Living in sunny Dubai, with its booming economy, frenetic development and luxurious lifestyle, why would you even consider moving, and not just anywhere — to a remote, cold place somewhere across the ocean? Well, even though it is true that you will have to consider warmer clothing for the winter, Canada has much to offer to compensate for the occasional chill you will catch there.

Canadian lifestyle is fundamentally different from that of Dubai, and it can be either attractive or off-putting depending on your perspective.

Yes, the winters are cold, and yes, they are long, but if you think about it, the climate in Dubai is just as harsh, the only difference is that you’re getting boiled instead of growing icicles under your nose. On the bright side, Canadians have adapted to their climate, just like Dubaians have to theirs. They keep their homes warm and cozy and prefer driving to walking all year round.

Speaking about driving, despite occasional harsh road conditions, it is still safer in Canada. Even though drivers here are considered less cautious than in Europe, strict traffic regulations are in place for those violating the rules, and so overall, speeding and tailgating are less common than in Dubai.

In case you sometimes do fancy leaving the comfort of your private vehicle, and most Canadians do, there are plenty of picturesque national parks, hiking trails and other recreational outdoor opportunities for you to explore. Canada is a wild north, after all. And being so well endowed in natural riches, Canadians are more environmentally conscious. So, if you are not indifferent to the future of our beautiful planet, there are plenty of ways to recycle and promote sustainability.

A proud western culture, Canada offers freedom, and that means nothing like Dubaian bureaucracy, with its endless permits required for everything down to installing satellite TV, or government imposed censorship: in Canada, anything is accessible, the latest movie releases are there to enjoy, but it is up to you to protect yourself from unwanted content and information.

So, supposing life in Canada sounds right up your street, what are the actual benefits of immigrating?

If you are looking into immigrating to Canada, you have probably already noticed some of the undeniable benefits of this choice: its growing economic prosperity, cultural diversity, unmatched tolerance and much more. Canada is, indeed, the land of opportunities. Unlike most other, immigration-wary, countries, Canada is known for building bridges, not obstacles, and creating functional immigration pathways for those who are willing to become part of this proud community and have something to bring to the table.

In addition to multiple job opportunities for skilled workers in such sectors as IT, construction, engineering, etc., Canada also offers the widest variety of educational options for international students. Obtaining Canadian academic credentials is a great way to boost your career opportunities worldwide, and embark on the process of immigration to Canada.

In 2019, Canada was named the third best country in the world for education, coming right after the UK and the USA. This is according to a study conducted by US News & World Report together with Y&R’s BAV and Wharton, with rankings based on 75 different metrics. The same research gave Canada first place for quality of life in the world.

Compared to Dubai, the average cost of living in Canadian cities is lower. Expats from Dubai are used to the highest standards of healthcare services and modern medical facilities, and the good news is that moving to Canada does not mean saying goodbye to that. Every Canadian province has its own healthcare system providing access to free medical services of the highest quality for all Canadians. According to WHO, the average life expectancy in Canada is among the highest in the world at 80 years for men and 84 years for women.

Here, you’ll find an overview of the best, hassle-free pathways to Canadian immigration from Dubai.

Immigrate to start a Business

Start-Up Visa will be the first step towards Canadian permanent residence for Emirati entrepreneurs willing to establish innovation-intensive companies in Canada, implement innovative ideas, and create jobs for Canadians.

To be eligible for the Start-Up Visa Program, entrepreneurs must be accepted into the program offered by a corresponding Canadian business incubator.

An applicant should submit exhaustive information about their proposed Canadian business venture. The application package must contain a business plan and all other relevant information.

The business that applies for the Canadian Start-Up Visa Program must demonstrate financial and marketing ability to contribute to Canada’s economic development, as well as substantiate market/consumer interest in their products or services.

You will also need to score at least 5 points for each language skill: reading, writing, listening and speaking, according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) for either English or French.

Immigrate as a Skilled Professional

Express Entry is the most common way to immigrate to Canada, well-suited for skilled professionals. The system is fairly simple: to qualify you need to score the required number of points, based on multiple factors including education, work experience, language skills, a valid job offer, etc.

Once you get the number of points required by the IRCC, your profile will participate in bi-weekly draws. At this point, you can just wait or try to improve your score by updating your profile.

If your profile is selected by the IRCC, you will get an Invitation to Apply for a Permanent Resident Visa.

Express Entry offers three main streams:

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

What’s the difference and how do they work?

  • The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

This is the best program for skilled workers in categories that are in high demand in Canada. To see if this program suits you, consider the following:

  • Find out if you’re eligible by checking your NOC (National Occupational Classification). NOC is a special system that categorizes all occupations in Canada and assigns them a code and a skill level. Your occupation should have NOC skill level A or B, or skill type 0.
  • Take an approved test in English and/or French (IELTS General, CELPIP General for English, TEF for French), and score at least CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) level 7 in all four basic abilities: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
  • Have your education credentials assessed by an approved Educational Credential Assessment agency.
  • Keep in mind that the IRCC will also consider other factors, such as your age, work experience, etc.

More details on FSWP here: Federal Skilled Worker Program.

  • The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

This stream is for you if you are experienced in a trade, such as technical, industrial, electrical workers, chefs, etc. You’ll need to speak either English or French as well.

However, this program has lower language requirements: English (CLB level 5 for speaking and listening, CLB level 4 for reading and writing) or French (NCLC level 5 for speaking and listening, NCLC level 4 for reading and writing).

You’ll also need:

  • At least 2 years of full-time work experience (or its part-time equivalent) in a skilled trade within the period of 5 years before you apply;
  • An offer of full-time employment for the period of at least one year OR a certificate of qualification in your skilled trade that was issued by a Canadian province, federal or territorial authority.

More details on FSTP here: Federal Skilled Trades Program.

  • The Canadian Experience Class

The last Express Entry stream is designed for workers with at least one year of Canadian work experience obtained in the last three years.

Language requirements vary depending on your NOC.

If you are not eligible to apply under FSWP or FSTP, there’s always a chance you will be able to immigrate under this Class. Why? Because you can come to Canada with a work permit and get the experience required for this program.

Not sure how to apply for a work permit? Find out here: https://canadianimmigrationexperts.ca/work-permit-canada/

If you are still not sure whether you can obtain a work permit, it might be a good idea to travel to Canada as a student (https://canadianimmigrationexperts.ca/study-permit-canada/), and remain on a postgraduate work-permit after you finish your studies.

All in all, there is a multitude of opportunities to consider within the Canadian Experience Class stream, including an interesting Owner/Operator program for those who run their own business in Canada (more here https://canadianimmigrationexperts.ca/owner-operator-lmia-based-work-permit/)

What is more, it is worth looking into Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP) and a whole range of Provincial Nominee Programs (https://canadianimmigrationexperts.ca/provincial-nominee-program/), allowing different provinces and territories to select individuals, who are interested in settling in a particular province/territory and who are capable of contributing to its economic development.

How We Can Help

Since 1995, Jane Katkova & Associates has been providing immigration services to numerous clients. We started a program called Express Entry Assist, which is intended to offer our clients easy and smooth entry to Express Entry. We will help you figure out all requirements for Express Entry, set up your profile and fill out the applications.

Sometimes it’s difficult to tell which program is best in your particular case. This is when consultation with Jane Katkova will be of assistance. We can help tailor a special roadmap to immigration that will work for you, and help you with every step of the process if you chose to do your immigration with us.