Locations
Immigration pathways to Canada
1. Express entry program
The length of time for the Express Entry process varies from between 4-6months and largely depends on the level of applicants entered into the draw pool.
Your Express Entry Profile is valid for a year, which means that you will only have to apply once. Your profile is automatically entered into draw pools every 2 weeks and will remain active until your profile has been selected and you receive an ITA or until the year has lapsed after which you will then need to create a new Express Entry Profile.
2. Family Class Sponsorship
As an alternative to sponsorship of a parent/grandparent, the Government of Canada offers the “Parent and Grandparent Super Visa,” which will be valid for up to ten (10) years.
3. Study
4. LMIA Based Work Permits
Typically, foreign workers and employers must go through a two-step process in order to receive a Canadian work permit. First, the applicant must submit an application to ESDC for a Labor Market Impact Assessment, followed by a second application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for the actual work permit. The LMIA is issued by ESDC who, after considering numerous protective labour market factors, authorizes the Canadian employer to hire a foreign worker.
How Long Does it take to Obtain a Labour Market Impact Assessment? ESDC has committed to a 10 business day service standard for certain LMIA applications. The 10 day processing will only be available for applications pertaining to jobs in high demand (such as skilled trades), jobs offering wages in the top 10% of wages earned by Canadians in that province or territory, and for jobs with a short duration work period (less than 120 days).
5. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are a key part of Canada’s immigration policy, with more than 200,000 people expected to obtain Canadian permanent residence through a Provincial Nominee Program between 2020 and 2022.Provincial Nominee Programs are the fastest-growing economic Canadian immigration pathway. Over recent years, the federal government has gradually increased provinces’ annual allocations for their respective PNPs, showing the increasing importance of these programs within the overall Canadian immigration landscape.
Canada Provincial Nominee Immigration Programs Overview: Under a shared jurisdiction between Ottawa and the provinces, Canada operates a two-tiered immigration system, offering programs for skilled workers, at both federal and provincial levels. Through a network of Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada with the specific skills required by their local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities. This is an important component of all provincial programs.
6. The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is an immigration program that allows individuals who have worked in Canada for at least one year to immigrate permanently. CEC is a part of Canada’s Express Entry immigration system.
The government of Canada recognizes the deep pool of talented workers already working in Canada, and wants them to become permanent residents. These are individuals and families who have set down roots and made plans for the future in Canada.
7. Humanitarian and Compassionate Application
An H&C application is an application for permanent residence from inside Canada. These applications ask for an exception to the immigration rules for not applying from outside of Canada. A person needs to have important reasons as to why they should be allowed to stay. These can include establishment, best interest of the children, and hardship. Due to this, applicants are able to make strong cases for themselves.
The general rule under immigration law is that people apply for permanent residence from outside of Canada. With an H&C application, you are asking the government to make an exception to this rule and allow you to apply from within Canada.
Who Can Apply?
A person who is a foreign national living in Canada with no valid immigration status. For example, if someone overstayed their visa or was denied a refugee claim over a year ago.
8. Refugee Claims
Foreign nationals, who fear persecution, who are at serious risk of harm and who cannot get protection in their own country often seek refuge in Canada. People who are recognized as refugees are allowed to stay in Canada and may apply for permanent residence status, and eventually may apply to become Canadian citizens. There are two general types of refugees: Persons in Need of Protection and Convention Refugees. However, those in refugee-like situations who do not qualify under either of these groups, may still qualify for protection under the Country of Asylum Class.
1. Persons in Need of Protection
A Person in Need of Protection is a person in Canada who, if removed to their home country or country where they normally live would be personally subjected to:
- Torture,
- A risk to their life,
- A risk of cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if:
- They are not able to get protection from their own government,
- The person would face the risk in all parts of the country, even though the risk is not faced generally by others in or from that country,
- The risk is not part of legal penalties (unless those penalties violate international standards), and the risk is not caused by inadequate health or medical care.
Benefits of getting permanent residency in Canada is huge
- Free healthcare and public schooling for your children up until grade 12 and once you have been living and working in Canada for at least 3 years, you will be eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
- To get permanent residency after you have finished studying, you can apply for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program (PGWPP). This program is for students who have passed a Canadian tertiary institution. It is also a useful way to gain extra work experience, to help you apply for permanent residency through Express Entry.
Steps to migrate to Canada as a Care Giver
Canada’s two current pilot programs for caregivers are accepting applications. Foreign caregivers coming to work in Canada will no longer have to leave close family members behind and will have a more straightforward pathway to Canadian permanent residence, thanks to the programs: The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots.
The pilot programs opened for applications on June 18, 2019, replacing the expiring Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, which have been criticized for keeping some workers stuck in abusive workplaces and apart from their families abroad. The Liberal government, which was not in office when those pilots were introduced in 2014, labeled them “ineffective”.
The government states that it heard directly from caregivers and interested parties that the previous changes made in 2014 were not well understood. Many caregivers began working for families in Canada, only to find out later that they were not going to qualify for permanent residence under an existing program.
Caregivers will now only receive a work permit if they have a job offer in Canada and meet standard criteria for economic immigration programs. Once working in Canada, caregivers will be able to begin gaining the required two years of Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence.
Through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot, caregivers will also benefit from:
- occupation-specific work permits, rather than employer-specific, to allow for a fast change of employers when necessary;
- open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, to help families come to Canada together; and
- a clear transition from temporary to permanent status, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents quickly.
These new pilots provide caregivers from abroad and their families with a clear, direct pathway to permanent residence.
“Canada is caring for our caregivers. We made a commitment to improve the lives of caregivers and their families who come from around the world to care for our loved ones and with these new pilots, we are doing exactly that,” stated Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Ahmed Hussen, one of three senior government personnel tasked with announcing details of the new caregivers pilots in a blitz of media activity in Scarborough, Winnipeg, and Edmonton Saturday morning.
Steps to migrate to Canada as a Health Care Professional
Individuals with healthcare expertise are needed in virtually every province and town in Canada. This need is reflected by the abundance of immigration programs geared towards such professionals.
Because of the diversity of programs currently open to healthcare practitioners, successful applicants will have the option to apply to the program most suited to their strengths, and to settle anywhere in the country they choose.
The following programs are particularly favorable to healthcare workers:
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program – The FSW program is currently limited to 24 eligible occupations. Of these occupations, a full nine are related to the healthcare field. They are as follows:
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists;
- Physiotherapists;
- Occupational therapists;
- Medical laboratory technologists;
- Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants;
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists;
- Medical radiation technologists;
- Medical sonographers; and
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) – The Health Care Professional stream of the BC PNP was created to retain medical workers in the following fields:
- Physicians;
- Specialists;
- Registered nurses;
- Registered psychiatric nurses;
- Nurse practitioners; and
- Allied health professional s(such as: diagnostic medical sonographers, clinical pharmacists, medical laboratory techs, medical radiation techs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists)
- Applicants to this program must have a job offer from a British Columbia-based employer.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) – The SINP has similarly created a category for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Applicants must already be working full-time in the province for at least six months in order to be eligible.
Applying to a program
In addition to demonstrating their work experience, healthcare professionals must also meet other eligibility requirements. Depending on the program, this can include meeting minimum requirements for education, English or French language skills and personal funds. In addition, interested candidates should take special note of the following:
Licensing/Certification– Many, if not most, healthcare occupations are regulated in Canada. This means that before practicing in Canada, individuals must hold the necessary Canadian certification, licensing or authorization. Some immigration programs require that applicants already obtain, or be in the process of obtaining, the necessary certification before applying.
Educational verification – Many immigration programs require that applicants have their educational credentials assessed prior to submitting an application. Individuals should take care to make sure their foreign education is sufficient to practice in their desired occupation in Canada.
Organizations – Many health professions are governed by professional societies, organizations, or unions in Canada. Applicants should do research and learn how to become a member of these organizations, if necessary.
Australia
6 Ways to Migrate to Australia
- Student Visa Path. Life is a full time learning they say
- Work Related Path (General Skilled Migration Visa or Employer-Sponsored Visa)
- Partner/Family Visa Path
- Working Holiday Visa
- Business Visa
- Retirement Visa
United Kingdom
The UK will give priority to highly skilled individuals, such as those with scientific, academic and technology-related qualifications.
Here is the UK’s new points-based immigration system breakdown (70 points needed):
- Job offer *required (20 points);
- Job has a relevant skill level *required (20 points);
- English language knowledge * required (10 points);
- Job has a salary of £23, 040- £25, 599 (10 points);
- Job has a salary of over £25, 600 (20 points);
- Job on shortage occupation list (20 points)
- An applicant with a PhD (10 points); and
- An applicant with a PhD in science, technology, math and engineering (20 points)
Ireland
As a member of the European Union, Ireland does not require citizens of EU member states to hold a visa to enter the country. However, immigrants from outside of the European Economic Area will need a visa to visit, work, or study in Ireland.
Ireland’s immigration system is not points based, and instead is geared towards allowing migrants with the skills and expertise needed by the Irish economy to get a visa with ease.
- General Employment Permit: The Irish General Employment Permit is a job-offer based work permit which allows immigrants to work in Ireland in a role that pays at least €30,000 per year; with some exceptions. Either the worker or the employer can apply for this visa.
- Critical Skills Employment Permit: The Irish Critical Skills Employment Permit is a job-offer based work permit which allows immigrants to work in Ireland in a role that pays at least €60,000 per year; or at least €30,000 per year if the job is on Ireland’s Highly Skilled Occupations List. Either the worker or the employer can apply for this visa.
- Irish Start-up Entrepreneur Program Visa: The Irish Start-up Entrepreneur Visa Programme allows experienced business people with an innovative business plan to gain long term residence in Ireland. To take advantage of this programme you must intend to introduce a ‘new or innovative product or service’ to International markets, as well as have €75,000 in start up funds.
- Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit: The Irish Dependent/Partner/Spouse Employment Permit allows the family members of certain Irish work permit holders to live and work in Ireland.
Did You Know?
Did You know?
- Canadian Federal Government plans to bring in more than 1.2M immigrants in next 3 years
- Candidates with a sibling in Canada may be awarded 15 points if the sibling is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and at least 18 years of age.
- Canada still needs 70,514 applicants to meet its 2021 immigration targets
Steps to migrate to Canada as a Care Giver
Canada’s two current pilot programs for caregivers are accepting applications. Foreign caregivers coming to work in Canada will no longer have to leave close family members behind and will have a more straightforward pathway to Canadian permanent residence, thanks to the programs: The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots.
The pilot programs opened for applications on June 18, 2019, replacing the expiring Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, which have been criticized for keeping some workers stuck in abusive workplaces and apart from their families abroad. The Liberal government, which was not in office when those pilots were introduced in 2014, labeled them “ineffective”.
The government states that it heard directly from caregivers and interested parties that the previous changes made in 2014 were not well understood. Many caregivers began working for families in Canada, only to find out later that they were not going to qualify for permanent residence under an existing program.
Caregivers will now only receive a work permit if they have a job offer in Canada and meet standard criteria for economic immigration programs. Once working in Canada, caregivers will be able to begin gaining the required two years of Canadian work experience to apply for permanent residence.
Through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot, caregivers will also benefit from:
- occupation-specific work permits, rather than employer-specific, to allow for a fast change of employers when necessary;
- open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, to help families come to Canada together; and
- a clear transition from temporary to permanent status, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents quickly.
These new pilots provide caregivers from abroad and their families with a clear, direct pathway to permanent residence.
“Canada is caring for our caregivers. We made a commitment to improve the lives of caregivers and their families who come from around the world to care for our loved ones and with these new pilots, we are doing exactly that,” stated Canada’s Minister of Immigration, Ahmed Hussen, one of three senior government personnel tasked with announcing details of the new caregivers pilots in a blitz of media activity in Scarborough, Winnipeg, and Edmonton Saturday morning.
Steps to migrate to Canada as a Health Care Professional
Individuals with healthcare expertise are needed in virtually every province and town in Canada. This need is reflected by the abundance of immigration programs geared towards such professionals.
Because of the diversity of programs currently open to healthcare practitioners, successful applicants will have the option to apply to the program most suited to their strengths, and to settle anywhere in the country they choose.
The following programs are particularly favorable to healthcare workers:
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program – The FSW program is currently limited to 24 eligible occupations. Of these occupations, a full nine are related to the healthcare field. They are as follows:
- Audiologists and speech-language pathologists;
- Physiotherapists;
- Occupational therapists;
- Medical laboratory technologists;
- Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants;
- Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists;
- Medical radiation technologists;
- Medical sonographers; and
- Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists.
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) – The Health Care Professional stream of the BC PNP was created to retain medical workers in the following fields:
- Physicians;
- Specialists;
- Registered nurses;
- Registered psychiatric nurses;
- Nurse practitioners; and
- Allied health professional s(such as: diagnostic medical sonographers, clinical pharmacists, medical laboratory techs, medical radiation techs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists)
- Applicants to this program must have a job offer from a British Columbia-based employer.
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) – The SINP has similarly created a category for physicians, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Applicants must already be working full-time in the province for at least six months in order to be eligible.
Applying to a program
In addition to demonstrating their work experience, healthcare professionals must also meet other eligibility requirements. Depending on the program, this can include meeting minimum requirements for education, English or French language skills and personal funds. In addition, interested candidates should take special note of the following:
Licensing/Certification– Many, if not most, healthcare occupations are regulated in Canada. This means that before practicing in Canada, individuals must hold the necessary Canadian certification, licensing or authorization. Some immigration programs require that applicants already obtain, or be in the process of obtaining, the necessary certification before applying.
Educational verification – Many immigration programs require that applicants have their educational credentials assessed prior to submitting an application. Individuals should take care to make sure their foreign education is sufficient to practice in their desired occupation in Canada.
Organizations – Many health professions are governed by professional societies, organizations, or unions in Canada. Applicants should do research and learn how to become a member of these organizations, if necessary.