Four routes to migrate to Canada

Canada is a favorite destination for immigration, this is no surprise because the country has immigration friendly policies and plenty of job opportunities. Immigrants have access to many benefits. The country plans to take in more than 1 million migrants in the next three years so this is your best chance to migrate to the country. Here are four routes to migrate to Canada on a permanent resident (PR) visa.

1. Express Entry System:

This immigration program was started in 2015 for managing the applications under its Economic Class immigration programs.

Canada immigration programs work on a points-based system, the Express Entry system is similar. An applicant must score a minimum number of points to gain the eligibility to apply for a PR visa. The applicants score points on various criteria such as age, language, education and work experience.

You need to have a minimum of 67 points out of 100 to enter the Express Entry pool. Once your application is in the Express Entry pool you will get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) based on the Express Entry draw that is conducted periodically.

The Express Entry program has streamlined the immigration process and made it more transparent. Key details of the program are:

• The program has no cap on applicants and is open throughout the year
• The program allows successful applicants to bring their family members.
• Applicants must submit an Expression of Interest to apply for this program
• Their profile will be evaluated based on points and will be placed in the applicant pool
• Applicants with the highest points are sent invitations to apply for PR
• This migration program has one of the fastest processing times with more than 75% of applications being processed in four months
• Annual Immigration Level determines the number of ITAs that can be issued

2. Provincial nominee program:

Canada’s provinces have their own immigration program called the Provincial Nominee Program or PNP. This program allows each province to meet its immigration needs by nominating a certain number of immigration candidates for PR visas based on their economic and skill requirements. They usually look out for foreign immigrants with experience in occupations that are in demand in their provinces.

The PNP works on a points-based system. Application for a PR visa through the PNP program requires the applicants to have some connection to the province. You can be either working in that province or have studied there. You can be eligible if you have a job offer from an employer in the province.

Steps to apply:

• You must apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
• You could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa if your profile meets the eligibility criteria.
• You can apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.

The criteria for evaluating the PR application can differ for each province.

3. Migration as an international student:

Canada has become a popular destination for international students. The top reasons why students choose Canada include the quality of its education system. There are various courses and programs students can choose from. The universities here provide numerous research opportunities. Students can work while doing their course and have good internship opportunities.

International students who work here have the possibility of immigration after completing their course. They can apply for a PR visa once their course is over.

The Canadian government offers options for international students to stay after their course and gain some work experience. The IRCC provides a Post-Graduate Work Permit Program. Under this program, international graduates can get an open work permit valid for three years. They can work for any employer in this period. This also gives them the skilled work experience which is crucial to the success of their PR visa application.

4.The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP):

This immigration program was launched in 2017 to help bring more workers to the country’s Atlantic region. Under this program, employers in the Atlantic region can hire international workers. If a prospective immigrant receives a job offer from any of the participating employers, they will receive support for the immigration process to settle down in Canada.

To be eligible for the program, you must first get a job offer from one of the employers under the program.

The AIPP proposes to welcome more than 7,000 foreign nationals with their families by 2021 to the Atlantic Canada region. There are three programs under the AIPP:

• Atlantic High-skilled Program
• Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
• Atlantic International Graduate Program

However, applicants can apply only under one of these programs. Each program has its own set of eligibility requirements.

There are different routes to migrate to Canada. If you wish to move to Canada on a PR visa, you must choose an option that is best suited to your requirements. More importantly, you should take care that you choose an option where you can best match the eligibility requirements. This will ensure your success.