PERMANENT RESIDENCE
EXPRESS ENTRY
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Express Entry is a completely electronic process involving the federal government, provincial governments, and Canadian employers. Express Entry is used to manage applications for permanent residence under these federal economic immigration programs:
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Federal Skilled Worker Program
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Federal Skilled Trades Program
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Canadian Experience Class
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Provinces and territories can also recruit candidates from the Express Entry system through their Provincial Nominee Programs to meet local labour market needs. Ministerial Instructions set out the rules for governing the Express Entry application management system. The Express Entry system has two steps:
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Potential candidates complete an online Express Entry profile
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The highest-ranking candidates in the pool will be invited to apply for permanent residence
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Following are the updates in Express Entry system:
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earn additional points for study in Canada
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a valid job offer now only needs to be for one year, and some job offers no longer need an LMIA
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the amount of points for a job offer has changed
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now have 90 days to apply instead of 60.
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FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER
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The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is a great opportunity for you as a foreign national to apply for Canadian permanent residence.
As of January 1, 2015, potential candidates interested in applying to the Federal Skilled Workers Program, must go through the Express Entry system. These people have to complete an online Express Entry profile, and meet the criteria to get into the pool of candidates.
As an employer, if you want to hire a skilled worker using this system, you can greatly improve their chances of success by making a qualifying job offer in a skilled occupation.
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IRCC (CIC) assesses federal skilled worker applications based on six selection factors:
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English and/or French skills,
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education,
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work experience,
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age,
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arranged employment, and
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adaptability.
In order to qualify under the Federal Skilled Worker Program, applicants must score 67 out of 100 points.
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FEDERAL SKILLED TRADE
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An increasing number of people are applying under the Federal Skilled Trade Program. The Skilled Trades Program is for individuals who want to become Permanent Residents of Canada on being qualified in a skill trade. You can apply if your are currently in Canada or apply from outside of Canada. To be eligible an individual require a Provincial Trades Person Certification, OR have a valid job offer and a Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) in support of the job offer.
The Federal Trades Class Program is for workers in the following occupations below:
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Industrial, electrical and constructions trades;
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Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
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Supervisors and technical occupations in natural resources, agriculture and related production;
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Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators
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Chefs and cooks, and
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Butchers and bakers.
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An applicant must show they performed the duties outlined in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC. The NOC is a system used by the Government of Canada to classify occupations. Occupations are grouped based on the type of work an individual does and the type of job duties.
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CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS
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The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a popular immigration category for Canada’s foreign workers who wish to become permanent residents. Temporary foreign workers are ideal candidates for Canadian immigration (permanent residence). Having obtained Canadian work experience, these individuals might have already settled into Canadian society and established important networks in their communities and their careers.Since January 2015, Canadian Experience Class applications are processed through the Express Entry selection system for immigration to Canada.
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Eligible candidates must make an expression of interest in immigrating to Canada, create an online Express Entry profile, and receive an Invitation to Apply for permanent residence before they may make an application.
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For many international graduates, the Canadian Experience Class offers the fastest and most simple path to achieving permanent residence. After completing a program or course of study at a Canadian educational institution, many international graduates are able to remain in the country on post-graduate work permits. If, during this time, a graduate obtains at least one year of work in a skilled, professional or technical field, they may then become eligible to enter the Express Entry pool under the Canadian Experience Class.
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PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM
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The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) allow Canadian provinces and territories to nominate individuals who wish to immigrate to Canada and who are interested in settling in a particular Province or Territory.
Canadian provinces (except Quebec, which has a different selection system) and territories have their own unique Provincial Nominee Programs. Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has agreements with multiple Provinces and Territories which allows the Provinces and Territories to select immigrants who meet the requirements they have set forth.
Provincial and territorial governments have been using these PNP programs to streamline the potential immigrants to their regions. These programs are designed to meet Province's/Territory's specific needs by selecting nominees who will be able to settle into life and work in the region and to effectively contribute to the community. As of 2015, most PNPs contain at least one immigration stream aligned with the federal Express Entry immigration selection system.
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START-UP VISA
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The Start-Up Visa program grants Permanent Residency to immigrant entrepreneurs while assisting them to become established in Canada. Successful applicants link with private sector organizations in Canada, where they can receive funding, guidance and expertise in opening and operating their enterprise in Canada. The purpose of this program is to recruit innovative foreign national entrepreneurs who will create new jobs and drive economic growth.
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Why Canada is best place to build your business:
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a strong economy
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low taxes and low business costs
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excellence in research and innovation
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a high quality of life
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SELF-EMPLOYED
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As a Self Employed person, you must have relevant experience in cultural activities, athletics or farm management. You must also have the intention and ability to establish a business that will, at a minimum, create an employment opportunity for yourself. You must make a significant contribution to cultural activities or athletics or purchase and manage a farm in Canada.
Conditions of permanent residence are not imposed on Self Employed persons. You must have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada.
"Self Employed person" means a foreign national who has relevant experience and has the intention and ability to be Self Employed in Canada and to make a significant contribution to specified economic activities in Canada
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"Relevant experience" means in respect of a Self Employed person, at least two years of one of the following types of experience in the period beginning five years before the date of application for a permanent resident visa and ending on the day a determination is made in respect of the application, namely:
a) Self-employment in cultural activities or in athletics
b) Participation at a world-class level in cultural activities or athletics
c) Farm management experience
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"Specified economic activities" means in respect of a Self Employed person means cultural activities, athletics or the purchase and management of a farm.
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IMMIGRANT INVESTOR VENTURE CAPITAL
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The new Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program is part of a series of transformational changes that build on the Canadian Government’s commitment to build a fast and flexible economic immigration system.
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If you are an international investor with the skills and abilities needed to integrate into Canadian society and contribute to our economy, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program.
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In addition to making an investment of $2 million for a period of 15 years and having a net worth of $10 million, immigrant investors will be required to meet certain program eligibility criteria related to language and education, and have proven business or investment experience. This will ensure that immigrant investors will have a strong impact on the Canadian economy, and that those admitted for permanent residence will be well prepared to integrate into the Canadian business landscape and society.
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FAMILY SPONSORSHIP
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If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada, you can sponsor your following family members to immigrate to Canada:
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spouse,
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common-law or conjugal partner, or
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dependent children
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You must provide proof that you can:
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meet basic needs—such as food, clothing and shelter—for yourself and your family,
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support your relative financially and
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make sure your spouse or relative does not need to ask for financial help from the government.
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You may also be able to sponsor your parent or grandparent to become a permanent resident under the Family Class (FC).
If you sponsor your parent or grandparent to come to Canada as a permanent resident, you must make every reasonable effort to provide for your own essential needs and those of your parent or grandparent. You are responsible for supporting your parent or grandparent financially when he or she arrives. As a sponsor, you must make sure your parent or grandparent does not need to seek social assistance from the government.
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If you are a citizen or permanent resident of Canada and at least 18 years old, you may be able to sponsor certain relatives to immigrate under the Family Class.
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You must:
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be able to meet basic needs—such as food, clothing and shelter—for yourself and your relative,
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support your relative financially when he or she arrives, and
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make sure your spouse or relative does not need to ask for financial help from the government.
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PROTECTED PERSON AND CONVENTION REFUGEE
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In Canada, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) decide who is a Protected Person. If the IRB determined you to be a person in need of protection or a Convention refugee or if you received a positive decision on your Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA) from CIC, you are Protected Person and may apply for permanent residence with this application.
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You may also apply for permanent residence with this application if you are a member of the Protected Temporary Residents Class (PTRC). Protected Temporary Residents are individuals admitted to Canada on a temporary resident permit and who have been determined to be in urgent need of protection by a visa office.
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HUMANITARIAN & COMPASSIONATE GROUNDS
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This application is for persons in Canada who would suffer excessive hardship if they had a return to their home country to apply for permanent residence in Canada as required by the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Cost and inconvenience are not considered excessive hardship.
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Failed refugee applicants
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Survivors of human trafficking
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Family members of refugees or permanent residents
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Stateless persons
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Victims of domestic violence who left a family sponsorship
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People who cannot be removed because of a risk
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CAREGIVER
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There are three ways to apply for permanent residence through the Caregiver Program:
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Caring for Children Pathway - A pathway to permanent residence for caregivers who have provided child care in a home)
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Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway - A pathway to permanent residence for caregivers who have provided care for the elderly or those with disabilities or chronic disease in a health facility or in a home.
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Live-in Caregiver Program - A pathway to permanent residence for live-in caregivers who are already working in Canada with a Live-in Caregiver Program work permit, as well as caregivers who are approved for their first Live-in Caregiver Program work permit based on an employer's positive Labour Market Impact Assessment application that was submitted to Service Canada on or before November 30, 2014.
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REFUGEE SPONSORSHIP
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Sponsorship Agreement Holders and their Constituent Groups - who wish to sponsor refugees seeking resettlement. Sponsorship Agreement Holders are religious, ethnic, community or service organizations, which have signed an agreement with the Minister, and are already approved to sponsor refugees.
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Groups of Five - or more Canadians or permanent residents who wish to sponsor refugees coming to Canada. A Group of Five must provide a settlement plan and prove that it has the money to sponsor a refugee for one year.
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Community Sponsors - who wish to sponsor refugee(s) living outside of Canada.
A Community Sponsor may be:
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An organization,
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An association, or
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A corporation.
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It is not necessary that the organization, association or corporation be incorporated under federal or provincial law.
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