There are many ways to immigrate to Canada where you can eventually apply for permanent residency and citizenship. However, this may still depend on your specific circumstance such as your economic resources, status, nationality, and connections in Canada.
The easiest, fastest, and the most common ways to immigrate to Canada (in an unranked order) are through:
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
- Business and Investor Immigration Programs
- Study Permit
- Work Permit
- Spousal or Family Sponsorship
These all fall under the provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Express Entry
Express Entry is the system used by the federal government to accept immigrant applications and check their eligibility.
Express Entry is also linked with PNP, since a skilled worker who is invited under Express Entry may also apply under PNP and vice versa.
Express Entry is the fastest way to immigrate to Canada - it would only take about 6 months or less to process your application.
Express Entry has three immigration programs that a skilled worker can choose from:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
Each program has its own requirements, giving a skilled worker options in moving to Canada. One major consideration is that both the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Worker Program do not require a job offer, while Federal Skilled Trades Program requires a valid job offer of full-time employment.
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Applications for the Express Entry Program are done online.
The province of Québec has its own process for selecting skilled workers under its Regular Skilled Worker Program (RSWP).
The three immigration programs below are for skilled workers who wish to live in any province of Canada other than Québec.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for skilled workers who have previous work experience outside Canada such as their home country or any other country. This work experience must be:
- the same type of job declared under the Express Entry application
- acquired within the last 10 years
- a paid job
- equivalent to at least 1 year of continuous work for the same job
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled workers who qualify under a “skilled trade”. The skilled worker must have at least 2 years of full-time work experience in a skilled trade within 5 years before applying under Express Entry.
A “skilled trade” includes work experience as a:
- transportation officer and controller
- natural resources and agriculture supervisor and other occupation
- processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisor, operator, and controller
- aircraft central control and process operator
- aircraft assembly assembler and inspector
- cook
- butcher
- baker
- chef
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Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is for skilled workers who have previous work experience in Canada. This must be at least one year of skilled work experience in the last 3 years before submitting the application in Express Entry. It must be either full-time or part-time work. This work experience must also be authorized if you have worked as a temporary resident while in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Apart from Express Entry, another easy way of immigrating to Canada is through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Under the PNP, skilled workers, students, or businesspeople may apply for a specific “stream” under a province’s PNP to enter, work or study in that specific province.
You may check the specific province’s official website for details on eligibility and requirements.
Business and Investor Immigration Programs
Businesspeople and investors have easy ways to immigrate to Canada by opening businesses or investing in an existing but eligible business in the country. Applicants may either choose the federal government’s Start-up Business Class program or the PNP streams for investors, entrepreneurs, and businesspeople.
Study Permit
Studying in Canada, then eventually applying for permanent residency and citizenship, is an easy way to immigrate to Canada. Choosing an education program offered by a Canadian designated learning institution (DLI) is important; most provinces offer permanent residence streams for graduates of certain DLIs. This will eventually help you transition from the DLI to apply for a PNP stream to become eligible for a working permit in Canada. Later, you can apply for permanent residency and citizenship.
Work Permit
Another easy way to immigrate to Canada is through a work permit. There are two kinds of work permits: employer-specific work permit and open work permit.
Employer-specific work permit requires the name of your employer in your application. An open work permit allows you to work for any employer once in Canada.
Spousal or Family Sponsorship
Sponsorship of a foreign spouse or a family member by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is by far one of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada. The sponsor and the sponsored spouse or family member must meet specific requirements.
Persons who may be sponsored include:
- Spouses, conjugal partners, or common-law partners
- Parents and grandparents
- Children and adopted children
- Dependent brothers or sisters, half brothers or sisters, stepbrothers or stepsisters
- Orphaned brothers, sisters, nephews, nieces or grandchildren
Each group has its corresponding requirements. If you need some guidance, speak with an immigration lawyer in the province where your sponsor lives. If they are based in New Brunswick, for example, it would be best to speak with an immigration expert in New Brunswick.
How can I immigrate to Canada without working?
Those which do not require a job offer or a work permit are the Express Entry Program, the PNP (although some PNP offer business or skilled worker streams that require a work permit), and family or spousal sponsorship.
Want to learn more about easy ways to immigrate to Canada? Comment below or consult with the best immigration lawyers in Canada for more information.