Applying for Canadian immigration can be complicated. With more than 60 immigration programs to choose from, there’s a lot of research to do before choosing the right program for yourself. Moreover, there are hundreds of other things to consider to ensure you’re the right person for the program you’ve picked. To help you with your immigration research, here’s a list of the most common Canadian immigration programs.

 

person travelling with bagsExpress Entry

Express Entry is one of the most popular immigration programs. The program is helping people within and outside of the country to become permanent residents of Canada. It ranks each candidate based on the following:

  • Age
  • Work Experience
  • Education
  • Language Abilities

It has three different programs:

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

There are four steps to the process:

  1. Finding out if you’re eligible– The very first step is to check if you’re eligible for Express Entry. As there are three different programs under the Express Entry, you’ll have to see which program you are most suitable for. You can fill out this form to check your eligibility. If you’re eligible, you will receive a set of guidelines for how to proceed.
  2. Getting your documents ready– You’ll require a lot of documents for the application process. Make sure you already have all of them before you dive into the process.
  3. Submitting your profile– Once you’ve received all the documents required, you’ll have to create your Express Entry profile. You’ll be accepted into the pool of candidates, once you’ve completed and submitted the profile, which will be ranked based on the points received on the factors mentioned above.
  4. Receiving an invitation and applying for PR– If you have one of the highest scores in the pool, you’ll receive an invitation to apply. You’ll have to complete your application for permanent residence and submit it within 60 days.

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Each province in Canada has its immigration program known as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), except Quebec. These programs aim to meet the deficit in labour supply to maintain economic growth in the provinces. Each PNP looks for the people in demand in the province and helps meet the labour deficit.

Volunteers from the local community

To apply for the program. You need to first meet the eligibility criteria and requirements of the program, which may vary from province to province. Once a PNP nominates you, you’ll receive 600 points on your CRS, which is a confirmation that you’ll receive an invitation for PR.

Rural Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP)

The program aims to upgrade smaller communities through economic immigration, which eventually leads to permanent residence. To be eligible for the program, you need to meet the specific requirements of the communities under the program. To apply for permanent residence, there are additional program requirements and the community recommendation process. Following are the steps to apply for RNIP:

  1. Finding out if you’re eligible– To check if you’re eligible, go through the eligibility requirements of the IRCC and that of your specific community.
  2. Finding an eligible job– If you meet the criteria, find a job in a participating community.
  3. Submitting your application– Upon receiving your job offer, apply for the application of recommendation to the community you’ve chosen and applied to the job for.
  4. Applying for permanent residence– If the community recommends you, apply for your permanent residence.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program

It’s a fast-track immigration program for the following Atlantic provinces of Canada:

  • Nova Scotia
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Prince Edward Island

It’s an employer-driven immigration program to help meet the labour demand in the Atlantic provinces of Canada. The employers will provide qualified applicants with jobs. These candidates will also be provided with a settlement plan to help them settle in with their families.

Quebec Skilled Worker Visa

Skilled workers who want to settle in Quebec must apply for permanent status through this program. Once the candidate has applied for the program, they’ll receive points based on several factors.

A man riding a horse cart in Quebec City, Canada

Upon receiving the number of required points, the candidate will receive a Quebec Selection Certificate. Once the candidate has received the certificate, they can apply for permanent residency in Canada.

One of the most important requirements of the programs is that the candidate may be able to read, speak and write French.

About the Author

The author is a Canadian immigration lawyer associated with Nanda and Associate Lawyers Professional Corporation. He’s well versed in Canadian sponsorship and immigration programs, processes, and laws. He’s a well-known lawyer for cases like parents’ sponsorship and spousal sponsorship in Mississauga. He aims to reunite families and help immigrants build a life in Canada.

If you’re looking for legal help or advice for immigration to Canada, book a free consultation with Nanda and Associate Lawyers Professional Corporation.