Top Ways to Immigrate to Canada in 2023

These are the most popular ways to Immigrate to Canada in 2023

Express Entry

Express Entry is a points based system for skilled workers to immigrate to Canada permanently. It is the most popular way to immigrate to Canada.

To be eligible for Express Entry, an applicant must meet the minimum requirements for one of the three federal immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Once an individual meets the minimum requirements for one of these programs they will create an online profile in the Express Entry system. The profile will be ranked based on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) which assigns points based on factors such as:

• age
• education
• work experience
• language proficiency

The highest-ranking profiles are invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws from the Express Entry pool.

The processing time for Express Entry applications is around six months but it’s important to note that meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to apply.

Family Sponsorship

Family sponsorship is a way for Canadian citizens or permanent residents to sponsor family members for immigration to Canada.

The family member being sponsored must be a:

• spouse
• partner
• dependent child
• parent
• grandparent
• sibling
• nephew
• niece

The Canadian sponsor must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• being at least 18 years old
• being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• having enough income to support the sponsored family member
• sign an undertaking promising to provide for the basic needs of the sponsored family member

The sponsored family member must also meet the following eligibility requirements:

• passing medicals
• police checks

The processing time for family sponsorship applications is around 12-14 months from start to finish and it’s important to note the sponsorship is a legally binding contract and the sponsor will be held financially responsible for the sponsored person during the undertaking period.

Study Permit

A study permit is a document allows international students to study in Canada. It is a separate document from a Canada visa.

To be eligible for a study permit, an individual must:

• have been accepted to a designated learning institution (DLI) in Canada
• have sufficient funds to pay for tuition, living expenses, and return transportation
• pass a medical examination, if required
• have no criminal record and not be a security risk
• be able to convince an immigration officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their studies

International students who hold a valid study permit can work part time during their study and full time during holiday periods. Their spouse or partner can also work full time in Canada without restrictions if their partner is studying in Canada on a Study permit.

International students are eligible to apply for post-graduation work permit (PGWP) which allows them to work in Canada for up to three years after completing their studies. The length of the PGWP depends on the length of their study program. They can also apply for permanent residence through programs like Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Express Entry.

Work Permit

A Canada work permit allows foreign nationals to work in Canada. To be eligible for a work permit, an individual must:

• have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)
• meet the specific requirements of the job and the Canadian immigration regulations
• pass a medical examination, if required
• have no criminal record and not be a security risk
• be able to convince an immigration officer that they will leave Canada at the end of their work permit

Open work permits allow the holder to work for any employer in Canada. Employer specific work permits restrict the holder to work only for the specific employer named on the permit.

Work permit holders may be eligible to apply for permanent residence through programs like Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Express Entry.

Business Immigration

Business immigration programs are designed to attract individuals who have the skills and experience to start a business or invest in Canada and contribute to its economic growth.

There are several business immigration programs in Canada, including:

• Start-up Visa
• Self-Employed Persons Program
• Quebec Investor Program
• Quebec Entrepreneur Program

Each program has its own specific requirements such as:

• minimum net worth
• investment amount
• business experience
• language proficiency

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow each province of Canada to nominate immigrants based on the economic needs of each individual province. Each province in Canada has its own PNP incluiding:

• Skilled Worker Stream: for individuals with specific work experience and qualifications
• Business Stream: for entrepreneurs and business owners
• International Graduate Stream: for recent graduates of Canadian post-secondary institutions
• Family Stream: for individuals with family connections in the province

Applicants who are nominated by a province through a PNP program can then apply for permanent residence to the federal government.

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