There are many ways to immigrate to the Great White North for those looking to resettle for a better life.
Several programs that the Canadian government offers have various requirements and needs that immigrants to Canada must address. Here are the main ones.
Express Entry
The federal government introduced Express Entry in 2015 for skilled workers to get permanent residency in Canada. It works through a pool system established by IRCC with three federal programs and some cases of Provincial Nominee Programs. Following are the groups for Express Entry immigration.
- Federal Skilled Worker Class (FSWC)
- Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
- One part of the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Who is eligible? In order to apply for PR through express entry, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria which encompasses age, education, experience, language tests and adaptability factors. All of these factors decide the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, on the basis of which you are selected to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA).
How to apply? Candidates are selected through the express entry draw which takes place roughly two weeks apart. On receiving the ITA from the federal government, the candidate has 60 days to submit all required documents and complete the application for successful PR.
Federal Skilled Worker program
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is Canada’s main economic immigration program, and is one of the most popular and preferred ways to gain permanent residency.
Who is eligible? Individuals with specific work skills and experience who can contribute to Canada’s economic growth are eligible. The minimum score required: 67. Based on education, language, skillset, and work experience.
How to apply? Candidates must complete a profile under the Express Entry system in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). Through FSW, candidates can settle anywhere in Canada, except Quebec, which has its own skilled worker program.
Selected candidates must show proof of sufficient funds to support themselves (and/or family) in Canada until they are well settled and financially stable.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The CEC is a stream under the Express Entry program and is ideal for individuals who specifically have Canadian work experience and are seeking to become permanent residents.
Who is eligible? Individuals who can show at least one year of full time (or equal amount in part time) work experience in Canada while under temporary resident status. The work experience must be in managerial, professional or technical jobs and skilled trades. There is no educational requirement for the program.
How to apply? Candidates must have a profile in Express Entry. Periodically, invitations based on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, are sent out to eligible candidates inviting them to apply for permanent residency.
The Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who are skilled in a trade listed in the NOC and have at least 2 years of recent full-time Canadian experience in the last 5 years.
Who is eligible? There’s no points requirement to enter this program. Applicants have to demonstrate that they have a high level of English through a CIC-approved language test.
How to apply? Candidates can complete a profile under the Express Entry system in order to receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA), applying through the PNP and applying specific to Quebec.
The Provincial Nominee Programs
Specifically have Canadian work experience and seeking to become permanent residents. In some cases, a province or territory will decide to nominate a specific person for permanent residency, who has expressed an interest in living there. Each province or territory has its own individual PNP program. Many of these programs are aligned with the Canada Express Entry Program.
Who is eligible? Individuals who can show at least one year of full time (or equal amount in part time) work experience in Canada while under temporary resident status. The work experience must be in managerial, professional or technical jobs and skilled trades. There is no educational requirement for the program.
How to apply? Candidates must have a profile in Express Entry. Periodically, invitations based on Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, are sent out to eligible candidates inviting them to apply for permanent residency.
Express Entry vs. PNP
PNP is a very specific pathway of entry for potential immigrants. They have very inflexible eligibility criteria that one has to fall under, whereas express entry has broader eligibility criteria that allow a large influx of candidates to apply for permanent residency. Consequently, the pool of candidates for PNP are also much smaller as compared to Express Entry.
Furthermore, when one applies for PNP, their options are narrowed down to one particular province or territory after applying directly for that region. In contrast, Express Entry allows you to settle anywhere you please in Canada and relocate whenever you wish.
There are many benefits of becoming a permanent resident in Canada regardless of which immigration pathway you choose. Candidates can always improve their CRS scores to enhance their chances of being selected for ITA.
