Immigrate to Canada

Express Entry

Express Entry remains the fastest and most popular immigration program offered by the Canadian government. Candidates applying through this system can obtain permanent resident status in just six months. Over the next three years, Canada plans to invite more than 240,000 foreign candidates to submit their applications in one of the three categories of the Express Entry program:

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

The Express Entry system requires the submission of an online profile, evaluated by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). To submit an Express Entry profile, you must first be eligible for one of the three federal categories mentioned. The Canadian government then sends invitations to apply for permanent residence to the highest-ranked candidates in the Express Entry pool.

For those eligible to submit their profile, Express Entry can be one of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada. However, reaching the CRS cutoff during the federal draws can be challenging. Being in the candidate pool may also allow you to be nominated under a provincial nominee program (PNP).

The cost of immigrating to Canada through Express Entry is generally around CAD 2,300 for a single applicant or approximately CAD 4,500 for a couple. This amount does not include settlement funds, which must also be presented as part of the eligibility requirements and vary based on family size.

Visit our Express Entry page to learn more about submitting a profile and discover how to improve your ranking in the pool.

Throughout the pandemic, Canadian provinces continued to nominate eligible foreign workers for permanent residency. This year, Canada plans to welcome 83,500 new immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).

Canada has numerous nomination programs distributed across its ten provinces and three territories. Each PNP has its own eligibility criteria. While some programs require a connection to the province in order to apply, others invite foreign candidates based on their ability to meet specific provincial labor market needs.

Each PNP has its own processing times. After receiving a nomination, candidates must submit their application for permanent residency to the federal government. The processing time for this application depends on whether the PNP utilizes the Express Entry system.

The cost of immigrating to Canada through a PNP is generally similar to that of Express Entry, with some additional fees depending on the province. Some provinces do not charge fees to process PNP applications, while others, like Ontario, may require up to CAD 1,500.

If you have management experience or are a business owner, one of the most accessible ways to immigrate to Canada could be to participate in a federal or provincial immigration program designed for business people.

The federal government offers immigration programs specifically designed for individuals wishing to work for themselves or start a business in Canada.

Additionally, several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) target foreign entrepreneurs looking to launch a business in a specific Canadian province.

These business immigration programs typically require a substantial investment in the business you plan to create in Canada. The required amount will depend on the program that suits you. Many PNPs also offer regional entrepreneur programs that require a reduced investment for those wishing to establish their business in less densely populated areas.

If you have an eligible family member who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, family sponsorship could be the easiest pathway to immigrate to Canada.

Canada offers several immigration programs that allow permanent residents and citizens to bring their relatives to the country. This year, Canada plans to welcome 105,000 new permanent residents through family sponsorship programs.

If your spouse, child, or grandchild is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, you might be eligible for family sponsorship.

The cost of sponsoring a parent is generally around CAD 1,135. Additional fees may apply if the sponsor resides or intends to settle in the province of Quebec.

The processing time for a sponsorship application varies depending on the family member sponsoring you. For spousal sponsorship, the complete processing of an application typically takes about 12 months.

Explore your immigration options to Canada using our free online assessment tool. By filling out a simple form, you will provide us with the necessary information to evaluate your eligibility for various immigration programs. After analysis, we will indicate which program best suits your needs.

Economic and business immigration options are aimed at professionals whose skills meet the needs of the Canadian economy. Requirements vary significantly from one program to another, so there is no uniform description.

The categories of economic immigration and business immigration include:

• Provincial Nominee Programs
• Express Entry
• Immigration to Quebec
• Investor Programs
• Entrepreneur and Self-Employed Programs

Other federal options, such as the Caregiver Program, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, and the Agri-Food Pilot Program, are also available under economic immigration in Canada.

Contact us to find out which program best fits your profile.

Family sponsorship allows Canadian citizens and permanent residents to bring their relatives to Canada.

Eligible family members for sponsorship include:

• Spouse or common-law partner
• Dependent children (adopted or biological)
• Parents and grandparents

In certain situations, it is possible to sponsor family members outside of these categories if you have no other eligible relatives. You can then sponsor:

• An orphaned brother or sister
• An orphaned nephew or niece
• An orphaned grandchild

Canada is globally recognized for its leadership in welcoming refugees and other immigrants for humanitarian reasons. A significant portion of the country’s annual immigration target is dedicated to the integration of refugees.

The immigration fees for Canada are generally around CAD 2,300 for a single person and CAD 4,500 for a couple. This amount does not include the settlement funds required for eligibility, which vary depending on family size, with a minimum of approximately CAD 13,000 for an individual. If you are applying through a provincial program, additional fees may apply. Settlement funds are not required if you have a job offer in Canada or if you are applying under the Canadian Experience Class.

Business immigration programs often require a significant investment in Canada, whether it’s to invest in a Canadian business or to provide an interest-free loan to the federal or provincial government.

In general, it is not necessary to provide financial information to sponsor a spouse or dependent child. However, if you are sponsoring other family members, such as a parent or grandparent, a financial requirement must be met.

For humanitarian immigration applications, no financial requirement is imposed. However, if the refugee is sponsored by the private sector, the Canadian group providing the sponsorship must demonstrate that it has sufficient funds to cover the refugee’s resettlement.

Each immigration program has its own specific eligibility criteria. It is crucial to check your eligibility before submitting your application.

When you apply, the Canadian government will require various documents to confirm your work experience, degrees, identity, as well as your criminal and medical background. The required documents will vary depending on the chosen program.

To find out what documents you need to provide, start by identifying the immigration program that best fits your situation.

The Express Entry system is the fastest way to immigrate to Canada, with most applications processed in six months or less.

Regarding the maximum age to immigrate to Canada, there is no specific age limit for Canadian immigration programs. However, in most economic immigration categories, candidates aged 25 to 35 earn the maximum points. That said, older candidates can also be selected. Significant work experience, strong language proficiency, ties to Canada, and advanced education can compensate for lost points due to age in economic immigration.

Family sponsorship, humanitarian immigration, and refugee status in Canada are not subject to a ranking system, so age does not affect your eligibility in these categories.

There is no specific age limit for immigration programs to Canada. However, in most economic immigration categories, candidates aged 25 to 35 receive the maximum points. That said, older candidates can certainly be selected, as strong work experience, excellent language proficiency, ties to Canada, and advanced education can offset points lost due to age.

Family sponsorship, humanitarian immigration, and refugee status in Canada do not rely on a ranking system, so age is not a penalizing factor in these categories.

With over 80 immigration pathways available, Canada offers a multitude of options for applicants. However, settling in a new country requires a certain level of effort. Some immigration programs demand higher qualifications and more complex documentation than others. In this context, hiring a Canadian immigration lawyer can greatly simplify the process, from application submission to approval.

Canadian immigration consultants act as intermediaries with the government for your application. They handle the submission, advise you on the required documents, and guide you on what to include and what to avoid.

To discover how qualified consultants at Amriis can assist you, please visit our dedicated page on Canadian immigration services.

No, the majority of permanent residency applicants to Canada do not have a job offer when they submit their application. While some immigration programs in Canada may require a job offer, there are many other options available for foreign candidates without one. Here are the two main immigration programs in Canada that do not require a job offer:

The Express Entry system allows for the arrival of more than 100,000 new immigrants to Canada each year. If you apply through this program, it is unlikely that you will need to submit a job offer. According to IRCC’s 2019 year-end report, about 90% of Express Entry candidates invited to apply for permanent residency did not have a job offer in Canada.

Although Express Entry requires candidates to have appropriate work experience, educational qualifications, and language skills, not having a job offer from a Canadian employer does not negatively impact the candidate’s score.

Many provincial programs do not require a job offer to apply.

Some provinces, such as Saskatchewan, use points-based systems based on an Expression of Interest (EOI), similar to Express Entry, to select eligible candidates for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

To address specific demographic or labor market needs, provinces like Ontario and Nova Scotia can directly invite candidates from the Express Entry pool. This means that having an active profile in the Express Entry pool could lead to an invitation to settle permanently in a Canadian province.

So, if you wish to immigrate to Canada without having a job offer yet, don’t worry! There are many pathways to become a permanent resident without a prior job offer.

A Canadian permanent resident is a foreign citizen who has been granted permission to live in Canada as a permanent resident. This status allows them to live and work anywhere in the country. Permanent residents enjoy many benefits, such as access to healthcare and social services, as well as the right to live, work, and study in any region of Canada while being protected by Canadian law. Additionally, after meeting the residency requirements set by law, permanent residents can apply for Canadian citizenship and gain the right to vote in elections.

Canadian citizens enjoy many rights and privileges in Canada. They have access to healthcare, social services, and legal protection. Citizens also have the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada and to vote in elections. Furthermore, Canadian citizenship is permanent and cannot be revoked. Individuals born in Canada automatically obtain citizenship. Permanent residents can also become Canadian citizens by following the naturalization process through Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Once a person obtains permanent resident status in Canada, they are free to live and work anywhere in the country. In contrast, if a foreign person does not have this status, they must obtain specific authorization to work in Canada, typically in the form of a Canadian work permit.

Some immigration programs allow foreigners to immigrate to Canada with their family members. However, the family members that can be included vary depending on the program. For example, the Express Entry system allows candidates to include their spouse and dependent children in their application, but not their parents. In contrast, Canada offers family sponsorship programs that enable Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, as well as their parents and grandparents. To find out if your relatives can accompany you, it is essential to first determine which immigration program is right for you.

Canadian cities and rural areas rely on newcomers to support the growth of their population and labor market. Given an aging population but supported by strong immigration policies, Canada has managed to avoid the issues experienced by Japan in the 1990s. Thus, the large-scale immigration goals adopted by Canada have helped maintain a significant proportion of the population in the working age, specifically between 25 and 54 years old.