There are many reasons why many people wish to migrate from Singapore to Canada, it may be for a better future or looking for better job opportunities or for studying further or giving a better life to their families. There is good news for those wishing to move to Canada because the Canadian government has planned to welcome over a million newcomers between 2021 to 2023, the year 2021 is probably the best time to look at migrating to Canada from Singapore.In its immigration plans for 2021-23, Canada is planning to welcome 1,233,000 new permanent residents.
Another good news is that Canada does not distinguish between Singapore citizens and its immigrants when they apply for a visa to move to Singapore. Both have equal opportunities and equal chances of getting a visa provided they meet the eligibility criteria of the immigration program they choose to migrate to Canada.
Most applicants for migration to Canada apply for permanent residency or a PR visa because it provides them with various benefits which include:
The PR visa does not make you a citizen of Canada, you are still a citizen of your native country. As a PR visa holder, you can enjoy the following benefits:
- Can apply for Canadian citizenship in the future
- Can live, work and study anywhere in Canada
- Eligible for healthcare and other social benefits enjoyed by Canadian citizens
- Protection under Canadian law
Options to move to Canada from Singapore
There are several visa categories under which you can apply to move to Canada from Singapore, these include:
- Express Entry program
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program
- Family class immigration
- Business immigration program
- Canadian Experience class
Express Entry program
To qualify under this program, you should be able to get a minimum of 67 points out of 100 in the eligibility factors given below:
| Age: Those between 18-35 years get maximum points. Those above 35 get lesser points while the maximum age to qualify is 45 years.
Education: Under this category your educational qualification must be equal to higher secondary education under Canadian standards. Work experience: For minimum points you should have at least one year full-time work experience. More years of work experience means more points. Your occupation must be listed as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupational Classification (NOC). Language ability: You must have at least 6 bands in your IELTS rest and the score must be less than 2 years old. You get extra points if you are proficient in French. Adaptability: If your spouse or common law partner is willing to migrate with you to Canada, you are entitled to 10 extra points for adaptability. Arranged employment: You can gain a maximum of 10 points if you have a valid offer from a Canadian employer. |
The Canada Express Entry Program follows a points-based system for grading PR applicants. Applicants earn points based on qualifications, experience, Canadian employment status and provincial / territorial nomination. The higher your points, the greater the chances of having an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Applicants receive the points based on a Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS.
Every Express Entry draw shall have a minimum cutoff score. An ITA will be awarded to all applicants with a CRS score equal to or above the cutoff score When more than one nominee has a score equal to the cutoff number, then the one with a longer presence in the Express Entry pool will obtain an ITA.
You do not require a job offer in Canada to apply under the Express Entry system. However, a job offer in Canada will increase your CRS points from 50 to 200 depending on the skill level. Canada’s provinces also have Express Entry streams to help them select skilled workers from the Express Entry pool.
A provincial nomination will add 600 points to the CRS score which guarantees an ITA.
The CRS score keeps changing with every Express Entry draw which is held approximately every two weeks by the Canadian government.
However, you can move to Canada on a work permit and later apply for permanent residency. In order to get a work permit you must have a job offer in Canada. The type of work permit depends on the type of job you have obtained.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) was launched to help the various provinces and territories in Canada choose immigration candidates who are willing to settle in a given province or territory in the country and have the skills and abilities to contribute to the economic growth of the province or territory.
Every PNP targets the specific needs of the province’s labor market. You can find a provincial stream matching your specific skills. To qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) you must have the necessary skills, education, work experience and meet the language requirements.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)
This immigration program was started with the intention to encourage more immigrants to come and settle in Quebec without having to go through the hassle of a lengthy immigration process.
Through this program skilled workers can apply for the Quebec Selection Certificate or Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ). It is not necessary for applicants to have a valid job offer in order to migrate to Quebec. The QSWP is also based on a points-based system like the Express Entry System.
Business migration Program
Individuals interested in doing business in Canada can apply for a PR visa through the Canada Business Immigration Program. This program was designed to encourage migrants who can invest or establish a business in Canada. They must be high net worth individuals or must have either business or managerial experience to establish and run a business in Canada. The Canadian government has specified three categories of people for this type of visa.
- Investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Self Employed Persons
Family Class Immigration
Individuals who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada can sponsor their family members for PR status if they are 18 years or older. They are eligible to sponsor the following categories of family members:
- Spouse
- Conjugal partner
- Common-law partner
- Dependent or adopted children
- Parents
- Grandparents
| Eligibility requirements for a sponsor:
Apart from being above 18 years and being a PR visa holder or Canadian citizen, a sponsor must:
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Business migration Program
Individuals interested in doing business in Canada can apply for a PR visa through the Canada Business Immigration Program. This program was designed to encourage migrants who can invest or establish a business in Canada. They must be high net worth individuals or must have either business or managerial experience to establish and run a business in Canada. The Canadian government has specified three categories of people for this type of visa.
- Investors
- Entrepreneurs
- Self Employed Persons
Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class or CEC program is aimed to help foreign workers or students who are staying on a temporary basis in Canada to become permanent residents. It considers their work experience or education and their contribution to Canadian society for granting PR status.
You can qualify for this visa if you have studied or worked in Canada and meet the minimum requirements. The other important eligibility requirements are:
- 12 months of work experience- either full-time or part-time in the past three years
- Work experience must have proper authorization
- Applicant must have plans to live in a province outside Quebec
- Meet the language proficiency requirements
The immigration targets introduced by Canada till 2023 indicate the country’s continued welcoming stance towards immigrants. This is the best time to try to migrate to Canada from Singapore through one of the various immigration pathways.