Immigrate to Canada: Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I immigrate to Canada?

 There are over 100 different pathways to immigrate to Canada. If you wish to find out which way is suitable for your specific situation, you are invited to fill out our free assessment form.

2. What is the easiest way to immigrate to Canada?

The easiest way to immigrate to Canada will depend on your specific situation. The easiest way to immigrate for one person may be difficult for another. Many potential candidates are quick to give up if they find out they are not eligible for a popular immigration pathway such as Express Entry. However, Canada has more than 100 immigration pathways. If you’re not eligible for one specific pathway, you may be eligible for another. This page is built to help you begin your Canada journey. Start shortlisting potential immigration pathways based on your specific situation. Do you have a degree or diploma? Do you have work experience? Are you looking to start a business? There’s something for everyone.

3. What is permanent residence in Canada?

Permanent resident status in Canada gives you the ability to live in Canada permanently, provided you stay in Canada for two years every five years. In addition, you will be granted the same rights as Canadian citizens, except the ability to vote or run for office.

4. How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker?

Unless you have a job offer and arranged employment in Canada, you will need to prove that you have enough money to be able to settle in Canada with your family. The amount needed depends on the size of your family. For example, a family of four would need to prove they have at least CAD $24,083.

The required funds by the federal government for each family size are illustrated in the table below:

5. What is the best age to immigrate to Canada?

It depends on the pathway you are applying under. Express Entry is Canada’s main skilled worker pathway. Under the Express Entry system, the best age to immigrate to Canada is between 20 and 29 years old. This provides you with 100 Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points if you are applying with a spouse, and 110 CRS points if you are applying on your own. You may still receive points for your age if you are not within this age group. For example, if you are 35 years old, you can receive between 70 and 77 points.

Keep in mind that while age is an important selection criterion, it is among other important selection criteria that Canada’s federal and provincial governments consider when selecting skilled workers. You can also receive significant points for your education, work experience, language skills, job offer, and Canadian experience. Hence, even if you are unable to obtain the maximum number of points for your age under a given federal or provincial skilled worker program, there are other ways for you to gain the points you need to successfully immigrate to Canada. One strategy you can pursue is having your spouse or partner (if you have one) as the principal applicant in your application if they score higher than you. Visit this page to learn how you can maximize your Express Entry CRS score.

6. What is Express Entry?

Express Entry is the Canadian federal government’s application management system. It manages permanent residence applications through Canada’s three main economic class immigration programs:

• • Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
  • Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
  • Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

Canada aims to welcome an average of 110,000 immigrants through Express Entry each year which is over one-quarter of some 400,000 new immigrants Canada seeks to welcome annually.

7. What is the CRS in Canada?

CRS stands for Comprehensive Ranking System. The CRS is the point system that ranks eligible candidates through Express Entry. Candidates are ranked based on multiple factors such as their age, work experience, education, language proficiency as well as adaptability.

8. Do I need a job offer for Express Entry?

No, you do not need a job offer to submit your Express Entry profile. The vast majority of candidates who succeed under Express Entry do not have a job offer. However, a job offer may increase your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence. This is because a job offer awards you additional CRS points.

If you are eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) or the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and you do not have the required settlement funds to support yourself, you will need to have a job offer.

9. How do I create an Express Entry profile?

The first step is for you to fill out the online form on the website of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. If you are eligible, you will be redirected to create your Express Entry profile, where you will be prompted to provide details regarding:

• • Your passport or travel document
  • Your Educational Credential Assessment (ECA), and
  • Your language test results
  • Your proof of funds
  • Your job offers in Canada (if you have one)
  • Your provincial nomination (if you have one)

10. I am currently studying in Canada. Can I become a permanent resident?

Yes, there are many options for you to pursue. Former international students are becoming a growing share of those who become new immigrants in Canada.

Commonly, you will need to have one year of Canadian work experience but this is not always the case (e.g., if you have eligible foreign work experience, you may not need Canadian work experience to be eligible for a skilled worker program).

11. How much work experience do I need for the Canadian Experience Class (CEC)?

You will need to have completed at least 12 months of full-time work experience in the last three years (1,560 hours), or the part-time equivalent (for example, 15 hours per week for 24 months) to be successful under the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

12. How can I immigrate to Canada through the PNP?

In order to immigrate to Canada through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), you will need a Canadian provincial or territorial government to nominate you.

To get started, you will need to apply directly to the province or territory you are interested in immigrating to. You will then be assessed based on various factors such as your education and work experience. If you meet the province or territory’s labour needs, you may be invited to apply for a provincial nomination.

Once approved, you will be able to apply for Canadian permanent residence. Depending on the program, you may be able to apply through the Express Entry system or through the regular application process. The main benefit of going through Express Entry is a faster processing standard for your permanent residence application.

13. How can I immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker?

You have a few options to choose from if you are a skilled worker who wants to immigrate to Canada. These options will depend on your specific situation.

For example, highly skilled workers can explore the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). Trade workers can look into the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). Both of these programs are managed by the Express Entry system.

Candidates who wish to immigrate to a specific province or territory may be interested in the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

14. How do I get an Education Credential Assessment (ECA)?

You can find out what your education is equivalent to in Canada by obtaining an ECA. Many programs also require you to obtain an ECA to apply.

To get an ECA, you will need to get your education assessed by one of the following organizations:

• • Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
  • International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
  • World Education Services
  • International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
  • International Credential Evaluation Service

15. How can I immigrate to Canada as a self-employed person?

You must have two years of relevant work experience to prove that you will be able to become self-employed in Canada.

In addition, you will need to score at least 35 points in a selection grid designed specifically for self-employed individuals.

You will also be required to pass a medical examination and pass criminal and security checks.

16. Do I have to stay in Canada as a permanent resident?

If you wish to keep your permanent resident status, you are required to stay in Canada for two years (or 730 days) in the last five years. This time does not need to be continuous.

17. How long does the PR process take?

Processing times depend on the program you are applying to.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to complete permanent residence applications through Express Entry programs in six months or less.

Processing times for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Quebec, and other federal skilled worker programs may take six months or longer.

Family class applications tend to take some 12 months to be processed (though this can be longer or shorter).

18. How can I sponsor my husband, wife, or partner to come to Canada?

The first step is to ensure you and your spouse or partner meet the eligibility criteria.

If you do, you need to prepare and submit two applications: one for sponsorship and one for permanent residence. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) aims to make a decision on spousal sponsorship applications within 12 months.

19. How can I sponsor my parents or grandparents to come to Canada?

If you wish to sponsor your parents or grandparents to come to Canada as permanent residents, you must submit an interest to sponsor form during the period it is available.

Once the form closes, Canada randomly selects potential sponsors and invites them to apply to sponsor their parents and/or grandparents.

If you are invited to apply, you must submit your application by the deadline mentioned in the invitation.

Another option is to apply for a Parent and Grandparent Super Visa. This visa type allows parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to visit Canada for up to two years. This multiple-entry visa can remain valid for up to 10 years.

20. How can I sponsor my children to come to Canada?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents who wish to bring their dependent children to Canada must first prove their relationship with the child, whether or not the child is biological or adopted.

The sponsor must be over 18 years old to be able to sponsor. The sponsored child must be under 22 years old, unless they are financially dependent on the sponsor, and are unable to become financially dependent because of a physical or mental condition.

21. Who can sponsor me in Canada?

Canadian citizens and permanent residents are eligible to sponsor family members including their wife, husband, partner, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and in some cases, other family members.

22. Is it difficult to immigrate to Canada?

It is not difficult to immigrate to Canada as long as you meet the eligibility criteria of a program that is the right fit for you.

Consider that Canada seeks to welcome over 400,000 new immigrants per year under its economic, family, and refugee classes. Canada operates over 100 different skilled worker programs under the economic class and some 60 percent of all new immigrants arrive under the economic class. Hence, skilled workers overseas have a lot of options to choose from.

In addition, Canada welcomes family members including wives, husbands, partners, dependent children, parents, grandparents, and other close loved ones. As long as you and the Canadian citizen or permanent resident sponsoring you meet Canada’s eligibility criteria, you will be able to immigrate to Canada.

Canada is committed to operating a successful immigration system which is why it dedicates a lot of government resources to making the immigration application process as smooth as possible.

23. How much money do you need to immigrate to Canada?

There is no income requirement for immigrants who arrive under the family class, however, the person sponsoring a family class immigrant will need to assume financial responsibilities.

Skilled workers overseas need to meet the settlement funds requirements of the given federal or provincial program they are applying under. Some exceptions apply, such as if you have an eligible job offer in Canada. Otherwise, you need to prove to the government you have enough money to be able to support yourself and your family upon your landing in Canada. The amount of money skilled requires to require depends on the size of your family. Here is the amount of money required by Canada’s federal government:

24. Can I go to Canada without a job offer?

Yes, you can immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker without a job offer, however, having an eligible job offer does help. Nonetheless, the majority of successful immigrants under Express Entry do not have a job offer. Having an eligible job offer under Express Entry will get you extra points but it does not guarantee you will receive a permanent residence invitation. As long as you meet the eligibility criteria of at least one of Canada’s over 100 different skilled worker programs, and receive a high score for your human capital such as your age, education, language skills, and work experience, you have a chance to successfully immigrate to Canada without a job offer.

25. How many points are required for Canada PR?

It depends on the program you are applying to. Expression of Interest systems such as Express Entry and those operated under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Quebec do not set a points threshold to be a successful immigrant. You may need to meet a threshold to be eligible for an Expression of Interest program, but once you enter the EOI pool, the government will invite the highest-scoring candidates based on their policy goals. Hence, the cut-off scores will vary based on the government’s policy goals.

However, non-EOI skilled worker programs also have points thresholds and will issue permanent residence to you as long as you meet the threshold and all other eligibility criteria. The points you require to obtain Canadian permanent residence (PR) will vary by program.

26. Can I immigrate to Canada at the age of 55?

Yes, you can. While age is an important selection criterion, it is one of several other major factors that Canada’s skilled worker and business immigration programs consider. The programs also consider your education, language skills, work experience, Canadian experience, whether you have an eligible job offer, and in the case of business programs, your business experience, net worth, and amount of money you want to invest in Canada.

27. What is a job offer in Canada?

While a job offer is not necessary to successfully immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker, it can help. You can gain extra points with a job offer, and some programs require a job offer.

Job offers requirements vary by program. Some programs require the job offer to fall under certain occupations or industries.

The main way to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker is through Express Entry. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, a job offer must meet this criterion to be eligible under Express Entry:

• • full-time and not a seasonal role
  • is a minimum of one year in duration
  • is a job that is skilled and falls under type 0, A, or B in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)
  • is a recent job offer
  • is not a job offer from a diplomatic mission in Canada
  • Usually, a job offer needs to be supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), however, some job offers are exempt from needing an LMIA.

28. What jobs are in demand in Canada?

Canada has a rapidly aging population and low birth rate, so there are a diversity of different job needs across the Canadian economy. Jobs are in demand in many areas such as information and communications technology (ICT), health, transportation, finance, professional services. Some of Canada’s skilled worker programs do not have occupational requirements while others only select immigrants who are trained in occupations where jobs are in demand. However, the primary focus of Canada’s immigration system is to select immigrants who are young and middle-aged, with strong language skills, work experience, and education. The reason for this approach is Canadian government research shows selecting immigrants with such human capital characteristics tends to result in strong job outcomes for immigrants themselves.

29. Is healthcare free in Canada?

Yes, universal healthcare is available to Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Healthcare eligibility for new permanent residents depends on the province or territory you are landing in. Note that some provinces require new permanent residents live there for a few months before they can obtain free healthcare coverage which means you may need private health insurance during this waiting period.

30. How much does it cost to live in Canada per month?

Your cost of living in Canada depends on which city you will live in, the size of your family, your lifestyle, among other factors.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), household living expenses can make up half of your monthly spending in Canada. Expenses to consider include:

• • homeownership or rent
  • heating and utilities such as water
  • food
  • clothing
  • transportation
  • cellphone
  • internet
  • leisure activities
  • Health insurance (some provinces require that new permanent residents live there for a few months before they are eligible for free healthcare)

31. Where do Canada’s immigrants come from?

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), Canada welcomes new permanent residents from some 200 different countries each year. Canada does not have quotas for immigration, so immigrants are able to move from any part of the world as long as they meet the criteria of an economic, family, or refugee class program.

The source countries of Canada’s immigrants started to become even more diverse when Canada became the first country to launch a points system with the introduction of the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) in 1967. Prior to 1967, Canada’s immigrants mostly came from Europe. Since then, however, Canada’s doors have opened to all corners of the globe.

32. What English language tests can I take for Canadian immigration?

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Optimize your chances of success!

What are your options for Canadian Immigration? You can consider any of the following pathways to Canadian Immigration:

• Provincial Nominee Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class
• Humanitarian and Compassionate
• Study to Immigrate
• Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
• How to Become a Canadian Citizen: Applying for Canadian Citizenship
• Family Sponsorship
• Spousal Sponsorship
• Express Entry
• Skilled Workers
• Caregivers
• Investors and Entrepreneurs
• Refugee and Asylum
• Visa rejections/Appeals

Chugo Immigration Service is authorized to offer Canadian Immigration and Citizenship services under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. The Principal Consultant, Pius Chukwuma Ekwulugo RCIC, is a member in good standing of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) and has helped many foreigners to start a new life in Canada. We will help you too!

For effective and diligent legal help regarding Canadian Immigration matters, we partner with Weekes Law Office.

WHAT DO I DO NEXT?

Are you looking for an immigration pathway to Canada? If you do not know where to look and how to start, we invite you to book an eligibility consultation with us. We will prepare an individualized assessment report for you and guide you on your immigration journey to Canada.

We advise you to complete the assessment questionnaire now in order to properly plan your application.

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