As Canada is on the path of recovery from the economic impact of the Coronavirus, it will need immigrants to help in the path to economic recovery. This was evident in the announcement of immigration targets for 2021-23 made by the Canadian government recently.
Canada is planning to welcome 1,233,000 new permanent residents over the next three years to help propel an economic recovery after the negative impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Apart from this, immigrants are required to offset the effect of an aging population and a low birth rate. 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 in spite of the pandemic.
These targets have been set with a view to propel the economic growth of the country.
The immigration targets for 2021-23 is set to welcome 60 percent of the immigrants under the economic class program which will include the Express Entry and the Provincial Nominee Program.
Source: CIC news
Surprisingly even during the peak of the pandemic, Canada continued to bring in permanent residents who had qualified before the travel restrictions were put in place and temporary foreign workers crucial to run the country’s food supply.
If you wish to apply for permanent residency in Canada in 2021, you must know the options available to you and each step of the process.
Canada offers many immigration programs, each of which have their own criteria and requirements. The popular immigration programs are – Express Entry program, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), Quebec Skilled worker Program (QSWP), Startup visa program etc.
The Express Entry program and the Provincial Nominee Program are the two most preferred programs to apply for PR visa.
Given below is information on the eligibility requirements, steps in the application process and the documents required for each program.
Application for Canada PR through Express Entry program
Step 1: Create your Express Entry profile
As a first step you will have to create your online Express Entry profile. The profile should include credentials that include age, work experience, education, language skills etc.
If you want to qualify for the Canada PR as a skilled worker, you should score 67 points to meet the eligibility criteria. If you qualify, you can submit your profile. This will be added to the other profiles in the Express Entry pool.
Step 2: Complete your ECA
If you have done your education outside Canada, you should complete an Educational Credentials Assessment or ECA. This is to prove that your educational qualifications are equal to those awarded by the Canadian educational system.
Step 3: Complete your language ability tests
As the next step in the Express Entry program, you should take the required English language proficiency tests. The recommendation is a score of 6 bands in each section of the IELTS. Your test score should be less than 2 years old at the time of application.
You will gain extra points if you know French. To prove your proficiency in French, you can give a French language like the Test de evaluation de Francians (TEF).
Step 4: Calculate your CRS score
The profiles in the Express Entry pool are ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. Based on the profile of applicants a CRS score is given which will help to provide a ranking in the Express Entry pool. The assessment fields for the score include:
- Skills
- Education
- Language ability
- Work experience
- Other factors
Your profile gets selected for the Express Entry draw if you have the required CRS score for that draw.
One of the best ways to increase your CRS score is to get a job offer from a Canadian employer, this can add anywhere between 50 to 200 points to your score depending on the skill level.
Another option to improve CRS is to get a provincial nomination. Several of Canada’s provinces have PNPs linked to Express Entry streams. A provincial nomination adds 600 points which can definitely get you an ITA.
Step 5: Get your Invitation to Apply (ITA)
If your profile gets selected from the Express Entry pool, you will get an ITA from the Canadian government after which you can start the documentation for your PR visa.
Application through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for PR visa
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) was started by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to help the different provinces and territories in Canada to select immigration candidates who are willing to settle down in a particular province or territory in the country and have the skills and expertise to contribute to the economic development of the province or territory. But not all of Canada’s provinces and territories participate in the PNP.
Nunavut and Quebec are not part of the PNP. While Quebec has its own separate program – Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) – for inducting immigrants to the province.
The admission target for the next three years under the PNP are:
| Year | Target | Low range | High range |
| 2021 | 80,800 | 64,000 | 81,500 |
| 2022 | 81,500 | 63,600 | 82,500 |
| 2023 | 83,000 | 65,000 | 84,000 |
If you opt for the PNP to apply for your PR visa, these are the steps:
- You must apply in the province or region where you desire to settle.
- If your profile is attractive and meets the eligibility criteria, you could be nominated by the province to apply for a PR visa.
- You can apply for your PR visa after you are nominated by a province.
The criteria for evaluating the PR application differs in each province but the eligibility criteria are similar to the Express Entry Program.
After you receive your ITA you must submit the required documents to get your PR visa.