Visas

HOMEVisas

Canada has become an extremely popular choice for immigrants from around the world. The country offers a high quality of life, beautiful scenery and great educational opportunities. Canada is known for its diversity and for celebrating its multiculturalism. In fact, 22% of Canadian residents are foreign-born and 300,000 foreigners become Canadian permanent residents each year. This diversity contributes to the friendliness that Canadians show toward newcomers and helps to make Canada a hub for cultures, languages, and people from different backgrounds. Apart from its diversity, the Canadian economy is one of the largest in the world and its people are among the most prosperous. Canada has a high demand for skilled workers and is seeking global talent to help fill Canadian job openings. The government views immigrants as important for Canada and has favorable pro-immigration policies and programs that make immigrants feel welcomed. There are several Canadian visa programs available to foreign workers and their families which offer permanent residency to those who qualify. With all that this amazing country has to offer, Canada is likely to remain an attractive immigration destination for many years to come.

Canadian Visa Requirements

Individuals and families immigrate to Canada for various reasons; however, to do so, they need to qualify by fulfilling the requirements for one of the many Canadian immigration programs. Each Canadian visa program has unique requirements, but there are also some standard requirements that usually include the following:

  • Must be at least 18 years old to apply
  • Must be in good health – it is required to provide a medical exam certification
  • Must be of good character – a police certification may need to be provided
  • Must speak English or French satisfactorily – an exam must be conducted to evaluate language skills
  • Government fees must be paid (such as the Canadian Visa Application Fee)
  • Applicants must possess a passport that is valid or an authorized document for travel in its place

Apart from the common Canadian visa requirements, other criteria are uniquely tailored to various immigration programs. There are immigration programs made especially for economic immigrants with work experience, education, French or English skills, and other criteria to be required by employers for specific types of jobs. It should be noted that the majority of Canadian visas for permanent residency issued each year are granted to foreign workers and their families. There are also Canadian immigration programs tailored for families, such as the program for Family Sponsorship, as well as programs for refugees.

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Immigration Consultants

Due to the various Canadian visa programs available, it can be a struggle for someone to know which particular program to apply for, and whether or not they are qualified to meet all of the criteria. For example, some Canadian visa programs are based on a points system or designed for certain categories of foreign workers and specific high-demand jobs in Canada. Each Canadian visa program has a different application procedure, certain documents that need to be provided and there is often a limited amount of time available to complete the process.

If you want to immigrate to Canada, but you are not sure which Canadian visa program to apply for or how to apply correctly, you have the option to ask for help from an authorized immigration consultant. They have the experience and skills to answer your inquiries, examine your details, and advise you on the best Canadian visa option available. It is not necessary to struggle with the complicated process by yourself, when they can simplify the procedure for you and ensure that forms are filled out correctly when they are sent to the Canadian immigration agency. PR Canadiense subcontracts an authorized immigration consultant who can evaluate your eligibility to apply for immigration to Canada. The immigration consultant can also assist you in applying for your best Canadian visa option to make the process easier for you and ensure that it is done correctly and efficiently. Although you can apply for Canadian immigration by yourself, receiving guidance from an authorized immigration consultant can be beneficial to you by helping you to avoid mistakes that could cost you time, effort and money, as well as ensuring that your forms and applications are completed correctly, answering your questions, and making the procedure less complicated.

Canadian Visa Immigration Programs

Here are some examples of the Canadian visa immigration programs available for skilled foreign workers:
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Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The FSWP Canadian visa immigration program is a points-based program. It is specially made for foreign workers with skills as well as work experience. Applicants are required to have worked for:

  • At least one year full-time;
  • In a qualifying job of high demand;
  • With paid work experience;
  • During the past ten years leading to the visa application.

Canada categorizes high-end jobs as having a Skill Level of 0, 1, 2 or 3, using codes given by the country’s 2021 National Occupational Classifications. The applicant needs 67/100 points, at least, and these points are for different six selection factors.

Factors considered include language skills in English and/or French, level of education, age, relevant work experience, adaptability, and qualifying offer given for employment in Canada.

Applicants who meet the qualifications for FSWP may be allowed to apply and be granted Express Entry immigration to Canada.

To learn more about the Federal Skilled Worker Program, click here!

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

Canada is in serious need for foreign tradespeople who are adequately skilled and experienced at what they do. Tradespeople are needed in various occupations.

Thus, the Canadian government created the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) as an initiative to help fill thousands of jobs in Canada that are in high demand and need qualified workers.

Examples of the many trades and skills that are needed include occupations in construction (such as carpenters, electricians, crane operators, mechanics of heavy-duty equipment, plumbers, and welders), operators of power systems, power engineers, sheet metal workers, supervisors of logging sectors and forestry, supervisors of quarrying and mining, repair workers, telecommunications installers – and many other tradesmen.

Professionals seeking to apply for a Canadian visa through the FSTP program will be required to submit a high school diploma at the very least. Additional requirements include any other related training required for the skilled trade that the applicant specialized in, such as certification of vocational school completion, apprenticeship, or training done on-the-job.

Work experience should be minimally two years in duration, full-time, and paid work. The work experience must be from the past five years prior to filing the Canadian visa application.

Applicants that fulfill the eligibility requirements for FSTP may be eligible for Express Entry to Canada.

To learn more about the Federal Skilled Trades Program, click here!

Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

Most of the provinces and territories in Canada have their own Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) that they have created by working together with the Canadian national government.

The PNP facilitates the entry of qualified, skilled immigrants desiring to settle and work in a specific province or territory in Canada where there is a demand for their occupation and skills.

Each Canadian province or territory that is part of the PNP has its own unique eligibility criteria. Usually, there is a two-step process involved in this Canadian immigration program.

First, the skilled worker applies to the PNP in the province or territory of choice. If the application is approved, the qualified workers will be given a nomination certificate from the PNP of that province or territory.

Secondly, after acquiring this nomination, there is an easy process in which application is made to Canada’s national government for the permanent resident visa.

If the applicant is approved for Canadian immigration, he or she will be permitted to live and work in Canada in the province or territory that nominated them.

To learn more about the Provincial Nominee Program, click here!

Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP)

Quebec is Canada’s biggest province, has the country’s second largest population and its economy has the #2 highest GDP after neighboring Ontario.

This French-Canadian region is a unique place to live in Canada, not only because the majority of its residents speak French, but also due to its history, natural beauty and high quality of life.

There is even a special Canadian immigration program created for skilled immigrants with good French language abilities who want to live and work in Quebec as Permanent Residents of Canada.

The points-based Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) generally involves two major steps.

First, a foreign worker who wants to immigrate to Canada and work in Quebec long-term will file an online application for the QSWP, which will include information about his or her education, work experience, age, French and English language abilities, any qualifying job offer in Quebec, financial self-sufficiency, family characteristics, and connection to Quebec (such as family living in Quebec or past visits to the province).

The QSWP application will then be reviewed and points for the different selection factors will be calculated (50/103 points are required for a single applicant and 59/120 points are needed for an applicant with a spouse or partner).

Second, if the Quebec provincial officials determine that the applicant satisfies the eligibility requirements for the QSWP, they will issue a Certificat de sélection du Québec (CSQ) to the applicant, who will now be able to apply for permanent residency with the national Canadian immigration agency which will make the final decision.

Now, the foreign worker will have 60 days to file the Application for Permanent Residency with the Canadian immigration agency, pay the Visa Application Fee, and provide all of the necessary documents (such as the medical exam, police certificates, etc.).

If approved for Canadian immigration, the foreign worker and his or her family will move to Canada to start their new lives as permanent residents and settle in Quebec to live and work there long-term!

To learn more about the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, click here!

DISCLAIMER: This information is not and should not be considered as expert or professional advice.

To learn which Canadian immigration program you are eligible to apply for