Skilled Worker Immigration Programs Offered by Canada

Canada has a deficit of skilled labour and to meet their demands they invite skilled immigrants who can contribute towards the economic development of the country. Workers are chosen on the basis of their skills and ability to contribute to Canada`s economy. The Permanent Residency (PR) status can be availed through three main pathways – Express Entry Program, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP). Other pathways for immigration to Canada are work-permit visa, which allows its holder to work in Canada for a limited amount of time. A person can choose to extend a work permit and apply for permanent residence without living the country. Immigrant skilled workers are offered plentiful opportunities across various cities and industries, having great demand in engineering, healthcare, IT, hotel & tourism industry, construction, service sector etc.

Express Entry Program

Express Entry Scheme was introduced by IRCC (Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada) as a pathway for skilled workers to migrate to Canada. The program is highly beneficial for skilled candidates looking to migrate within a period of 6 months. This program is a point based system in which the application is considered on the basis of nationality, age, language ability, family members, education, work experience, income and/or net worth, details on any job offer and other concerned details. The IRCC also determines the minimum Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points which is set as the benchmark for selection of the candidates and it is announced through the Express Entry draws which are released after every 15 days. The Express Entry scheme is enjoying high popularity with selection of approximately 7000 applications per month.

Express Entry manages applications for three economic immigration programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who are having relevant age, educational qualification, work experience and language skills to come and work in Canada and contribute towards development of the Canadian economy.

Federal Skilled Trades Program is for semi-skilled/unskilled workers with basic education, experience and language skills. To apply for this program, the candidate must have a valid Job Offer Letter from an employer; operating firm inside Canada.

Canadian Experience Class is for those individuals who are having a prior experience in Canada, say while on a Work permit or any other temporary visa.

Basic Eligibility for Skilled Worker Immigration through Express Entry

Canadian Authorities assess immigration applications on point based system. In order to be eligible to apply for permanent residency status in Canada through the Express Entry you must be able to score minimum of 67 points on 100.

Ability	Points Allotted
Age	Maximum 12 Points
Language	Maximum 24 Points
Education	Maximum 25 points
Work Experience	Maximum 15 Points
Adaptability	Maximum 10 Points
Arranged Employment	Maximum 10 Points

Age – The ideal age which grants maximum points to the candidate is 18- 35 years

Language – It is essential for the candidate to demonstrate his/her language proficiency for at least one official language of Canada i.e. English / French.

The English language proficiency is tested through IELTS or CLB examination which are both very popular examinations. The French Language Proficiency is tested through the test TFI or NCLC.

The French Language Proficiency is tested through the test TFI or NCLC.

Education – The higher the education more points are allotted to the applicant. All the Degrees / Diplomas/ Certificate are evaluated under the Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an authorized body, in which the authentication and value of the degree is assessed being at par with the Canadian Education Board.

Work Experience – Canada wants skilled work force in its country thus the more experienced you are; the higher points you will earn.

Adaptability – A sibling or a spouse who is staying in Canada can get you higher points.

Arranged Employment – You can earn some extra points in case you have an employment letter from an employer in Canada.

Canada Express Entry Points Calculator

After the application enters the Express Entry pool, the Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) system, employed by Canadian Immigration is used to rank the application with the purpose of selecting most deserving applicant from the pool. Comprehensive Ranking Score is also a point based system which allots points (out of 1200) to the applicant, on the basis of three factors, on which the applicant`s capabilities and potential is estimated and selection decision is made. The factors include:

• Core/ Human Capital Factor
• Spouse or common-law partner factors
• Skill transferability factors

Applying Under The Express Entry System

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) is another popular system authorised by the Canadian authorities to invite skilled workers to Canada. It is a selection system in which all those candidates who could not qualify under the Express Entry Program can file for a Permanent Residency (PR) status of a particular province. These programs are offered by different provinces of Canada with purpose of recruiting candidates to meet local labour market needs in that particular province. Each provincial program has its own pre-requisites and eligibility criteria. In order to immigrate through one of the PNPs you must meet eligibility criteria laid down by that particular province.

Provincial Nomination Programs offered in Canada

• Ontario Provincial Nomination Program
• British Columbia Provincial Nomination Program
• Alberta Provincial Nomination Program
• Nova Scotia Provincial Nomination Program
• Saskatchewan Provincial Nomination Program
• Manitoba Provincial Nomination Program
• Quebec Provincial Nomination Program
• Prince Edward Provincial Nomination Program
• New Brunswick Provincial Nomination Program
• Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nomination Program

Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)

Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is developed by the Government of Quebec and the Canadian Federal Government to enable highly educated and trained foreign nationals to immigrate to Quebec as skilled workers. The province has its own immigration programs and selection criteria.

The applications for QSWP are evaluated on the basis of selection grid of factors. The province follows its own point based selection model and the applicant must secure a minimum qualifying score in order to be eligible to obtain the Quebec Selection Certificate, also called Certificate of Selection of Quebec (CSQ) which is later used for application of permanent residency in Canada. The points are credited on the basis of the credentials including; age, education, work experience, language ability, adaptability etc. An individual applicant must score 50 points (at least) while the ones with spouse are required to score a minimum of 59 points to meet eligibility criteria.

Applying for QSWP

The applicants interested to settle in the province of Quebec must start by declaring their interest in applying to the program of QSWP by creating a profile under Quebec Expression of Interest Bank using the Arrima Portal. The portal remains open round the year.

The Quebec Immigration Ministry invites the applicants, who submitted their expression of interest on the Arrima Portal, to submit their applications through the Mon Projet Quebec Portal. The portal allows the applicants to complete their applications for the CSQ, make online payments, follow the application status, make changes to the application if required, and access personal electronic messaging throughout the process.

To settle in Quebec permanently the applicant has to undergo two step immigration process:

• Achieve CSQ (Certificate of Selection of Quebec) authorised by the Quebec Province
• Get approval of the Federal Government

The Quebec region is known to place huge importance on the knowledge of French language and hence gives an edge to candidates with language proficiency in French.

Quebec Experienced Program (PEQ)

The Quebec Experience Program, or Programme de l’expérience Québécoise, or PEQ) is another Quebec immigration pathway available to eligible international graduates with a Quebec diploma and individuals with at least 12 months skilled work experience in the past 24 months. Applicants to the PEQ are required to have an advanced intermediate knowledge of spoken French.

Family Class Sponsorship

Family Class Sponsorship Program reunites families by enabling, permanent resident or citizen of Canada to sponsor a close relative for immigration to Canada. The sponsor`s relatives will be entitled to live, study and work in Canada if they are granted permanent residency of the country.

Who can Sponsor?

One can sponsor certain relatives to come to Canada if he/she is an adult (i.e.at least 18 years old) and a:

• Canadian citizen or
• Person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act or
• Permanent resident of Canada

In addition to being a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, the sponsor is also required to meet following criteria:

• Must demonstrate his/her financial ability to support the sponsored person with the essential needs including, food, clothing, shelter, dental and eye care and other health services not offered to Canadian permanent residents.
• Must have physical residency in Canada or they must demonstrate intension to reside in Canada by the time the sponsored person arrives in Canada as a permanent resident.
• Must not be in prison, not bankrupt, not under a removal order and not be charged with a serious offence.
• Must be entered into following agreement with the government of Canada or Quebec
  • Must agree to provide the sponsored person with essential needs for a prescribed period of time; and
  • If the sponsored relative is over 19 years of age and not elderly, and the sponsor promises to support the sponsored person(s) for a prescribed period of time, the sponsored person(s) must promise to make every effort to become self-supporting

Who can be sponsored?

The person seeking sponsorship must be related to the sponsor as one of the following:

• Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner
• Dependent child
• Parent
• Grandparent
• Sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 years who is unmarried and whose parents are deceased

Various Family Class Sponsorship Programs offered by Canada

Spousal or Common Law Partner

The Spousal Sponsorship Program allows the permanent resident or citizen of Canada to sponsor his/her spouse or Common-law partner for Canadian permanent residence. The application can be filed as either Outland Sponsorship (in cases when the sponsored partner is living outside Canada) or Inland Sponsorship (when sponsored partner is living in Canada but the partner holds a temporary status)

Both the Canadian citizen or permanent resident (the 'sponsor') and the foreign national (i.e. the 'sponsored person') must be approved by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in order for the sponsored person to receive a visa.

It is required to establish the relationship of the sponsor and sponsored person qualifies under one of the following categories:

• Spouse
• Common-Law Partner
• Conjugal Partner

NOTE: Canada recognizes same-sex marriage, and same-sex partners may be eligible to apply under any of the above three categories, provided they meet all eligibility requirements.

Additional Requirements for the Sponsor:

• The sponsor cannot have been sponsored to Canada as a spouse within the last 5 years.

Requirements for the Sponsored Person:

• Must be at least 16 years of age and
• Must not be too closely related by blood to the sponsor.

Permanent residence granted under the Spousal Sponsorship program carries certain conditions that must be met:

• The sponsor is financially responsible for the person sponsored for three years after the sponsored person becomes a permanent resident.
• Individuals who come to Canada as spouses are themselves barred from sponsoring a spouse in turn for five years after receiving Canadian permanent residence.

To find out if you and your partner are eligible for spousal sponsorship contact Settle Abroad`s Immigration Expert now!

Dependent Child Sponsorship

Canadian citizen or permanent resident may sponsor his/her dependent child (both natural as well as adopted) to reside in Canada as a permanent resident. Dependent child may include:

• A child of the sponsor, or a child of the sponsor’s spouse or common-law partner, who is under age 22 and don’t have a spouse or common-law partner of their own.
• Children over age 22, if they relied on their parents for financial support before age 22, and are unable to financially support themselves due to a mental or physical condition.
• Child in sole custody of a previous spouse are still considered dependent children, and must be declared on the sponsorship application.

To receive a visa through this immigration program, the sponsor and the sponsored person will be required to prove their relationship to one another. Children sponsored through the Family Class of immigration receive Canadian permanent residence and entitles them the right to study and work in Canada.

To find out if you and your child/children are eligible for this program, contact Settle Abroad`s Immigration Expert now!

Parent and Grand Parent Family Class

Parents and Grand Parents of the permanent resident or citizen of Canada can be sponsored to live in Canada as a permanent resident, by applying through the Parent and Grand Parent Sponsorship Program.

Additional Requirements for Sponsor:

• Must be residing in Canada (potential applicants will need to provide a proof of status during the Interest to Sponsor phase);
• Exceed the minimum income cut-off for this program (if married or in a common-law relationship, the income of both the sponsor and spouse can be included) and provide proof of income to IRCC;
• Sign an undertaking
  • To financially support the sponsored for 20 years (starting when they become permanent residents); and
  • To repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members (if applicable) for a period of 20 years.
  • If the sponsor resides in Quebec, an additional "undertaking" must be signed with the province of Quebec.

Steps to Apply for Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship

• First step to apply for the program is completing the Interest Support Form on the IRCC website.
• Invitations to apply for the program will be issued, based on the order Interest to Sponsor forms were received (i.e. “first-in, first-served”), once the forms are reviewed for eligibility.
• Invited sponsors are required to submit a complete application and all supporting documents within 60 days from the date of invitation.

Provincial Family Class Sponsorship

Certain Provincial Nomination Programs (PNPs) offer Family Sponsorship Program with lenient regulations as compared to the Federal Family Class Sponsorship Programs. Some programs allow sponsorship of same qualifying relatives as by the Federal Programs, while other programs are open for distant relatives like cousins etc.

Provincial Nominee Programs with a Family Class Category

• Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
• Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
• Newfoundland And Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
• Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
• Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEIPNP)
• Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)

Two-Step process

The family class sponsorship program application process can be broken down into two main steps, which must be followed in the order described below:

1. The sponsor must submit their sponsorship application; This application must be initiated by the sponsor and involves an assessment of the sponsor’s eligibility under the family class. The sponsor must first be approved through a separate application in order to become a sponsor.

2. The foreign national must submit their application for permanent residency. This application must be initiated by the foreign national the sponsor wishes to bring to Canada as a permanent resident. The foreign national must first meet a number of requirements under the family class in order to qualify under the family class program, and then another separate application for their permanent residency.

To learn more about your Family Sponsorship options contact Settle Abroad`s Immigration Experts now!

The process of permanent residency visa application is crucial to realise your dream to settle| work | study in your dream country, Canada. To help you pave your way through, our team of highly qualified and certified professionals, immigration consultants offer comprehensive guidance concerning the processing, documentation, filing of the Permanent Residency status application, visa counselling, interview preparation and pre-departure briefs. For free consultation contact Settle Abroad now.