Canada is a country in the northern part of North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic to the Pacific and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering 9.98 million square kilometres (3.85 million square miles), making it the world's second-largest country by total area. Canada is ranked as the second-best country in the world behind Germany, from a field of 60 countries for overall sustainability, cultural influence, entrepreneurship, economic influence and most importantly, quality of life. Canada is an immensely large country that is extremely varied in its people, landscape, and climate.
The culture of Canada embodies the artistic, culinary, literary, humour, musical, political and social elements that are representative of Canada and Canadians. The population has also been influenced by American culture because of a shared language, proximity, television and migration between the two countries. Canada is a great place to live and work. Canadians do share important values such as pride, a belief in equality and diversity, and respect for all individuals. It is these values that make Canada known as a friendly, peace-loving, and secure place in which to live.
Canada has two official languages: English and French. English is the mother tongue of about 59% of Canadians, and French the first language of about 23%. Eighteen percent of Canadians either have more than one mother tongue or a mother tongue that is not English or French. Canada's federal institutions reflect the equality of its two official languages by offering bilingual services.
Canada offers many job opportunities in various exciting fields. This has led to many immigrants choosing to work in Canada with the promise of fair salaries and excellent quality of life. It has implemented various immigration and visa options to help skilled foreign workers find work in Canada. Certain occupations such as those in the IT, nursing and medical sectors, transport and farming sectors are not only in high demand but also offer lucrative compensation in specific provinces and territories. Canada has the 11th largest economy in the world, based on nominal Gross Domestic Product. The nation is home to the world's third largest confirmed petroleum reserves, as well as industry minerals, and is rich in minerals like gypsum, limestone, rock salt and potash, coal, and uranium. It's also the third largest exporter of timber in the world.
The Canadian immigration system offers a very wide of immigration programs, for different applicants with different profiles and qualifications – there is an option for everyone – which leads to the acquirement of Canadian permanent resident status. Over the past 30 years, the Canadian Government has had the highest annual quotas of legal immigration of all developed countries, granting an average of 240,000 – 260,000 permanent resident visas each year. This plan supports the government's economic growth strategy by addressing labour and skills shortages, reuniting families sooner, and reducing backlogs.
Why Immigrate to Canada?
Canada has one of the most positive immigration policies in the world. The Canadian Government plans to admit over 200,000 immigrants each year. Canada is a country that cares for its residents. There are a number of Social Welfare programs offered by the State. Canadian resident is entitled under the Canadian Pension Plan to receive a retirement pension. It depends upon the age at which he/she chooses to opt for the plan and is optimal at age 65. It has one of the finest healthcare systems in the world. Excellent hospitals, clinics or doctors' offices are located in most communities. There are 58,900 jobs are created every month in Canada.
Immigration Programs
1. Business Permanent Residence Immigration Programs
Canada welcomes successful business people who are seeking new opportunities and challenges. The Business Immigration Program is designed to encourage and facilitate the admission of these individuals. The Canadian Business Immigration Program aims to create new opportunities in local markets, by welcoming those who have the skill and experience to help grow it. These programs and visas are designed to help promote and develop Canada's economy by attracting entrepreneurs, the self-employed, businesspersons and investors who are not yet Canadian citizens. The major Business Immigration Programs are:
Self-Employed (for people who want to be self-employed in agriculture, sports, or the arts)
Entrepreneur (for people who have experience in owning/managing businesses)
Investor (for people who have an entrepreneurial background and are willing to invest)
Start-up Business
A start-up business must be a new business intended to be operated in Canada which meets the criteria of a qualifying business, meaning that the new start-up business has received a commitment from:
A designated angel investor group confirming that it is investing at least $75,000 in a qualifying business or two or more designated angel investor groups confirming that they are together investing a total of at least $75,000 in such a business
A designated venture capital fund confirming that it is investing at least $200,000 in a qualifying business or two or more designated venture capital funds confirming that they are together investing a total of at least $200,000 in such a business or
A designated business incubator confirms that it is accepting the applicant into its business incubator program.
Qualifying Business
A qualifying business meets the following requirements:
A corporation that is incorporated in and carrying on business in Canada is a qualifying business if, at the time the commitment is made, both of the following are true:
Each applicant holds 10% or more of the voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time
Applicants and the designated entity jointly hold more than 50% of the total voting rights attached to all shares of the corporation outstanding at that time
In order to qualify for the Start-up Business Class, a business should be incorporated and carrying on business in Canada at the time the commitment is made. However, consideration will be made for a qualifying business whose incorporation is conditional upon the attainment of permanent residence by the applicant(s).
Requirements for applicants under the Start-up Business Class
Commitment from a Designated Entity
Ability in English, in French or both
Settlement Funds
If you meet all three requirements indicated above, then you _may__ _qualify to immigrate to Canada under the Start-up Business Class.
2. Family Sponsorship Permanent Residence Immigration Programs
The Super Visa is a Family Sponsorship program that allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents or grandparents for immigration to Canada for an extended period of time. The Super Visa has a duration period of a maximum of up to ten years.
You can sponsor certain relatives to come to Canada if you're at least 18 years old and a:
Canadian citizen or
person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or
permanent resident of Canada
Whom you can sponsor
You can sponsor your spouse, common-law partner, conjugal partner or dependent children.
1. Your spouse
Your spouse can be either sex and must be:
Legally married to you
At least 18 years old
2. Your common-law partner
isn't legally married to you
can be either sex
is at least 18 years old
has been living with you for at least 12 consecutive months, meaning you've been living together continuously for 1 year in a conjugal relationship, without any long periods apart
3. Your conjugal partner
isn't legally married to you or in a common-law relationship with you
can be either sex
is at least 18 years old
has been in a relationship with you for at least 1 year
lives outside Canada
can't live with you in their country of residence or marry you because of significant legal and immigration reasons such as:
their marital status (for example, they're still married to someone else in a country where divorce isn't possible)
their sexual orientation (for example, you are in a same-sex relationship, and same-sex relationships are not accepted, or same-sex marriage is illegal where they live),
persecution (for example, your relationship is between different religious groups which is not accepted and they may be punished legally or socially)
You'll need to give proove that you could not live together or get married in your conjugal partner's country (for example, proof of refused long-term stays in each other's country).
4. Dependent children
Children qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
they're under 22 years old
they don't have a spouse or common law partner
Children 22 years old or older qualify as dependants if they meet both of these requirements:
they are unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition
they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22
If they qualify as a dependent child, you can sponsor:
Immigrate through Express Entry
Express Entry is a system used by the Canadian government to manage Canadian permanent residence applications for filling labour gaps through certain economic immigration programs. Express Entry was launched on January 1, 2015, this immigration system is used to select and communicate with skilled and qualified applicants, and it also manages a pool of immigration ready skilled workers. Express Entry is designed to facilitate express immigration of skilled workers to Canada "who are most likely to succeed economically.
Express Entry is an online system that we use to manage applications for permanent residence from skilled workers. Those who have gained at least two years of full-time work experience in an eligible skilled trade can apply for PR under this program. Under Express Entry, most job offers need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA verifies that Canadian labour market has a need for this type of worker, and that your employer(s) have tried to hire a Canadian or permanent resident first. Under Express Entry, individuals and families wishing to settle in Canada can become new permanent residents within just a few months. It is a system designed to provide fast immigration to Canada.
How Express Entry Works?
Express Entry is an online immigration system which manages skilled workers applications for permanent residence to Canada under federal and certain provincial economic programs.It is not an immigration program in itself, but a method for selecting the best candidates for Canada's existing skilled worker immigration programs. The Express Entry profile acts as an Expression of Interest (EOI). Eligible candidates will automatically receive a score based on their profile and will be ranked against the other candidates in the pool. The ranking score for Express Entry is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) and is out of 1,200 points.
Programs covered under Express Entry
Federal Skilled worker Program
Federal Skilled Workers are persons with suitable education, work experience, age and language abilities under one of Canada's official languages and who are selected under the Express Entry Immigration system to apply for permanent residence. To qualify for admission to the Express Entry Pool as a Federal Skilled Worker , applicants must meet the following conditions:
Possess one-year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment within the previous 10 years
The work experience must be classified within Skill Type 0 (Managerial Occupations), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Occupations and Skilled Trades) within the meaning of the National Occupational Classification system
Score sufficient points under the skilled worker point grid comprising of six selection factors. The current pass mark is 67 points
Undergo language testing from a recognized third party and demonstrate intermediate level language skills in English or French corresponding to the Canadian Language Benchmark of 7)
Possess suitable settlement funding
Undergo a successful security background and medical examination
Federal Skilled Trade Program
Eligibility under the Federal Skilled Trades Class is assessed on a pass or fail basis, with applicants required to fulfil the following four requirements:
Have offers of employment from one or two Canadian employers for a duration of at least one year in an eligible skilled trade (NOC Skill level B), OR Hold certification of qualification for that trade from a Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory body;
Provide evidence of sufficient language proficiency in one of Canada's two official languages;
Have 24 months of work experience in the last five years in the skilled trade, after trade qualification, where applicable;
Be qualified to meet the requirements of the job offer(s) or trade in Canada, as defined by the NOC
The Federal Skilled Trades Class is not open to applicants wishing to establish themselves in the Province of Quebec which has its own authority to select applicants.
The Canadian Experience Class
Individuals who have worked in Canada and who wish to settle permanently in Canada with their accompanying dependants may qualify to apply for Permanent Residence under the Canadian Experience Class.
Eligibility for permanent residence under this class is assessed on a pass-fail basis where the primary criteria are the following:
Candidate has acquired 12 months of full-time work experience in an occupation categorized as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the National Occupation Classification (NOC). Qualifying occupations are those of a managerial, professional, technical or skilled trade nature.
The qualifying Canadian work experience was acquired within the 36 months immediately preceding the date of application;
Candidate demonstrates sufficient proficiency in one of Canada's official languages. The level of proficiency required is determined by the occupation in which the candidate gained qualifying Canadian work experience;
Not be inadmissible to Canada on medical, criminal or security grounds.
Provincial and Territorial Nominee Programs
It is a program that allows provincial and territorial governments to nominate candidates from the Express Entry Pool for permanent residence. Candidates who receive a nomination will get 600 points under the comprehensive ranking system (CRS).
Provinces that wish to nominate an applicant must take the following steps:
Identify a candidate in the Express Entry pool who meets the Express Entry criteria. A provincial government may only choose from amongst the candidates who have indicated an interest in immigrating to the province in their Express Entry profile.
Inform the candidate that he or she will be nominated for permanent residence. After a province expresses interest in nominating a candidate, the candidate has 30 days to accept the nomination.
If the candidate accepts the nomination, he or she will receive 600 comprehensive ranking score points and likely receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
