A North American country, Canada, is the second-largest country on the planet. It spreads from the Pacific Ocean to the Arctic Ocean covering a staggering 9.98 million km2 land area! What’s more interesting is the fact that only 20% of this vastness is habited by humans, the other 80% is constituted by areas where there is a lack of infrastructure or is just too hostile for humans to live. Most of the population is concentrated in the few large cities bordering the United States of America. The capital of the country is Ottawa located in the Ontario province.
Canada’s economy stands among the top 10 biggest economies on the planet; having the 9th largest GDP in the world. In recent years the country has been offering various immigration programs to attract people with a range of skills and occupations to work in Canada and start a fresh life. Therefore, Canada has become a haven for expatriates and immigrants from around the world who find easy employment, work, and business opportunities to make a decent, and sometimes more than decent living.
Here, in this article, we will explore and discuss the types of permanent immigration options that are most sought.
Express entry system
If you possess an expert-level skillset in any field, the Express entry system can gain you permanent residency in Canada in a short time. Provinces in Canada run their express programs for the people who have the skills needed by that province. The procedure to enter the program is quite straightforward;
- You start by creating an account and Express entry profile at the official Canadian Immigration Website (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/submit-profile.html)
- There are three Federal immigration programs, and you have to qualify for at least one of them; if you do qualify, you will be shortlisted to the pool of express entry candidates.
- You can also enter into the provincial express entry system following the same two steps above.
Note that the Federal and Provincial express nomination systems run parallel to each other, hence being accepted for one program does not mean acceptance in the other. However, you may switch between the two at any point by following the steps provided on the registration portal (an intuitive step-by-step guide on the registration portal provided above is available to see the details).
The provincial nominee class (PNC)
As briefly discussed previously, the PNC allows the provinces and territories to identify and source people with skills that are most in-demand in that particular province or territory. For instance, a certain region or province may be needed a handful of expert truck drivers, or para-medic staff, or nurses, etc. Application to enter the PNC program includes two steps:
- Apply to the province or territory you wish to immigrate to.
- As the province or territory nominates you, then you apply for permanent residency.
At this point, the IRCC officer will assess your application in light of the Canadian immigration rules.
Other immigration programs
With the exponential growth in economy, the opportunities for skilled workers and other professionals have increased too. To the fill the gap between demand and supply, the Canadian government offers simpler approaches to gain Canadian immigration, some are as follows:
Family sponsorships
A Canadian citizen or permanent resident, above the age of 18, is allowed to sponsor certain direct relatives for the Canadian immigration program, provided all immigration requirements are met. The direct relative may be a spouse, children, parents, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, etc.
Quebec-selected skilled workers
If you are willing to live in Quebec as a skilled worker, you may apply for this program. Before applying you must know that Quebec is a French-speaking province and has its own rules for accepting applications and awarding immigration.
- The first step is that you apply for the Quebec selection certificate with the government of Quebec
- When and if you are awarded the certificate, you then apply for immigration.
Caregivers
If you are a social or medical caregiver, there are several options you can choose to either be a permanent resident or temporarily reside in Canada as a caregiver; depending on your skills and the employer’s requirements. Old parents, children with special needs, permanent or partially disabled, and others require full-time care. Whether it is a domestic requirement or at a healthcare establishment, competent caregivers are always in demand.
Self-employment
Canada encourages individuals who have knowledge and experience in running business enterprises. If you consider yourself having relevant experience in cultural and social activities and can contribute to its progress, you may apply for this program.
There are a few other immigration programs that the Canadian government offers, however, the ones mentioned above are simple, and most sought for.
Canadian culture and traditions
The culture and traditions of Canada have been heavily influenced by Europe all through history, especially France and Britain. This influence reflects in Canadian cuisine, literature, music, politics, and sense of humor. With the rising population of immigrants and expatriates from different parts of the world, the Canadian culture and tradition have started to amalgamate with foreign cultures to form a culture of its own.
Though the official languages of Canada are French and English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and Punjabi languages can be commonly heard in cities where a large population of immigrants dwells.
Accommodation & rentals
Depending upon the type and category of the accommodation you choose, and the area they are located in, rentals vary a lot in Canada. Some houses are rented in their entirety, while some are rented out in the form of a duplex, triplex, or even a single room. It is important to earmark the location and type before you move to Canada, as staying at a hotel for the initial period may be expensive.
In a major city like Vancouver a one-bedroom apartment may cost up to 2,000 USD, however, a similar accommodation in less popular cities like Edmonton may even cost less than 1000 USD. It is advised that a local realtor, or online estate listings be referred to while making the decision.