Immigrating to Canada

Canada is truly a land of opportunity and many people each year dream of immigrating to Canada and starting a brand new life for themselves and their family in this free, democratic, beautiful and welcoming country.

If you too are considering emigrating this article covers the six main options you have when applying for permanent residence status.

1) Skilled Worker

To qualify as a skilled worker you have to have an excellent command of English and/or French and you have to have been educated to a high standard and/or have a great deal of valuable work experience.  Furthermore you have to be financial solvent and able to prove that you can support yourself and your family for at least six months after you relocate to Canada.

All those who apply for permanent residence status via the Skilled Worker Class Immigration are assessed on six key selection criteria and they are Education, Official Languages, Experience, Age, Arranged Employment in Canada and Adaptability.

2) Business Class

If you want immigration to Canada and you’re in a position to start a business or invest in Canada and/or its people, you could be eligible to apply for permanent residence status under Business Class Immigration.

You can apply as either an Investor, an Entrepreneur or as a Self-Employed Person. 

As an Investor has to have a minimum net worth of CAD 800,000 and be prepared to invest CAD 400,000 and have demonstrated extensive skills in business already.

An Entrepreneur also has to have proven business skills and experience and be coming to Canada with the intention of building a business that will actively contribute to the economy of the country and employ Canadian citizens as well.  An Entrepreneur should have a net worth of CAD 300,000.

A Self-Employed Person must intend to create their own employment opportunities once they have successfully immigrated to Canada and can do almost anything from farming to sport or culture.

3) Provincial National

If you have an active desire to settle in one particular province in Canada you can apply directly to the governance of that province and you will find that they have direct say over who can and cannot immigrate.  They have an agreement with the overall government of Canada to manage their own immigration when someone applies directly to the province.  You first apply to the province and prove to them your intention to settle there and they will assess your immigration needs or desire before accepting or rejecting your application.  If you are a successful Provincial Nominee you then have to apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for permanent residence.

4) Family Class

If you have close family living in Canada they can sponsor your application for permanent residence in Canada.  If you can prove the relationship, that you have a need or strong desire to immigrate to Canada and that your sponsor can support you and your dependents for a period of between three and ten years (if needs be) then you can apply under Family Class Immigration.

5) International Adoption

If you’re already a Canadian citizen and you are adopting a child from abroad you can apply for permanent Canadian residence for that child under the International Adoption Class.  If you’re a Canadian considering international adoption you need to know that you have to comply not only with the adoption laws in the country from which the child will be coming, but also the Canadian adoption laws as well, and you must not only apply for citizenship for your child, but you must also go through the Canadian adoption process as well.

6) Quebec-Selected

Quebec’s government has an agreement with Canada’s government concerning the immigration procedures in Quebec.  Basically Quebec can select its own immigrants and set its own criteria and requirements.  If you’re specifically interested in immigrating to Quebec you might like to consider applying for permanent residence under the Quebec-Selected Class.

For more information about immigrating to Canada and to find out how to apply try the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website http://www.cic.gc.ca/