The 6 Best Ways to Immigrate to Canada

Last Updated On: January 13, 2022 by The Migration Translators

Canada is one of the safest countries in the world and has numerous employment opportunities.  There are several different ways to immigrate to Canada. From 2019, it was announced that over the coming years Canada has room for 1 million new immigrants.  It is just a matter of following the most suitable route to take advantage of this opportunity so that you can fulfill your dreams and take advantage of immigration opportunities to Canada.

Express Entry

Express entry is a Canadian migration program that helps a skilled worker to migrate to Canada as a permanent resident. It selects candidates based on age, education, language fluency, work experience, and educational level. Express entry allows workers to include family members in the application. It is also called ‘express’ because it only takes up to four months to complete the process in most cases.

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, not including Quebec, is responsible for its own migration to Canada program. This is known as the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). It permits provinces to respond to individual economic requirements by nominating selected candidates for permanent residency. Often, a PNP seeks out overseas workers who have experience in jobs that are in great demand in their province. For example, Saskatchewan just recently altered its PNP because it wanted to nominate extra computer programmers. As all provinces have different PNP demands if you wish to migrate using this route you should check your eligibility by checking through each province’s website. Citizenship and immigration to Canada are possible if you follow the route that is appropriate for your situation.

Becoming an International Student

International students choose Canada because schools and universities offer quality education at affordable prices and Canadians like international students. Once a course has been successfully completed students may be able to apply for immigration to Canada through the permanent residency program. 

The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP)

The 1917 Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) helps to bring additional workers to Canada’s Atlantic districts. The program allows employers in this area to hire international workers from other countries. Once a job offered has been received the worker can come to Canada and begin work.

Migrating for employment with a work permit

There are 2 categories of work permits which are called open work permits and employer work sponsored permits.

You may be eligible for an open work permit if you:

• are an international student who has graduated from a nominated learning institution and has the eligibility to take part in the Post-Graduation Work Permits Programs;
• are a student with insufficient money to pay study costs;
• possess an employer-related work permit and have been subject to abuse at your workplace;
• applied for Canadian permanent residency; 
• are a family member who is dependent on somebody who has applied for permanent residency;
• are the common-law partner or spouse of an international student or skilled worker 
• are the common-law partner or spouse of an Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program applicant;
• are a refugee claimant, refugee, a protected person or a family member of one;
• are under a removal order which is unenforceable; 
• possess a temporary resident permit;
• are a younger worker taking part in special programs;
• in all the above situations additional criteria may apply.

Migrate to Canada with your family

Family immigration to Canada is possible through some of the country’s immigration programs that permit you to bring your family when you immigrate to Canada. You just have to choose your immigration category and include your family in the application.  You may also be able to use Canada’s reunification category for your family especially if you want to bring parents and grandparents to join you. 

The immigration programs such as express entry and business immigration do allow family immigration to Canada. Some of the non-permanent visa programs designated for study or work may allow family members to be included in the application. If the program allows families to be included you should be able to include on your application your spouse or your common-law partner and all your dependent children up to 21 years of age. 

Sometimes, 22-year-olds are allowed as part of a family’s immigration to Canada if their family is their only means of financial support. It is not usual to allow siblings, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces or cousins to be part of your family.  Parents and grandparents are entitled to sponsorship through the Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program (PGP).  This is in high demand and numbers are restricted.