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How To Migrate Canada?

Certainly! Canada is a popular destination for immigrants due to its high quality of life, diverse culture, strong economy, and welcoming immigration policies. The Canadian government offers various immigration programs for people wishing to live, work, study, or settle in Canada.

Canadian Immigration Programs Overview:

Canada offers various immigration programs to attract skilled workers, entrepreneurs, students, and family members. Here’s an overview of some prominent Canadian immigration programs:

Express Entry System: This system manages applications for three federal economic immigration programs.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): For skilled workers with foreign work experience who want to immigrate to Canada permanently.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): Targets skilled tradespeople who want to become permanent residents based on their qualifications.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC): For individuals with Canadian work experience who wish to become permanent residents.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): Each Canadian province and territory (except for Quebec, which has its own system) has its own PNP. These programs allow provinces to nominate individuals who meet specific criteria and intend to settle in that province.
Quebec Immigration: Quebec has its own immigration programs distinct from federal programs. It includes the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) for skilled workers, as well as programs for entrepreneurs and investors.
Family Sponsorship: Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor close family members, such as spouses, partners, dependent children, parents, and grandparents, to become permanent residents.
Caregivers Program: This program allows caregivers (such as nannies, child caregivers, and elderly caregivers) to come to Canada to work temporarily or permanently, provided they meet certain requirements.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot: This program targets skilled workers and international graduates who want to work and settle in Canada's Atlantic provinces: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot: This program targets skilled workers and international graduates who want to work and settle in Canada's Atlantic provinces: This program aims to attract skilled workers to smaller communities in Canada's rural and northern regions.
Start-up Visa Program: For entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Canada and obtain permanent residency.
Student Visas: International students can study at designated learning institutions in Canada, and after completing their studies, they may be eligible for post-graduation work permits or pathways to permanent residency.

Each program has specific eligibility criteria, application processes, and requirements. It’s crucial to thoroughly research and understand the program that aligns with your qualifications and goals or seek guidance from immigration consultants or lawyers for the best possible outcome.

The most suitable way to move to Canada is through the Permanent Residency (PR) Status.

Out of more than 60 programs through which the candidate can migrate to Canada one of the best ways of migration is through the Canada Permanent Residency (PR) status which provides subsidized healthcare and education system. The applicant can choose the program for relocation based on the credentials and resettle with ease.

The two most popular pathways of migrating to Canada are –
1. Express Entry Program
The Express Entry system is a streamlined process managed by the Canadian government to facilitate the selection and processing of skilled immigrants who want to become permanent residents of Canada. These Program was started in the year 2015, and since then it has been the most popular pathway for migration to Canada owing to its fast processing of the application. The evaluation of the candidate in this program is done as per the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) point tool which calculates the points of the candidate as per the age, language, education, and work experience. The points in the CRS score calculator is calculated out of 1200, and the minimum qualifying score is decided through the Express Entry Draws. Those candidates who achieve the minimum required score or above are selected to apply for the Permanent Residency (PR) status. The CRS points calculation demarcation as follows:

Table Header	Table Header
CRS Factors	Points
Human Core Capital	500(460 – for single applicants, 40 – spouse / Common Law Partner)
Skill Transferability	100
Bonus Points	600

The Express Entry program has three subcategories

Federal Skilled Workers Program

Eligibility requirements for Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
To be eligible to apply for a Canada PR under the Express Entry system, you will need a minimum of 67 points out of 100. These points are calculated on various factors, which include your age, work experience, education, language skills, adaptability, etc.

The maximum points you can obtain for these factors are as follows:
Canada Express Entry Eligibility | 67 points on 6 factors

Factor	Maximum Points Available
Language skills – in English & French	28
Education	25
Work experience	15
Age	12
Arranged employment (job offer in Canada)	10
Adaptability	10
TOTAL POINTS AVAILABLE	100

Key Features of the Federal Skilled Trades Program:

The minimum requirement states:

The candidate has to be proficient in any of the two Canadian Federal Languages, English or French, in both written and spoken terms.
Possess a complete foreign or Canadian education credential, with an ECA (Education Credential Assessment) by an approved institution.
Have at least 1 year of continuous experience in one profession, marked by NOC O, A and B.

Once you meet the requirement, you can fall under three categories.

Have an occupation that qualifies under 50 eligible occupations.
Have an “Arranged employment” or a job offer.
Have a Canadian Ph.D. or 2 years study in the country under a Ph.D. program at a recognized institute.

Scoring 67 points does not grant you the PR visa, but makes you eligible to apply to the Canada PR through the Express Entry system.
You are then required to choose the right immigration program for yourself based on your profile traits.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program aims to attract skilled workers in specific trades to contribute to Canada’s labor market and economy. Candidates must ensure they meet the program’s requirements, improve their profiles if needed, and actively seek job offers or certification to increase their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA).

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is aimed at individuals who have already established themselves in the Canadian workforce. It’s a pathway for those who have gained valuable skilled work experience in Canada and wish to transition to permanent residency. Candidates should ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, maintain accurate profiles, and improve their CRS scores to increase their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply for permanent residency.

Provincial Nominee Program

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are Canadian immigration pathways administered by individual provinces and territories, excluding Quebec, which has its own selection system. These programs allow provinces and territories to nominate individuals who have the skills, work experience, or connections required to contribute to the local economy and meet specific labor market needs.
PNP program is a great alternative to a Canadian Federal skilled worker visa (PR).

The provincial nominee programs are helpful to:

Candidates who cannot meet the minimum criteria to qualify for the PR visa of Canada.

Applicants who cannot score enough (CRS) to receive an invitation to apply in the Express Entry Pool to proceed for the final stage.
All Canadian provinces and territories, with the exception of Quebec, participate in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Each province and territory operate its own unique PNP, allowing them to nominate individuals who meet specific criteria and have the skills, work experience, or connections needed to contribute to the local economy and address labor market shortages.
Here is a list of provinces and territories in Canada that have their own Provincial Nominee Programs:

Alberta
British Columbia
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland and Labrador
Northwest Territories
Nova Scotia
Nunavut
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Saskatchewan
Yukon

Each province and territory have its own streams and categories within their respective PNPs, targeting various groups of candidates such as skilled workers, international graduates, entrepreneurs, and individuals with connections to the region. The specific eligibility criteria, application process, and requirements can vary significantly among the PNPs of different provinces and territories.

The eligibility criteria for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs
The eligibility criteria for Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) vary depending on the specific stream or category within each province or territory. However, here are some common factors that are often considered for eligibility across most PNPs.

Work Experience:
Different streams may require a certain amount of work experience in an occupation that is in-demand or specified by the province.
Work experience might need to be in a specific occupation listed on the province’s or territory’s skilled occupation list.

Education:
While having post-secondary education is beneficial, the educational requirements can vary. Some streams may require a minimum level of education or specific credentials.
Educational credentials obtained outside Canada may need to be assessed and equivalent to Canadian standards.

Language Proficiency:
Candidates typically need to demonstrate proficiency in English or French through approved language tests like IELTS (for English) or TEF (for French).
Meeting minimum language score thresholds is essential for most PNPs.

Connection to the Province or Territory:
Candidates often need to demonstrate a genuine intention and connection to the province or territory. This could include previous work or study experience, family ties, or a job offer from a local employer.
Some PNPs prioritize applicants who can contribute to the local economy or have established ties to the region.

Job Offer or Employment:
Some PNPs require candidates to have a job offer from an employer in the province or territory. The job offer might need to be in an in-demand occupation or meet specific criteria.

Other streams may target individuals who are already working in the province or territory.

Financial Stability:
Candidates may need to show sufficient funds to support themselves and their family members during the initial settlement period in the province or territory.
Some PNPs may waive this requirement if the applicant has a valid job offer meeting certain criteria.

Admissibility and Medical Examination:
Applicants must be admissible to Canada, which includes passing medical examinations and security checks.

NOTE:

It’s crucial to note that each province or territory has its own specific eligibility criteria and requirements for its PNP streams. Candidates interested in applying for a specific Provincial Nominee Program should thoroughly review the requirements outlined by the province or territory they wish to apply to and ensure they meet all the criteria before applying.

Language tests: Average cost – $300.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): Average cost – $200
Biometrics: $85/person
Government fees: $1,325/adult & $225/child
Medical examination fees: Average cost – $450/adult & $250/child
Police clearance certificates: Average cost – $100/country

No government fees are required to submit your initial Express Entry profile. The fees are only requested when you are invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence. In addition to the government processing fees, provincial immigration fees may be required if you are nominated for a PNP program.

You should also be aware that unless you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class program or have a valid arranged employment offer, you will need to demonstrate you have sufficient funds to support your resettlement in Canada. These settlement funds are not fees paid to the government but you must have access to them in order to be approved for a permanent residence visa. The amounts per family size are mentioned in the table below:

Number of Family Members	Funds Required
1	$13,213
2	$16,449
3	$20,222
4	$24,553
5	$27,847
6	$31,407
7	$34,967
For each additional family member	$3,560

Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?

You do not require a job offer for Express Entry. The vast majority of candidates selected for Express Entry do not have a formal Canadian job offer.

A formal Canadian job offer for a skilled, full-time position can add 50 to 200 points to your Express Entry application.

Almost always, a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for these points to be awarded.
An informal job offer will not award any additional points to your Express Entry profile and should not be mentioned in the application.

How long does Express Entry take?

Express Entry can take as little as six months to process, from submission of the Express Entry profile to the issuance of a permanent resident visa. However, not all cases will proceed this quickly. Your Express Entry profile will remain active in the pool of candidates for 12 months if you are not invited to apply. If after 12 months you have not been selected, you are welcome to resubmit your profile and remain in the pool. To break it down further:

Your profile will remain valid for 12 months in the Express Entry pool.
Upon issuance of the ITA, you will have 60 days to provide the requested full application of documents.
Once the immigration authorities have received your complete application, your permanent resident visa should be processed in six months or less

What’s better: PNP or Express Entry?

There is no simple answer to this question but there are some things to consider. Most PNPs require an applicant to have an Express Entry profile. Since an Express Entry profile is free to submit, you don’t stand to lose anything by creating one.
The other thing to consider is that the majority of PNP programs require an applicant to have a specific connection to the region. If you are working or studying in a Canadian province, considering a PNP program is advisable. If you do not have any specific connections to a place in Canada, the more general Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence is probably your best option.
The best way to determine whether a PNP or Express Entry is better for you is to complete our free assessment.

Can I apply for Express Entry and PNP at the same time?

There are two different types of Provincial Nominee Programs: ‘Base’ and ‘Enhanced’. Base PNPs operate outside of the Express Entry system and are subject to the standard PNP processing time. Enhanced PNPs require an Express Entry profile. Candidates who receive a nomination under an Express Entry-aligned, or Enhanced, PNP will receive an additional 600 points toward their CRS score. These additional points essentially guarantee an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through the subsequent draw in the Express Entry pool. The processing time for an Express Entry application is approximately 6-months, typically much faster than Base PNP applications.
The other thing to consider is that the majority of PNP programs require an applicant to have a specific connection to the region. If you are working or studying in a Canadian province, considering a PNP program is advisable. If you do not have any specific connections to a place in Canada, the more general Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence is probably your best option.
The best way to determine whether a PNP or Express Entry is better for you is to complete our free assessment.

Will the CRS score go down?

A person’s chances of success through any of the Express Entry programs depends on their Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. If a candidate is close to, or above, the minimum CRS score cut-off for recent Express Entry draws, then they will likely be competitive in the Express Entry system. That said, it is impossible to predict how the CRS score will fluctuate in the future.

No lawyer or consultant can guarantee that a person will successfully receive permanent residence through the Express Entry system. The application process is lengthy, complex, and constantly changing, and approval is at the discretion of IRCC so there is always a risk that an applicant may not receive permanent residence.
There are several options for increasing a person’s CRS score. To learn more about such options, please consult with Avisa.

The other thing to consider is that the majority of PNP programs require an applicant to have a specific connection to the region. If you are working or studying in a Canadian province, considering a PNP program is advisable. If you do not have any specific connections to a place in Canada, the more general Express Entry pathway to Canadian permanent residence is probably your best option.
The best way to determine whether a PNP or Express Entry is better for you is to complete our free assessment.

How can I increase my CRS score?

There are many ways an applicant can increase their CRS score once in the Express Entry pool. CRS points are largely tied to the applicant’s language ability, education, work experience, and age. Additional points can also be claimed for having a sibling in Canada, speaking French at a high level, receiving a job offer in the country, or securing a nomination from a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

Securing additional points from one of these factors can substantially increase one’s chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in one of Canada’s upcoming Express Entry draws.

Can I apply to Express Entry twice?

No, you cannot have two Express Entry applications for the same applicant at the same time. However, if you are married, you can submit an application under your spouse if they are eligible. Therefore, one applicant cannot have multiple Express Entry profiles but you can have two profiles for the same family, in some circumstances.

If after 12 months you are not invited to apply, you can resubmit your profile and stay in the Express Entry pool for an additional 12 months. This can be repeated as many times as necessary.

How to fix mistakes in your Express Entry Profile

Express Entry uses a two-step system to manage the intake of immigrants:

The Profile: Interested candidates create an Express Entry profile to show off their skills and experience. If they meet the eligibility requirements, they will be accepted into the Express Entry pool of candidates.
The Application: The most competitive profiles from the Express Entry pool will be invited to apply for Canadian permanent residence.