Over the next 3 years, Canada seeks to welcome over 1.2 million new immigrants.
Each year, the federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) publishes a new Immigration Levels Plan that it uses to guide its operations.
In 2021, IRCC will target 4,01,000 immigrants. In 2022, this number will increase to 411,000 new permanent residents (PRs). In 2023, Canada will aim to welcome 421,000 additional immigrants. The following table summarizes Canada’s immigration targets between 2021 and 2023 by immigration category:
Immigration Class | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 |
Economic | 232,500 | 241,500 | 249,500 |
Family | 103,500 | 103,500 | 104,500 |
Refugee | 59,500 | 60,500 | 61,000 |
Humanitarian | 5,500 | 5,500 | 6,000 |
Total | 401,000 | 411,000 | 421,000 |
What is the impact of Covid-19 on Immigration to Canada?
To increase immigrants to Canada, the government came up with 2020-2022 Immigration Level Plans. Canada was all set to welcome over one million new permanent residents, but the Covid-19 dampened the immigration applications as the borders were closed.
However, with determined coronavirus vaccination drives, the government has started restoring its Immigration processes to Canada plans. In October 2020, Canada announced its 2021-2023 Immigration Level Plans, which will escalate to welcome more than 400,000 immigrants soon as the pandemic cases are slowing down.
What is the easiest way to immigrate to Canada from India?
Express Entry Program
It is the fastest and easiest immigration program for skilled workers to apply for a Canadian permanent resident visa. The new system is managed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and it proactively assesses recruits and selects qualified immigrants and/or with relevant qualifications under the following federal economic immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
The Express Entry program also allows various Canadian provinces and territories to use the system to allow suitable nominees under Provincial Nominee Programs to meet labor market demands.
The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
This pathway is increasingly becoming a popular way to immigrate to Canada. Canadian provinces such as Alberta, Ontario, British Columbia, etc. have developed their immigration programs that offer a faster and less competitive process. However, the PNPs generally require the applicants to reside in that particular Province/ Territory after they arrive in Canada. Furthermore, most PNPs require a job offer from a Canadian employer to qualify.
PNP has targeted to welcome approximately 64,000 to 81,500 skilled immigrants in 2021. With over 80 PNP programs to choose from, there are many options to consider, which can be advised by a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (CRIC ) to choose the best program for you.
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Program operates by nominating immigrants that want to live and work in a particular Province or Territory with the purpose to immigrate to Canada. To begin with, a candidate is required to choose a province that they would like to work in. The choice of Province will influence the applicant’s application for nomination and based on its labour and immigration needs, decide whether the applicant is eligible to move and settle in the specific province. Following are the various PNPs to choose from:
- Alberta Provincial Nominee Program
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
- Yukon Nominee Program
Family Class Sponsorship
Canada’s immigration policy allows and welcomes family settlements. Families in Canada can sponsor their spouses/ parents/ grandparents to come to Canada on a permanent residency. To qualify to sponsor your relative, you have to be a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. However, you can bring your parents and grandparents to Canada under the Super Visa Category or Parents and Grandparents Sponsorship Program.
LMIA Work Visa
Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is a verification process carried out by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to assess a job offer to make sure that employment of a foreign skilled worker will not have a negative effect on the labour market. Many potential Canadian immigrants receive Canadian job offers, apply for a work visa, and on that basis immigrate to Canada. LMIA involves getting a job offer in Canada, asking the Canadian employer to apply for an LMIA through Service Canada, then the applicant to apply for the work permit after LMIA approval. This is a very complex process, but it can lead to permanent residence in Canada.
Canada Study Permit
In a single year, Canada admits approximately 350,000 international students. International students can eventually obtain their permanent residence in Canada by first obtaining a study permit, then applying for a post-graduation work permit, and finally applying for their permanent residence by submitting a PR Visa application through the Express Entry system.
To be eligible to study in Canada, these students must demonstrate:
- Accepted by Canadian educational institutions like school, college, or university;
- have enough money to pay for tuition, living expenses, and round-trip transportation;
- are law-abiding citizens without a criminal record;
- are in good health and willing to undergo a medical examination, and;
- can convince an immigration officer that he will leave Canada at the end of his authorized stay.
After getting a study permit, international students can apply under any one of the following:
- on-campus without a work permit;
- off-campus with a work permit;
- in co-op and internship programs, where work experience is part of the study program, with a work permit.
After graduation, a foreign student can apply for a work permit under the post-graduation work permit program. Under this program, the work permit can be issued for the duration of the study program, up to a maximum of three years.
Post Graduation Work Permit
Under Post Graduation Work Permit you can apply for permanent residence through Canada Express Entry system.
Under the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used by Express Entry programs, immigrant applicants are awarded points based on:
- Skills;
- Work experience;
- Language ability;
- Language capacity and education of the applicant’s spouse or common-law partner;
- A job-offer letter supported by a positive LMIA;
- A provincial nomination certificate for permanent residence, and;
- Certain combinations of language skills, education, and work experience that increase the candidate’s chances of finding a job (skills portability).
Startup Visa Program
Applicants who want to invest in Canada can also immigrate to Canada under the Start-up Visa program which can grant them Canadian permanent residence. This program promotes innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and allows them to work with the Canadian private sector businesses, such as angel investor groups, venture capital funds, or business incubators, and facilitate the establishment of their start-ups in Canada.
A designated venture capital fund must confirm that it invests at least $ 200,000 in the qualifying business. Applicants may also qualify with two or more designated venture capital fund commitments totaling $ 200,000. A designated angel group must invest at least $ 75,000 in the qualifying business.
Canadian Investor Immigration
This Investor Category is designed for high-net-worth investors who own or manage investments and businesses overseas. Experienced business people are welcome to invest in the Canadian economy and contribute to Canada’s economy. There are basically two programs for investors in Canada:
- The Federal Investor Program
- The Quebec program.
Both programs require that the applicants have a high net worth and make a large investment in an approved investment fund for a 5-year period. Investors can also bring along their family members as dependents on their PR visa applications.
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