System.
- Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor immediate relatives or one other person related by blood or adoption
- Proficiency in English or French is a must for almost all visa programs
- Quebec has its own immigration rules
Today, people don’t necessarily settle down in the country they are born in. Given its strong economy and high quality of life, Canada is a popular destination with international migrants. Read on to find out how you can migrate to Canada.
Canada is the second largest country in the world. For some people, Canada is more than a tourist destination. In 2016, 2,96,346 people chose to migrate to Canada from across the world.
According to a census taken in the same year, foreign-born individuals accounted for more than one-fifth of Canada’s population. It has been estimated that by 2036, immigrants and children with at least one foreign-born parent will make up half of Canada’s population.
Why migrate to Canada?
There is no dearth of reasons to migrate to Canada. In terms of jobs, Canada offers skilled workers plenty of opportunities and better life prospects. The country boasts of a variety of landscapes ranging from craggy mountains to the Niagara Falls.
The country has an excellent educational system and free basic healthcare. It is also known as one of the safest countries in the world and the number 1 ranked country in terms of personal freedom.
How to Migrate to Canada?
There are many different ways a person can move to Canada. Each immigration program has its own eligibility criteria. The most popular 6 programs through which people migrate to Canada are:
1. Express Entry
This program is ideal for skilled immigrants who intent on settling permanently in Canada. There are three immigration programs an individual can choose from under Express Entry.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
To migrate to Canada through this program, the applicant must score a minimum of 67 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System. This system takes 6 factors into account; age, language skills, education, work experience, arranged employment in Canada and adaptability.
In terms of language, English and French are the official languages of Canada. To prove language proficiency, the applicant must take an approved language test. The Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) and Niveaux de compétence Linguistique Canadien (NCLC) are used to measure proficiency in English and French respectively.
A minimum level of CLB 7 or NCLC 7 is required for the first official language. To get points for the second official language, the applicant must achieve a minimum level of CLB 5 or NCLC 5.
Federal Skilled Worker Program – Points
Category Conditions Points
Age Under 18 years 0
18-35 years 12
36 years 11
37 years 10
38 years 9
39 years 8
40 years 7
41 years 6
42 years 5
43 years 4
44 years 3
45 years 2
46 years 1
47 years and above 0
Language skills CLB level 9 Speaking 6
CLB level 9 Listening 6
CLB level 9 Reading 6
CLB level 9 Writing 6
CLB level 8 Speaking 5
CLB level 8 Listening 5
CLB level 8 Reading 5
CLB level 8 Writing 5
CLB level 7 Speaking 4
CLB level 7 Listening 4
CLB level 7 Reading 4
CLB level 7 Writing 4
Education PhD or equivalent 25
Master’s degree/ equivalent professional degree in certain fields of study 23
Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees/diplomas or its equivalent 22
Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma for a program of minimum three years or its equivalent 21
Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma for a program of two years or its equivalent 19
Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma for a program of one year or its equivalent 15
High school diploma 5
Work Experience in jobs classified under the National Occupational Classification 6 years or more 15
4-5 years 13
2-3 years 11
1 year 9
Arranged Employment in Canada Valid job offer for full-time employment in NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A/B 10
Adaptability The applicant’s spouse has a language level of CLB 4 or higher 5
The applicant has finished at least 2 academic years of secondary or post-secondary school in Canada 5
The applicant’s spouse has finished at least 2 academic years of secondary or post-secondary school in Canada 5
The applicant has at least 1 year’s full-time work experience in Canada 10
The applicant’s spouse has at least 1 year’s full-time work experience in Canada 5
The applicant has a valid job offer for full-time employment in NOC Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A/B 5
The applicant’s spouse has relatives who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents living in Canada and above the age of 18 years 5
Federal Skilled Trades Program
To be eligible, the applicant must
- Plan on living outside the Quebec province
- Achieve a minimum level of CLB 5 for listening and speaking and CLB 4 for reading and writing
- Have at least 2 years full-time work experience or equivalent part-time work experience
- Meet the job requirements for a skilled trade as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
- Have an offer of full-time employment for at least 1 year
There are no minimum educational qualifications required to migrate to Canada through this program.
Canadian Experience Class
To be eligible for this program the applicant must meet the below criteria:
- He must have at least 12 months of full-time skilled work experience in Canada in the past three years or its equivalent in part-time experience. Self-employment and work experience gained while studying does not count.
- He must meet the language levels needed for the job in terms of speaking, listening, reading and writing.
- He must plan on living outside Quebec.
There are no minimum educational qualifications required to migrate to Canada through this program.
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Most territories and provinces in Canada can nominate immigrants in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These immigrants must live and work in the province they have been nominated by.
Each province has its own eligibility criteria for the program. While some provinces may design their programs to attract students and business people, others may target skilled or semi-skilled workers. Some provinces run Express Entry programs.
To migrate to Canada via the PNP the applicant must first apply for nomination to the desired province. Once nominated, they may then apply for permanent residency to the IRCC.
3. Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program
This province has its own rules for immigration. There are two stages to this program.
Stage 1: Apply for the government of Quebec for a certificate of selection showing that you have been accepted as an immigrant.
Stage 2: Apply to the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for permanent residence.
4. Start-up Visa Program
To migrate to Canada through this program the following criteria must be met.
- The applicant must have a business that qualifies for the program
- The business must be supported by an approved investor organization
- The applicant must attain at least level 5 proficiency in English or French
- The applicant must have enough money to sustain oneself and dependents
| Number of Family Members | Funds Required (in Canadian Dollars |
|---|---|
| 1 | $12,475 |
| 2 | $15,531 |
| 3 | $19,093 |
| 4 | $23,181 |
| 5 | $26,292 |
| 6 | $29,652 |
| 7 | $33,014 |
| Per additional family member | $3,361 |
5. Family Sponsored Visa Program
Canadian citizens, permanent residents and people registered in Canada as Indians under the Canadian Indian Act above the age of 18 years can sponsor relatives who want to migrate to Canada.
A spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner can be sponsored as long as they are over the age of 18 years and the sponsor shares a genuine relationship with the applicant. The spouse or common-law partner must live with the applicant to be eligible.
In the case of a conjugal partner, the relationship should have lasted at least 1 year. The applicant’s dependent children can also be sponsored to migrate to Canada.
Parents and grandparents can be sponsored as long as the sponsor is able to support them financially and ensure that they do not need government financial aid.
In the case of adopting children from another country, the adoption process must be completed before sponsoring the child. Anyone other person who is related by blood or adoption may also be sponsored to migrate to Canada.
6. Self-Employed Program
Immigrants who aim to be self-employed in Canada can apply to migrate to Canada via this program. To be eligible they must:
- Have minimum 2 years relevant experience in the 5 years prior to applying
- Must have participated in athletics or cultural events as a global level
- Must have been self-employed in athletics or cultural activities
- Intend to be self-employed in Canada
- Meet the selection criteria for self-employed people
- Must score a minimum of 35 points on the Comprehensive Ranking System.
- Meet have good health
- Must have good character
- Must have enough finances to support oneself
Also See
- How to Apply for Canada Student Visa
- How to Apply for Canada Tourist Visa
- Canada Election And Immigration – How The Federal Election Will Affect Immigration And Express Entry?
- Asian Immigrants in Canada – Interesting Facts
- Types Of Canadian Visa – The Complete List
