Moving to Canada is seamless. On this page, you will find different ways
through which your dream move will be actualized.
Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSW)
Skilled Workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other factors. These things often help them succeed in Canada. As a skilled worker or professional, you could consider migrating under the following options;
- Federal Skilled Worker Class – For applicants with federal skilled work experience that require a college diploma or training as an apprentice or university degree or management positions in Canada. Applicants under this category must have at least one year of paid experience in a skilled occupation and fulfill certain criteria including a language test.
- Federal skilled Trades Class – For workers with qualifications and experience in a trade in demand, identified under certain sections of the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.
Applicants must have at least two years paid experience in the previous five years, and have either a job offer for a full year or a certificate of qualification. - Quebec Selected Skilled Worker – Skilled workers who want to become permanent residents of Canada and live in Quebec can apply for permanent residence under this process.
Quebec has a special agreement on immigration with the government of Canada. The province has its own rules for choosing immigrants who will adapt well to living there.
Family Sponsorship Program
People who are up to 18 years old and are Canadian citizens, registered in Canada as Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, or are Canadian Permanent Residents can sponsor certain relatives (spouse, parents/grandparents, a minor child and an only surviving relative) to come to Canada.
Business Immigration Class (Federal)
- Self-employed persons program – To qualify as a self-employed person, you must have two years of relevant experience and show that you intend to become self-employed in Canada. You must also score at least 35 points on a selection grid designed to determine whether you will be able to make an economic contribution to Canada.
- Start-up visa program – The start-up visa program was first launched in 2013. It was announced as a business immigration program that did not require any minimum investment or net worth. Under this program, a person that has a good business idea can secure Canadian permanent residence for himself/herself and the members of his/her family.
To participate in the program, one must meet four eligibility requirements.
- Have sufficient settlement funds in your possession
- Have at least one year of post-secondary education
- Demonstrate sufficient proficiency in French or English through standard testing (equal to Canadian Language Benchmark level 5)
Canadian Start-up visa program aims to attract global entrepreneurial talent, expand startup geography, create jobs for Canadians, boost the country’s economy, and turn it into a robust leader in cutting-edge state-of-the-art technologies. Keep this in mind as you prepare your business plan.
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
This program offers permanent residency to those with at least 12 months skilled work experience in Canada in the three years before they apply. They must pass a language and a medical test.
Quebec Experience Class Program (SPPS)
Individuals who have work experience in Quebec, or who have studied in Quebec, may be eligible for the Quebec Experience Class program through Immigration Quebec. This program is known in French as the Programme de l’expérience Québécoise, or PEQ. This program has some of the fastest processing times of all Canadian immigration programs.
All programs under Immigration Quebec require two steps for processing. First, an applicant is required to submit an application for an Immigration Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) and then submit an application to receive their Canadian immigration visa from the Federal government. The Federal government will only assess an application for security and criminal and medical background checks.
To be eligible for this program, the applicant must be at least 18 years old and intend to permanently settle in the province of Quebec. There are two streams under this immigration program, one for foreign students and one for foreign workers, they are described below:
The foreign student stream under the Quebec Experience Class requires that the applicant:
- Graduated from, or will be graduating shortly from, a school in Quebec and studied in a program of at least two years in length. Please note that not all type of Quebec diplomas make a foreign student eligible for the PEQ program.
- Be able to provide for yourself and your spouse or any dependent children for at 3 months after you have been granted permanent residency in Quebec
- Demonstrate at least an advanced intermediate level of oral French by providing your results from a standardized test. If you have any of the following documents instead, you do not need to submit a language test:
- Proof that you completed at least 36 months of secondary or post-secondary full time education in French by submitting an academic transcript
- Proof of completing an advanced-intermediate level French course from an institution recognized by Quebec’s education ministry through submitting an academic transcript
- Proof that you have met the language requirements governing their professional order in Quebec
NOTE: In cases where more than 36 months have passed since your graduation from a Quebec institution and the date when you submit your application for the PEQ, you are ineligible for the program.
The foreign worker stream under the Quebec Experience Class requires that the applicant:
- Completed at least twelve months of work experience in Quebec in a managerial, professional or skilled position within the 2 years preceding the date of application. The job you held must be on the list of occupations eligible for this program.
- Are currently working and have legal status as a temporary resident in Quebec
- Demonstrate at least an advanced intermediate level of oral French through a standardize test, or submit alternative documentation (see foreign student section for details).
- Demonstrate that you can support yourself and your spouse and dependent children, if applicable, for at least three months after you are granted permanent residency in Quebec.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Workers can be nominated for permanent residency based on the immigration needs of a specific province and the applicant’s intention to settle there. Most provinces and territories in Canada can nominate immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These immigrants must have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of that province or territory, and must want to live there.
Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and criteria for their PNP. For example in a program stream, provinces and territories may target entrepreneurs, investors willing to invest and start business in Canada, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers, students and business people, .
Since January 1, 2015, many provinces have launched new Express Entry streams.
