IMMIGRATE TO CANADA

Express Entry

Express Entry is a new electronic immigration system that began on January 1, 2015 that enables skilled and qualified foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency in Canada. There are three types of immigration programs managed through Express Entry: 

1. Federal Skilled Worker

2. Canadian Experience Class

3. Federal Skilled Trades

Candidates who are eligible under one or more of the above-mentioned immigration programs can complete an online profile including the details about their skills, education, work experience and language ability, among others. Successful applicants will then be placed in the pool of eligible candidates. They will be ranked in the Express Entry pool using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

This program is designed for the foreign workers who possess the required skills and work experience and want to immigrate to Canada. To be eligible for this program, the foreign workers must meet the following minimum criteria:

• Have at least 1 year of continuous paid work experience, full-time at 1 job or equal amount in part-time work or full-time at more than 1 job (same type), within the last 10 years and in one of the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER categories: TEER 0, TEER 1, TEER 2 and TEER 3.
• Have a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all abilities: writing, reading, listening and speaking through an approved language test in English or French.
• Have a Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree or an equivalent foreign credential assessed through a designated organization.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration category that allows foreign workers who have gained at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years to apply for permanent residence. The skilled work experience must be paid work and be acquired with valid work authorization. The work experience gained through self-employment and while you were a full-time student or a refugee claimant does not count under this program.

Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for qualified, experienced tradepersons from around the world who want to immigrate to Canada. To be eligible for the FST, you  must:

• Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
• British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
• Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP)
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)

Canada’s Start-Up Visa Program is intended for immigrant entrepreneurs with the skills and potential to establish businesses in Canada by allowing them and their families to apply for Canadian permanent resident status. The entrepreneurs should be innovative and be able to create jobs for Canadians and compete on a global scale. 

To be eligible for the Start-Up Visa Program, the applicant/s must:

• Have a qualifying business:

  The entrepreneur applicants, whether alone or as a group (up to five applicants), must own more than 50% of the business, with each applicant owning at least 10% of the total shares.

• Get a letter of support from a designated organization. There are three categories of designated organizations:

• Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in all abilities)
• Meet IRCC’s proof of funds requirement
• Plan to settle in a province other than Quebec

Self-Employed Persons Program is one of Canada’s federal business programs. This program is intended for the self-employed foreign nationals who possess relevant experience in cultural activities or athletics and are able to establish themselves as permanent residents in Canada. 

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify as a self-employed person, you must have two years of relevant experience within the five years and show that you intend to become self-employed in Canada. You can get more points if you have more than two years (3, 4, or 5 years) of experience. At a minimum, your experience must be:

• For cultural activities:

1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in cultural activities, or
2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world-class level in cultural activities, or
3. A combination of a one-year period described in (a), and a one-year period described in (b)

• For athletics:

1. 2 one-year periods being self-employed in athletics, or 
2. 2 one-year periods participating at a world class level in athletics, or
3. A combination of a one-year period described in (a) above, and a one-year period described in (b) above.

The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) is a federal immigration program designed for skilled foreign workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in the Atlantic Provinces (New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia). Through this program, employers in Atlantic Canada can recruit foreign skilled workers who want to immigrate to one of the four Atlantic Provinces. 

All principal applicants who come to Canada under this program must have a job offer from a designated employer and be able to demonstrate sufficient funds to support themselves and their families when settling in Canada.  A designated employer can hire foreign nationals without obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). However, designated employers are required to have the job offer endorsed from the province. Once the province endorses the job offer, they’ll send a Certificate of Endorsement to the applicant and the applicant can apply for permanent residence. The applicants may be eligible to apply for a temporary work permit which allows them work while their permanent residence application is being processed.

Requirements for Applicants

Work Experience:

• • You must have a minimum of 1 year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience within the last 5 years in a profession related to the job offer, except for candidates who are international students who have graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.

Educational Requirements:

• • You must have a one-year Canadian post-secondary educational credential or higher, or the equivalent from outside Canada if you have a job offer at TEER 0 or 1 category;
  • You must have a Canadian high school diploma, or the equivalent from outside Canada if you have a job offer at TEER 2, 3 or 4 category.

Language Requirements:

• • You must meet the minimum language requirements of your job offer when you apply;
    • • CLB / NCLC 5 for job offer in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 category;
      • CLB / NCLC 4 for job offer in TEER 4 category.

Caregivers Program

The Caregiver program is a pilot immigration program launched in 2019 that opens the pathway for Home Child Care Providers and Home Support Workers for permanent residence in Canada. As a caregiver, you may either choose to become a permanent resident or work temporarily in Canada. 

Under these new pilot programs, Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker, Canada accepts a maximum of 2,750 applicants per pilot program for a total of 5,500 applicants per year excluding their immediate family members. The Home Child Care Providers are the individuals such as a nanny or babysitter or child care live-in caregiver who provide care for children either in their own home or at an employer’s home whereas Home Support Workers are the individuals such as family caregiver or live-in caregiver - seniors who provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and recovering clients in the employer’s home.

Through these pilot programs, caregivers get an open work permit which:

• • • Is occupation-restricted
    • Doesn’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
    • Lets you gain the work experience required for permanent residence.

Gaining Experience Category

If you have never worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada or have less than 12 months of work experience, you can apply to this category. You have to submit work permit and PR application together. Your work permit application will be processed first in order for you to gain the required work experience for PR. To be eligible to apply under this category, you must:

• Have a valid, full-time job offer either for a Home child Care Provider or Home Support Worker
• Score at least CLB / NCLC 5 in all four skills of an approved language test
• Have completed a post-secondary credential of at least 1 year (or equivalent)
• Not be employed by embassy, high commission, or consulate and the employer must not be in Quebec
• Be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the job

Refugees and Asylum

Refugees are individuals who have fled their country or country of habitual residence because of a well-founded fear of persecution due to race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion. People who have a well-founded fear of persecution or who are at risk of torture, or cruel or unusual punishment in their home countries can seek for a refugee status in Canada. 

We provide services to people making refugee protection claims from within Canada. Our team of experts can provide the required consultation, help you complete your basis of claim form, gather supporting documents, and present your case. Once your claim is submitted, we monitor the case and provide help as required until a decision is made on your claim. 

Canadian Citizenship

Getting the Canadian permanent residence is the first step towards obtaining the citizenship in Canada. Applicants must have fulfilled the following requirements to become a naturalized citizen of Canada:

• • • Be a permanent resident;
    • Have lived in Canada for at least 3 years (1,095 days) out of the last 5 years;
    • Have filed personal income taxes for at least 3 years within the five-year period, if required;
    • Prove your language skills (if you are between the ages of 18 and 54);
    • Pass a Canadian citizenship test (if you are between the ages of 18 and 54);

We can help you review your eligibility, complete your application, and prepare you for your citizenship test and ceremony. Once you obtain your citizenship, we can also assist you to apply for your Canadian passport.