Last Updated on June 25, 2024
Top 5 Canadian Immigration Programs for 2024
In 2023, Canada continues to rank as the top country to live in, and immigration to Canada remains a dream to relocate to for millions of people across the globe. In this article, we will guide you about the top 5 Canadian Immigration Programs in 2023.
Lately, immigration to Canada has become more challenging because the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has set higher standards. Applicants now have to deal with many programs, complicated forms and extended waiting periods for their applications to be processed. This applies to both the federal and provincial governments’ processing of applications.
Explore the best pathways to a new life in Canada with our guide to the Top 5 Immigration Programs in 2023, helping you find one that aligns with your goals and qualifications. Jane Katkova & Associates has over 20 years of successful immigration experience. With counsel that prides itself on helping people come to Canada, we can assist you in navigating through the following program and answering any immigration inquiries you might have.
1. Express Entry Application
Express Entry, run by Canada’s Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Department (IRCC), processes skilled workers’ applications. It’s vital to Canada’s strategy for attracting skilled talent.
This competitive system ranks eligible candidates and invites those with the highest scores to apply for Canadian permanent residency. Factors like age, education, language skills, and work experience determine the rankings.
The system manages three main Federal economic programs:
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Applying to Express Entry is a two-step process.
The first step is to submit your profile, which requires:
English or French Test Results
Education credential assessment
Your passport or travel documents
The next step comes after the IRCC selects your profile and you receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). You will have 60 days from the moment you receive the ITA to send in your comprehensive application for permanent residence. This application should include evidence of your professional skills, reference letters, educational background, language proficiency, identity documents, police clearances, and information about your spouse, if applicable.
2. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Immigration to Canada can be tailored to fit the needs of Canadian provinces that target specific skills. PNP programs are jointly administered by provincial and federal governments and serve provinces’ interests in workers or entrepreneurs who have particular skills and experience in demand by the province.
Each province and territory has its own “streams” and requirements.
Provinces create custom programs based on their needs. This makes the immigration process quicker, letting you come to Canada sooner to work in your field of expertise. To qualify for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you usually have to live in the province where the program is available and have a job offer. Some examples of the Provincial Programs are:
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
British Columbia PNP (BS PNP)
Nova Scotia PNP ( NSNP)
PNP programs answer the demands of the labour market while increasing the pool of candidates to choose from.
3. Family Class Sponsorship
Another option for immigration to Canada is the Family class sponsorship. The program allows Canadians to sponsor their family members to come through the immigration to Canada process to live in Canada permanently.
To be a sponsor, you have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. As a sponsor, you can bring to Canada:
Your spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
Your child is under the age of 22. Particular circumstances might allow you to sponsor children who are over the age limit
Your parents or grandparents
There are no financial requirements to sponsor your spouse or a dependent child to Canada. There are a set of financial requirements to bring your parents or grandparents to Canada.
Currently, it is not possible to use the family class sponsorship program to sponsor your parents or grandparents for immigration to Canada since the program is not accepting applications.
However, your parents and grandparents can explore the option of coming to Canada under the Super Visa Category.
4. Work Permit
When starting their journey to Canada, many applicants first secure a job opportunity in this country. This not only helps them gain Canadian work experience but also improves their chances in the immigration process to Canada.
One can obtain the work permit in several ways:
LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) based Work Permit
LMIA Exempt Work Permit
In situations where a Work Permit is LMIA-based, the applicant’s potential Canadian employer first applies for an LMIA on the worker’s behalf. The employer’s LMIA should be approved by Service Canada for the worker to apply for a work permit.
Applying for LMIA, the employer must prove the essential need for a foreign worker to do the job and the unavailability of Canadians to do the job. The worker can apply for a work permit after getting the LMIA approval. While the process can be intricate, it is worth noting for many individuals, the work permit route leads to obtaining a Canadian Permanent Residency.
5. Business Immigration
The Canadian business immigration programs aim to create new opportunities in local markets by welcoming those with the skills and experience to help grow and expedite the process of immigration to Canada. The following programs and visas are designed to attract entrepreneurs, self-employed and businesspersons who aren’t Canadian citizens. Each program is designed for a specific type of business immigrant with a particular purpose in Canada.
Self-Employed Program: The Self-Employed program is aimed at applicants with self-employed experience and the intention and ability to create their own employment and contribute significantly to Canada’s cultural or athletic activity.
Start-up Visa: The Start-up Visa Program is one of Canada’s primary Business Immigration pathways. To qualify for this visa, applicants must have a qualifying start-up business in Canada, a letter of support from a designated organization, meet the Level 5 Canadian Language Benchmark in English or French, and bring sufficient settlement funds.
PNP Entrepreneur Visa Streams: The Provincial Entrepreneur Visas grant holders permanent resident status and the authority to live and run a business in Canada. Qualification requirements vary by province, but typically the foreign investor must have at least three years of experience in running a business acquired five years preceding the date you submitted your application. Working in actual and full-time capacities, assuming responsibilities and duties related to business management, etc.
While the process of immigration to Canada can be tricky, the benefits of living in Canada make it a worthwhile journey. If you need assistance with Immigration to Canada and identifying the program that would best fit you, we at Jane Katkova & Associates will utilize our experience of the success of over 20 years to assist you.
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Contact Canadian Immigration Experts
Jane Katkova & Associates – Canadian Immigration, Global Mobility Experts are Canadian Immigration Experts. Call us at +1 (416) 661-4487 or fill out a contact form to learn more about the Top 5 Canadian Immigration Programs in 2023.
