Immigrate to Canada

Skilled Immigration

Skilled Immigration consists of various streams:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW): Professionals such as Bankers (NOC 10021), Advertising, Marketing and Public Relations Managers (NOC 10022), Advertising and Marketing professionals (NOC 11202), Financial Auditors and Accountants (NOC 11100), Accounting technicians and Bookkeepers (NOC 12200), Financial Managers (NOC 10010), Engineering Managers (NOC 20010), Engineers  (NOC 21300, 21301, 21310, 21311, 21320, 21321, 21322, 21330, 21331), including Software Engineers and Software Developers (NOC 21231, 21232), Purchasing Managers (NOC 10012) and many others fall under this stream.

• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): This stream is for trades professionals like Cooks (NOC 63200), Chefs (NOC 62200), Bakers (NOC 63202), Electricians (NOC 72200), Plumbers (NOC 72300), Butchers (NOC 63201) etc.
• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for those in Canada having one year of in-Canada work experience at least

These immigrants are skilled workers, who are in demand in Canada, due to a shortage of well-qualified and experienced individuals either in a professional or technical role or managerial capacity, as well as trade skills.

To qualify, an applicant must have at least one year of work experience in the last 10 years (minimum two years required for Trades Skills professionals under FSTP) in one of the occupations listed in NOC – National Occupational Classification at an appropriate skill level and must score 67 points based on Age, Education, Language Ability (IELTS or CELPIP exams for English or TEF/ TCF exams for French), Work Experience, and other Adaptability factors such as close relative in Canada or previous study/ work in Canada of self or spouse.

Those candidates who are eligible can create their profile in the Canadian government system called Express Entry. Each individual is then ranked on a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score where they are scored on a total score of 600 based on their core factors. Additional 600 points are reserved for 1. Those who have an approved provincial nomination (600) 2. Those who have an approved employment through a job offer along with a valid Labour Market Impact Assessment / LMIA (200 points), 3. French Language Skills (50), Post Secondary Education in Canada (30), Sibling living in Canada as a PR (15). The top ranking candidates are invited to apply for permanent residence, in every draw that IRCC holds every month or every twice a month.

Business Immigration

Business Immigration/ Entrepreneur Programs were introduced for the business people/ entrepreneurs who will invest in Canada, generate employment and help Canada to build a strong and prosperous economy. This is primarily for those who can demonstrate prior business experience or senior management roles for at least 3-5 years.

Every province has it’s own selection criteria for Entrepreneurs, however as a general rule, an applicant has to show relevant business experience to qualify as an entrepreneur immigrant and has to show a net worth of $500,000- $600,000 Canadian Dollars earned through legal means. An applicant is also required to meet minimum points (cut off for each province for their Entrepreneur program draws may differ) to qualify, based on their age, qualification, business experience, net worth, investment made in the province, location of business and other adaptability factors.

Once you are invited to apply for immigration you can start your business there on a Work Permit and upon fulfilling the required criteria within 12-20 months (depending on the province) you will receive a positive nomination from the province where you have set up your business and based on that you can then apply for and be granted a Permanent Residence visa. While you are in Canada on a Work Permit setting up your business you are allowed to have your spouse accompany you on an Open Work Permit and you can also take your children along on a Study Permit.

Self Employed Person

Self-employed person’s immigration program is designed to attract foreign nationals who have the capability of employing themselves and contributing to sports, athletics or cultural activities in Canada. An applicant must have:

• At least two years of full-time experience as a self-employed professional in the last 5 years.
• Been self-employed in cultural or athletics activities
• Taken part in such activities at a world-class level

Apart from the above you have to also meet a minimum score of 35 on the points system based on the below criteria.

The selection criteria for a visa as a Self-Employed person is based on your experience, education, age, language ability and other adaptability factors. Maximum points are allocated to experience and hence that is the primary factor in determining your success under this category.

Some of the professional who can qualify under this are Producers, directors, choreographers, and related occupations, Conductors, composers and arrangers, Musicians and Singers, Dancers, Actors, Athletes, Coaches, Sports officials and Referees and Graphic Designers and Illustrators etc.

Due to the number of applications already being processed and the increasing processing times of over 4 years, IRCC has paused the intake of new applications for this stream from April 30, 2024 till they are able to clear the backlog.

Family Sponsorships

To qualify under this category, the sponsored individual(s) must be directly related to his or her Canadian sponsor in the following ways:

• Spouse, conjugal partner or common-law partner
• Children/adopted children under 18 years
• Parent/ Grandparent