Steps Involved When Making a Move to Canada

Steps Involved When Making a Move to Canada

Moving to Canada is a big step, but it can be an exciting one!

Did you know that Canada has admitted 113,699 immigrants in the first half of 2022?  Additionally, Canada has revised its target to 432,000 immigrants for 2022.

If you’ve decided to move to Canada, this is your sign to start your Canadian immigration application today.

Before moving forward with Canadian immigration, there are a lot of questions you may need to clarify for hassle-free immigration to Canada, aka the Great White North.

Our one-stop guide helps you discover the steps involved when making a move to Canada, and start your application process with ease.

Identify your purpose to immigrate to Canada

The Canadian government provides more than 80 Canadian immigration pathways. Hence, choosing the path that matches your skills, education, work experience, and your future plans becomes crucial.

Eligibility to Move to Canada

Find out if you are eligible to apply in the category that aligns with your purpose of moving to Canada. Some of the most popular avenues for  immigration to Canada as of 2022 are as follows:

Express Entry for Skilled Workers

This category facilitates IRCC to invite skilled workers to make an application for permanent residency. Express Entry covers three programs based on the skills and experience of the immigrants.

1. Federal Skilled Worker Program
2. Federal Skilled Trades Program
3. Canadian Experience Class

The worker should have at least 1 year of qualifying work experience. Applicants who qualify must submit a profile through which they are ranked in the Express Entry pool, with the highest-ranking candidates being invited to apply for permanent residence in Canada.

Interested immigrants can also check the occupation list to find out if their occupation is eligible for these programs.

Family Sponsorship

An applicant can immigrate to Canada through family sponsorship if their relative is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident over 18 years old and is able to meet the basic needs of the applicants, for a time varying from 3 years to 20 years in the case of parents and grandparents.

Student Visa

To enter Canada on a Canadian student visa, the applicant must receive an offer of admission from a designated learning institution. To obtain a study permit, students have to prove that they have the financial capability to pay the tuition fees and living expenses. It is a wonderful option for people who want to move to Canada without a job offer.

As of 2020, over 500,000 international students are studying in Canada, which means along with affordable study costs, accommodation, and high quality of living, this country gives you a homely and secure feel among your peers from your country.

It’s a win-win situation for any international student seeking to build a successful, lucrative, and high-profile career. Nevertheless, let me WARN you that getting your student visa application approved is not an easy task. According to the latest news, the rejection rate for student visas has increased by 50%, which means that even the most qualified candidate with the highest IELTS score and proper documentation can be denied entry.

If you are contemplating moving to Canada, it’s best to talk to a Canadian Immigration Consultant who has experience getting student visas approved in order to avoid any risks to your dream of moving to Canada.

Quebec-selected Skilled Workers

This is an ideal alternative plan for the people who didn’t get into the Federal Skilled Worker program. Under this category, individuals who score at least 50 points on the following factors can apply for permanent residency in Quebec.

1. Education, health, and criminal records
2. Age
3. Work experience
4. A family residing in the Canadian province
5. Knowledge of English and French
6. Valid job offer
7. Spouse characteristics
8. Presence of children
9. Financial independence

Atlantic Immigration Program

It is an employer-driven pathway for the people who want to settle in either of the 4 Atlantic provinces of Canada, namely Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador, and New Brunswick, to increase the skilled workforce by retaining global talent. Immigrants with a job offer from a provincially endorsed and designated employer can apply under the program.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

As the name suggests, under these programs the immigrant has to be nominated by a Canadian province or territory. Provincial nominee programs are ideal for people with skills, work experience, and education to contribute to the economy of the nominating province. Currently, over 60 PNP programs are available, with various immigration programs targeting workers, business people, and students.

Applicants can directly apply for nomination, through the base or enhanced PNP programs and if a Canadian province nominates them, they can come to Canada as permanent residents. Please note the nomination process varies from province to province.

Provincial nominee programs are some of the easiest processes to immigrate to Canada, as they allow the immigrant to apply for immigration to Canada in provinces with less job competition and more affordable living conditions, such as Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, etc.

If you are curious which province will be the best for you based on your skills and qualifications,   you can take a free assessment to find the best option, designed to help you navigate the application process more easily and increase your chances of getting nominated!

Self-employed Immigration Program

The self-employed immigration program is another golden opportunity in the category of business immigration for people moving to Canada to start or continue a business. An applicant applying for a self-employed immigration program needs to prove their experience and the ability to make a significant contribution at a world-class level. The applicant also needs to provide evidence supporting their claim of being successfully self-employed.

The applicant should have at least 2 years of work experience in their industry or 2 years of participating on a world-class level within their domain within 5 years preceding their immigration application.

The selection criteria for this program depend on education, experience, age, language proficiency, and adaptability.

Start-up Visa

Another category of business immigration for talented immigrant entrepreneurs with the ability to build a business in Canada that can create jobs and perform on a global scale is the start-up visa program. The person eligible for this program must have a qualifying business, a letter of support, have enough financial capability to settle and live in Canada, and should meet the language requirements.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

These programs allow an immigrant to work as a nanny or babysitter to busy parents and take care of the elderly or people with disabilities or those undergoing rehabilitation. To be eligible for this program, the applicant must have a job offer from a Canadian employer, relevant experience or training in the field, equivalent foreign education, and language proficiency.

The program allows participants the opportunity to apply for a work permit and permanent residence supported by their job offer in Canada.

Remember, this list is not exhaustive. These are only some of the many ways you can move to Canada. There are many other programs to explore and if you need professional guidance with finding the right pathway our team is more than happy to support you on your journey to Canada.

Complete Your Application

Once you have identified a pathway, you are now much closer to making your Canadian dream come true. The next step is completing your application process with utmost care.

Gathering Important Documents

Collect the following supporting documents needed to immigrate to Canada:

1. English proficiency test results: The major language proficiency tests accepted by Canadian authorities are IELTS, CELPIP, TEF Canada, and TCF Canada.
2. Valid passport and travel documents: Your passport is considered valid when it’s a regular non-diplomatic passport.
3. Police certification: You may need police clearance for countries where you have lived for at least six months in a row since age 18.
4. Educational credential assessment (ECA): ECA verifies whether foreign diplomas, degrees, and certificates are equivalent to Canadian standards. Several organizations are designated to do educational credential assessment reports, including the International Credential Assessment Service of Canada, World Education Services, and International Credential Evaluation Service.
5. Settlement funds: The applicant must show proof that they have sufficient settlement funds for their expenses and that of their family members when they come to Canada. The settlement funds depend on the number of family members.

Pay the Application Fees

The payment method differs from program to program. Additionally, application fees differ depending on whether the applicant is applying for temporary residence, permanent residence, individually, or as a family.

Few things to keep in mind while making the fee payment:

1. Make sure you are paying the right amount for the program you’ve applied to. Otherwise, it can result in your application being returned to you.
2. Make sure you include your payment receipt along with the application.

Biometrics

Applicants must provide biometric information as a requirement for the application. Besides visa application fees, applicants are required to furnish a biometric fee of $85 CAD/person and $170 CAD for a family visitor visa application. Biometrics are typically done at a visa application centre and includes the collection of fingerprints and photographs.

Medical Examination

A medical examination aka Immigration Medical Exam is conducted by a panel physician approved by IRCC that involves a questionnaire, physical examination, tests, etc. Applicants are required to provide an IME fee for the exam, ranging from $150 CAD to $180 CAD.

Wait for Your Canadian Visa

Once all application stages and submissions have been completed, getting your Canadian visa is the final step. The Canadian visa processing time varies based on the purpose and program you are applying for, but the current processing times for some programs and permits are as follows:

1. Express Entry- up to 6 months
2. Canada work permit- up to 27 weeks
3. Study permit- up to 16 weeks
4. Canadian citizenship- up to 1 year

Make the Transition

Now, you are ready to come to your new home in Canada. While you’re excited about getting to the new country, don’t forget to take a look at this handy checklist before boarding your flight so that you have an easier time settling in:

1. Secure a place to live
2. Initiate the process of opening a Canadian bank account
3. Applying for health insurance
4. Get a phone
5. Order Canadian Currency
6. Copies of all your important documents

FAQs

What immigration programs can I take?

Canada has become a primary destination for immigration and has welcomed immigrants across disciplines, ages, and experiences, and it can be difficult to choose an immigration program. Hence, we have prepared this free assessment tool through which you can check and assess your eligibility to move to Canada.

Canadian immigration is a complex endeavor. Discover how you can make your way to Canada with expert advice through a one-on-one consultation with our team of licensed immigration specialists who have served clients from over 30 countries worldwide.

What is the minimum stay in Canada after becoming a permanent resident?

To maintain Canadian permanent resident status, the immigrant has to stay in Canada for at least 730 days in 5 years.

We’re Here to Help

Northern Connections Canada Immigration can help you live your Canadian dream.

• FREE evaluation of your profile
• Personalized roadmap for immigration
• Comprehensive document checklist for your application
• Handling your application from start to finish
• Saving you time, money, and frustration

With 80+ ways to immigrate to Canada, including eligibility and processing times, as well as a roadmap for completing your application to make the final transition to Canada, you can be well on your way to becoming a Canadian resident.

We hope you’ve found your immigration category and are ready to move to Canada but if you still aren’t sure, don’t worry!

We have a team of experts ready to provide complete guidance every step of the way.  Connect with us for further support in your journey to joining us in this incredible country.

The Team at Northern Connections Canada