Yet again, Canada is amongst the top five of the best countries to live and an excellent place to work, resulting in many people seeking a skilled work visa in Canada.
The COVID-19 pandemic has, however, caused Canada to fall short of its yearly immigration target for 2020. But it is putting in place ambitious plans to attract immigrants in the following years. According to the immigration levels plan for 2021-2023, the government plans to welcome 401,000 new immigrants in 2021, 411,000 new immigrants in 2022, and 421,000 new immigrants in 2023.
Canada’s expansion aspirations raise the topic of how to immigrate to the country. What is the most efficient way to immigrate to Canada?
Express Entry
The fastest method to enter is using a skilled work visa in Canada through the Express Entry program. Express Entry is an online system used by Canada to manage skilled worker applications for permanent immigration. Candidates for Express Entry should have a university or college diploma, professional job experience, and a moderate command of English or French. Candidates who meet the requirements for the following programs may apply for the Express Entry program or contact visa consultants in Canada:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Ideal candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Depending on the profile, have a minimum of college graduate degree
- Be able to show moderate to high English or French language competence (CLB level eight or above)
- Have a minimum of three years of competent job experience
- An employment offer from a Canadian company
- Meet the financial requirements for sustaining themselves after arriving in Canada
If you are eligible, the immigration body accepts you into their pool of candidates and sends an invitation to apply to the candidates with the highest scores in the pool. If they invite you to apply for permanent residency, you will have 60 days to submit your application.
Provincial Nominee Programs
Individuals interested in moving to a specific Canadian province or territory can use the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) to gain permanent residence in Canada or get a work permit. The PNP in Canada adapts to each province and territory’s economic and demographic needs, so you will have to check the in-demand occupations.
One way is to contact the province and apply for nomination or contact your visa consultants in Canada. If nominated by a province, you must build an Express Entry profile or edit an existing profile to reflect the nomination. If a province has received a notification of interest, you can apply for a skilled work visa in Canada through the Express Entry stream.
In any instance, you must meet the province’s qualifying standards. The provinces or territories that supply PNP are as follows:
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
Family Class immigration
The objective of the family class immigration program is to reconnect distant relatives of Canadian citizens and permanent residents. This form of immigration works when a Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsors the candidate and guarantees that they will meet the basic requirements of the candidate for a certain period.
All family class permanent residence applications are forwarded to a Case Processing Centre (CPC) in Canada at the same time as the sponsorship application. CPCs are the main offices in charge of processing applications for family class sponsorship.
In most cases, sponsorship applications involving married partners, dependent parents, and children are the priority. Applications for family sponsorship are based on the sponsor’s financial ability to sustain the individuals they wish to sponsor and create a real family tie between the applicant and the sponsor.
LMIA Work Visa
A Canadian employer must obtain a permit before recruiting a foreign worker on a skilled work visa in Canada. It demonstrates that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is qualified, indicating that a foreign worker will have to fill the position. When the employer gets a confirmation letter, it is known as Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
Once the company has the LMIA, the worker can apply for a work permit in Canada. The worker must meet specific requirements to apply for a work visa:
- a job offer letter
- a contract
- a copy of the LMIA, and
- the LMIA number
Start-Up Visa Program
Immigrant investors can also apply for a Start-up Visa by contacting their visa consultants in Canada, which will offer them permanent residency in Canada.
The program’s goal is to attract creative entrepreneurs to Canada and link them with private sector companies. With the aid of angel investor organizations, venture capital funds, and business incubators, they will start their businesses.
A designated venture capital fund must indicate that it is making a minimum investment of $200,000 in the qualified company. Candidates can also qualify if they have two or more pledges totaling $200,000 from approved venture capital funds. An authorized angel investor group must make a minimum investment of $75,000 in the qualifying company.
Final Words
Canada’s immediate plans for immigration growth will include various programs geared to pick and process people swiftly, whether they fall into the economic, family, or refugee categories. Knowing which immigration programs are under development that match your unique experience and needs can help you choose the quickest way to obtain a skilled work visa in Canada.
