Once the Brexit decision was passed many residents in the UK showed an interest in migrating to Canada. The reasons why Canada is on the top of the list include the fact that English is one of the major languages spoken in Canada and there are a lot of cultural similarities between the two countries.
Canada has always had a welcoming stance towards immigrants and acknowledge their contribution to its economic growth.
The country in its immigration plans for 2021-23 has announced that it will welcome 1,233,000 new permanent residents over the next three years Here are more details:
| Year | Immigrants |
| 2021 | 401,000 |
| 2022 | 411,000 |
| 2023 | 421,000 |
The target figures indicate that Canada will be focusing in high immigration targets— more than 400,000 new permanent residents in the next three years. This is the best time to plan your move to Canada from the UK.
Options to move to Canada from the UK
There are several visa categories under which you can apply to move to Canada from the UK, these include:
- Skilled Workers and Professionals
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program
- Family sponsorship
- Business and Investor Migration
Skilled Workers and Professionals
The popular immigration program under this category is the Express Entry program. There are three categories under the program.
- Federal Skilled Worker
- Federal Skilled Trades
- Canada Experience Class
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 offer. For instance, if you are moving to Canada on a transfer from the same company then you can get an Intra company transfer permit.
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 Workers Program
If you wish to move to the province of Quebec in Canada, you can apply for its own Provincial Nominee Program known as the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). This is an immigration program that provides a fast and convenient way to migrate to Canada.
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. However, those with a job offer are given higher priority.
The QSWP is also based on a points-based system like the Express Entry System.
Family sponsorship
The Canadian government place priority on keeping the families of Canadian citizens and permanent residents together. It encourages them to bring their families to Canada. 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
Relatives can live, work and study in Canada and later become permanent residents.
Business and Investor Migration
The Startup Visa program provides permanent resident visas to eligible immigrants starting a business in the country. The Startup Class is another name for this visa program.
Candidates can come to Canada under this visa program on a work permit supported by their Canadian-based investor, and then apply for a PR visa once their business is established in the country.
Successful applicants may link up with Canadian private-sector investors to obtain funding assistance and advice on running their business. The three categories of investors in the private sector include:
- Venture capital fund
- Business incubator
- Angel investor
Eligibility requirements for the program:
- Have a qualifying business
- Have proof that the business has the required support from a designated entity in the form of a Commitment Certificate and Letter of Support
- Have the required proficiency in English or French
- Have enough funds to settle in Canada
There are many options if you wish to move from the UK to Canada in 2021. Once you choose an option, there are many steps you should follow in order to apply for a program and get approval for migration. An immigration consultant will help you choose the right option where you have more chances of success.