How To Immigrate To Canada in 2023 | Ultimate Canada Relocation Guide

The Canadian Government has announced to welcome a record-breaking 411,000 new permanent residents by 2022, per the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan. This is undoubtedly a higher level than Canada has ever targeted before. Canada has not declared dropping this target during the pandemic. The new immigration minister, Sean Fraser, mentioned possibly increasing these levels even further to meet labor market demand in Canada.

How To Move To Canada?

Do you want to move to Canada from the US or other countries? first, you must understand the immigration to Canada requirements. For example, if you are a business owner, you must see the available opportunities for businessmen and entrepreneurs, and if you are a professional, you must see the available programs for skilled professionals. Canada IRCC offers a wide range of immigration programs to foreign people who can contribute to the Canadian economy, society, or even a Canadian family who is inviting the remaining family unit.

Canada Immigration Pathways

IRCC offers many pathways to immigrate to Canada. There are permanent residence programs, work permit programs, and study permits. Some popular permanent residence options are available under the economic class immigration programs. The following chart helps you understand some of the popular pathways on how to immigrate to Canada:

Economic Immigration To Canada

Canada Express Entry

Express Entry is Canada’s permanent residence visa option and is considered the major immigration program to address the need for immigrants in Canada. Express Entry is a great and straightforward way to become a Canadian permanent resident. This is a point-based immigration system that Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) uses to manage applications through three subcategories of Express Entry.

The Express Entry is comprised of three categories:

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)
Federal Skilled Trades (FST)
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

FSW candidates must have a minimum of one year of skilled work experience. However, this program requires English or French Language Proficiency, education, and other human factors. The candidate must score higher or equal to the monthly CRS cutoff score, and meet Canada permanent residence eligibility requirements to get ITA. Candidates can calculate their CRS here. Before applying to the IRCC’s visa and immigration portal, candidates must understand the documents checklist for moving to Canada.

Federal Skilled Trades (FST)

Through this program, candidates must have at least two years of work experience in a skilled trade. This experience must have been obtained within the last 5 years. The candidate should also meet English, educational and Canadian employment requirements.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Relocating to Canada through the Canadian Experience Class (CES) is an effective and easy option. Candidates with one year of job experience from any Canadian employer can add more points to the Express Entry profile and get ITA faster than others.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada has 10 provinces and 3 territories. Each province or territory has its unique immigration program to welcome foreign skilled professionals.

Here is a list of the provinces and territories now welcoming new immigrants. you may visit their official websites and learn how to immigrate to Canada through PNPs.

After being nominated by the province or territory, the candidate will have to make a distinct application to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for permanent residence. A CIC officer will then evaluate the application based on Canadian immigration regulations.

How to Immigrate to Canada through the Atlantic Immigration Program?

The Atlantic Immigration Program replaced the Atlantic Immigration Pilot. You can now lodge Canada permanent residence visa application to the program. The Atlantic Immigration Program is a pathway to Canadian PR for skilled workers and international graduates from a Canadian institution who want to work and live in one of the four Atlantic provinces.

New Brunswick
Nova Scotia
Prince Edward Island or
Newfoundland and Labrador

The program helps the employers in the Atlantic regions to hire qualified foreign candidates for jobs that they haven’t been able to fill locally. The Atlantic Immigration Program is a kind of an employer-driven program that requires the hiring of foreign nationals. All candidates under the Atlantic Immigration program must have a valid job offer from a designated Atlantic employer and a customized settlement plan for immigration to Canada with family.

How does Atlantic Immigration Program work?

Once a designated employer finds a suitable candidate who meets all the visa requirements and their employment needs, the employer will then need to first send them a job offer. Unlike other programs, there is no requirement of obtaining a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), so this is a great advantage of applying for the Atlantic Immigration Program.

The candidate must accept the job offer and its terms and conditions to initiate the immigration to Canada process. The employer must link the candidate with a designated settlement service provider organization for a needs assessment and to arrange a mandatory settlement plan. The employers should also support continuous integration of the new immigrant and his or her family, if required by IRCC, so they can reach the targets of their settlement plan once they arrive in Canada. Also, if an employer needs to fill a job position fast will have access to a temporary work permit, so that the immigration to Canada with the family will be as quickly as possible. To obtain this work permit, candidates will need:

a valid job offer by a designated employer in the Atlantic province;
a letter from the province; and
a commitment to apply for a Canadian permanent residence visa within 90 days of the temporary work permit application.

Atlantic Immigration to Canada requirements:

To be eligible for the Atlantic immigration program (AIP) you must:

have required job experience unless you are an international student that graduated from a recognized post-secondary institution in Atlantic Canada.
meet the educational requirement
and meet the language requirement
show you have enough settlement funds. The proof of fund is not required if you are already living in Canada with a valid work permit

You can start applying for a job with a designated Atlantic Canada employer if you meet all the above criteria.

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program, also known as QIIP, was announced in 1986 and is designed to allow business people who meet specific criteria to enter Quebec and obtain Canada’s permanent residence visa while contributing to the economic development of the province.

Quebec Immigrant Investor Program is one of the popular investment immigration programs. This program is popular among people with high net worth.

The primary requirements to be eligible under the QIIP program, are:

Net worth: the candidate must show a net worth of at least $2 million which is legally owned by the candidate through business, employment, or self-employment
Business or managerial experience:
- having owned and managed a successful business for two years in the past five years, OR
- having held a top-level managerial position for two years in the past five years in a company.
Investment: At least $1.2 million in a passive government guaranteed investment for five years and accepts no interest.

Quebec Immigrant Entrepreneur Program

The Quebec government targets at inviting individuals who have the skills and experience to run and manage a business in the Quebec province. The Quebec Immigration Entrepreneur Program has been restored in 2018 and is now operating under two streams:

The first stream consists in starting a business enterprise in Quebec with support from a business incubator, accelerator, or a university entrepreneurship center.
The second stream consists of starting or buying a running business, of which the candidate must hold at least 25% share if it’s a new initiative or at least 51% of an acquired enterprise.

Under the second stream, the candidate will have to invest a minimum of $200,000 for a business outside of Montreal, or $300,000 for a business placed in the metropolitan area of Montreal. A guarantee deposit of a minimum of $200,000 is also a prerequisite, as a guarantee, and might be returned upon recognition of the business project.

The candidate must verify that they have legitimately acquired a minimum net worth of CAD 900,000, alone with their spouse if applicable.

Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program

The Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP) is a well-known permanent immigration program for skilled workers in Quebec which is similar to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) under the Express Entry system. Interested candidates who wish to settle down in Quebec must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) through the government’s online portal. The Ministère de l’Immigration, de la Francisation et de l’Intégration (MIFI) regularly selects qualified candidates from the pool system and invites to apply for permanent residence visa.

Quebec’s Expression of Interest System

Quebec’s EOI system is a two-step process for selecting foreign skilled immigrants.

Step 1 – The first step is to submit an online expression of interest for permanent immigration to Arrima. This is a pre-screening step that allows the government to rank interested candidates based on their human capital and labor market-related measures.

Step 2 – The second step is for the government to send ITA to the top-ranked candidates to apply for permanent immigration in regular draws from the pool system. Several factors determine the chances of getting invited by the government. Some of the factors include the government’s annual immigrant targets, its bulk processing capacity, the candidates’ ranking scores in the pool, whether there is an employment offer, and the in-demand occupations at the time of each draw.

Eligibility for the Quebec-Selected Skilled Worker Program

To be qualified for a CSQ under the QSWP, concerned candidates must obtain the required points for immigration to Canada based on the Quebec Immigration selection grid.

This grid is composed of nine important factors:

education;
work experience;
age;
French and English language competency;
stay and family in Quebec;
validated job offer;
spouse’s characteristics;
presence of children;
ability to be financially independent.

Unmarried candidates must score at least 50, while a candidate with a spouse or common-law partner must score at least 59 points for immigration to Canada.

Quebec Self-Employed Program

To be eligible under the Quebec Self-Employed Program, the candidate must meet the following criteria that distinguish them from the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP):

have experience of self-employment for at least two years, in the appropriate professional that they intend to do in Quebec;
own a personal net worth of CAD 100,000, alone or with an accompanying spouse or common-law partner;
Register a start-up deposit obligation of at least $50,000 if the person is based in the metropolitan area or $25,000 if the person is based outside of Montreal.

Eligibility requirements for the Quebec Immigrant Self-Employed Program:

A genuine interest to live and work in the province of Quebec;
The ability to create his or her employment by practicing in Quebec the profession or trade he or she has had experience in;
A net worth of at least C$100,000 (this can be shared assets too, wherein the assets are shared between the candidate and the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner);
Been working in the profession or trade for at least 2 years from the date of applying.

In addition to the above, the candidate will also be assessed on other factors, such as:

The age of the candidate;
Nature and duration of the candidate’s professional training;
The age of the candidate’s spouse or common-law partner;
Language skills of the candidate;
The personal qualities of the candidate;
The candidate’s knowledge about Canada, and Quebec in specific.

Canada Start-up Visa Program

Canada’s Start-up Visa program is for foreign entrepreneurs and business owners who want to create businesses in Canada and apply for Canadian permanent residency. The start-up visa program, launched in 2013 as a pilot program, has been an easy pathway for foreign entrepreneurs who seek to get PR and move to Canada with their families.

The immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners with the skills and talents to build businesses in Canada that

are innovative
can create jobs for Canadian PR or Citizens
can compete on a global scale

Unlike Canada’s previous Entrepreneur Visa, the Start-Up Visa Program is supported by venture capitalists, angel investors, or Business incubators in Canada who commit to investing in immigrant entrepreneurs’ business ideas.

How does the Start-up program work?

Receiving A Letter of Support and Commitment Certificate for Start-Up Visa Eligibility for immigration to Canada

Startup Visa candidate must obtain a Letter of Support and a Commitment Certificate from one of the designated private-sector investors. Visa applications lodged without this document are usually rejected.

Meeting the Investment Requirements

If you are willing to immigrate to Canada through this visa program, you must take the support of a Canadian venture capital fund, angel investor group, or business incubator that is ready to invest in your new business.

Firstly, you can come to Canada on a work permit backed by a designated Canada-based investor, before qualifying for permanent residence once your business is up and running.

Angel Investor Group: A designated angel investor group must invest CAD 75,000 into the eligible business. You are also allowed to accept two or more investments from angel investor groups totaling CAD 75,000.

List of Canadian International Angel Investors:

Ekagrata Inc.
Golden Triangle Angel Network
Keiretsu Forum Canada
Oak Mason Investments Inc.
Southeastern Ontario Angel Network
TenX Angel Investors Inc.
VANTEC Angel Network Inc.
York Angel Investors Inc

Venture Capital Investors: A designated venture capital fund must approve that it is agreed to invest at least CAD 200,000 into the qualifying business. You can also qualify with two or more commitments from designated venture capital funds totaling CAD 200,000.

List of venture capital investors:

BCF Ventures
BDC Venture Capital
Celtic House Venture Partners
Extreme Venture Partners LLP
Golden Venture Partners Fund, LP
Impression Ventures
Information Venture Partners Management Inc.
Innovation Platform Capital International LP
iNovia Capital Inc.
Lumira Capital
Nova Scotia Innovation Corporation (o/a Innovacorp)
OMERS Ventures Management Inc.
Pangaea Ventures Ltd.
PRIVEQ Capital Funds
Real Ventures
Relay Ventures
ScaleUp Venture Partners, Inc.
Top Renergy Inc.
Vanedge Capital Limited Partnership
Version One Ventures
Westcap Management Ltd.
Yaletown Venture Partners Inc.
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute (YEDI) VC Fund

Business Incubator: A designated business incubator must approve you into its business incubator program. You must be accepted into one of these programs. No financial investment is required:

List of business incubator programs:

Alacrity Foundation
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry
Agrivalue Processing Business Incubator
Food Processing Development Centre
Biomedical Commercialization Canada Inc. (operating as Manitoba Technology Accelerator)
Creative Destruction Lab
Empowered Startups Ltd.
Extreme Innovations
Genesis Centre
Highline BETA Inc.
Innovacorp
Interactive Niagara Media Cluster o/a Innovate Niagara
Invest Ottawa
Knowledge Park o/a Planet Hatch
LatAm Startups
Launch Academy – Vancouver
LaunchPad PEI Inc.
Millworks Centre for Entrepreneurship
NEXT Canada
North Forge Technology Exchange
Platform Calgary
Real Investment Fund III L.P. o/a FounderFuel
Ryerson Futures Inc.
Spark Commercialization and Innovation Centre
Spring Activator
The DMZ at Ryerson University
Toronto Business Development Centre (TBDC)
TSRV Canada Inc. (operating as Techstars Canada)
VIATECWaterloo Accelerator Centre
York Entrepreneurship Development Institute

Meeting the language Start-Up Visa requirement

Like other visa programs, a start-up visa program requires you to submit a language proficiency report to show your English or French Language level. The minimum requirement is CLB 5.

The test results must be valid and less than two years old at the time of application submission.

Canadian immigration accepts English test results from the following test providers:

IELTS (General test)
CELPIP (General test)

French language test results may also be submitted:

Proof of adequate settlement funds

Apart from investment commitments for your business in Canada, you must show that you have sufficient funds to support yourself while you are in Canada. This is one of the common requirements that almost all Canada permanent residence visa candidates must fulfill.

The amount you must have varies depending on the number of people applying along with you.

No. of Family Members	Funds Required
1	$12,960
2	$16,135
3	$19,836
4	$24,083
5	$27,315
6	$30,806
7	$34,299
For Each Individual	$34299

In some rare cases, your designated investor may be agreed to cooperate with you with settlement funding!

Meeting the Requisite Security and Medical Clearances for Immigration

Start-Up Visa candidates must be free of criminal records, and therefore, a Police clearance certificate is essential. Candidates also need to go to Panel Physicians for medical exams and get medical approval to submit while applying to the Startup Visa Program.

Family Class Immigration to Canada

If you are living in Canada with a status of Permanent Resident or Citizen, you may be able to sponsor your family members to immigrate to Canada and live in Canada indefinitely. Family sponsorship has been one of the important aspects of Canadian immigration for a long time.

It is hard for immigrants to leave family members behind in their native countries. So, through family sponsorship, it is now quite easy to reunite with family members.

Through Family Class immigration in Canada, a Canadian permanent resident or citizen can sponsor the following family members:

Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner
Dependent kids
Parent
Grandparent
Sibling, nephew, niece, or grandchild under 18 years whose parents are deceased

Spousal/Common-Law sponsorship immigration to Canada

Spousal Sponsorship immigration to Canada is a popular visa program. Canadian citizen and Canadian Permanent residents can sponsor their foreign partner to come to Canada to join their partner. This is one of the important visa classes that is given utmost priority by the Canada IRCC. It is important to understand that the Canadian IRCC will grant a visa to a foreign spouse only if it finds out a genuine and committed relationship between husband and wife.

Spouse/Common-law sponsorship immigration to Canada requirements:

You must be at least 18 years old
You live in Canada or planning to return to Canada once your spouse or partner is granted a visa
You are capable to provide all the basic needs of your spouse or partner for at least three years
You must have a house to provide proper accommodation for your spouse in Canada.

It is very important to know the following issues that an immigration officer will be investigated on

The relationship between husband and wife must be ongoing and genuine
The relationship between them is long-lasting
Evidence to prove the authenticity of the marriage
Proof of registration of marriage with a government authority
The couple intends to maintain a quarrel free conjugal life

2. Parent and Grandparent Program

Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents and grandparents for immigration to Canada. Parents and grandparents approved under this program receive Canadian permanent residence and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Your parents and grandparents can relish the full advantages of Canadian PR including being able to work in Canada, get health care coverage, get full protection under Canadian law and the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and apply to become a Canadian citizens once they meet the Canadian Citizenship eligibility criteria.

The Parent and Grandparent Program (PGP) announced a lottery system for selection, so candidates are selected quite randomly. This PGP is a kind of first-come, first-served immigration program. So, to sponsor grandparents, Canadian citizens and permanent residents first submit an Interest to a Sponsor on the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). If the invitation is received, then there will be a 90-day period to submit a complete visa application to sponsor the grandparent.

Parent and grandparent immigration to Canada requirements:

Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident living in Canada
Be at least 18 years of age
Be the child or grandchild of the person(s) they are sponsoring

Super Visa for Parents and Grandparents

Super visa for parents and grandparents is a non-immigrant option. But, this visa plays an important role for the immigrants and their foreign living parents and grandparents. If the sponsorship for permanent residence for parents or grandparents is not possible, the Canadian IRCC offers a Super Visa for parents and grandparents. The Super Visa is a long-term, multiple-entry visitor visa that can be issued for a period of up to 10 years.

Refugee and humanitarian programs

The Canadian government has recognized this basic human right since 1951 when it retained the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (the Geneva Convention). The right to life, liberty, and security of the person is also enshrined in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

Refugee Determination

To be granted asylum status in Canada as a refugee, a candidate must be outside his or her home country and have a well-founded fear of torture and persecution.

Bringing refugees to Canada from overseas countries is known as resettlement. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC, formerly CIC) resettles people and families based on referrals from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), other referral organizations, and private sponsorship groups.

The refugee claim process for immigration to Canada

Canada has obliged itself to save true refugees, that is, not to transmit them back to persecution and danger. People who get to Canada on their own can claim refugee protection at any border point, or inside Canada, at a Canadian Immigration Visa Office. Refugee claims are complex and there’s always a lot at stake. It’s always desirable for people seeking refugee protection to be represented by a competent Canadian attorney with skills in this particular area of the law. Refugee Status application processing times vary from one Canadian Immigration Visa office to another.

Government-sponsored refugees
Privately sponsored refugees
Dependents of refugees

People who have a refugee claim rejected, abandoned, or withdrawn may ultimately apply for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA). This is an advantage for people who are facing disposition from Canada to seek protection by describing, in writing, the dangers they believe they would face if removed.

Humanitarian and Compassionate program

The humanitarian and Compassionate program, also known as H&C, is a Canadian permanent residence application program. Each year, a great number of people living in Canada become Canadian permanent residents through the Humanitarian and Compassionate program.

H&C is for people who do not have legal status in Canada but who have completely made Canada their ultimate home.

Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) immigration to Canada requirements:

Candidates can use the H&C application to receive Canadian PR on humanitarian and compassionate grounds if you:

are a foreign national currently living in Canada
need an exemption from one or more requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) or Regulations to apply for Canadian PR
believe humanitarian and compassionate considerations justify granting the exemption(s) you need
are not eligible to apply for permanent residence from within Canada in any of these classes:
Spouse or Common-Law Partner
Caregivers: caring for children or people with high medical needs
Protected Person and Convention Refugees
Temporary Resident Permit Holder

You are NOT eligible to apply for Canada PR under H&C if you:

are a Canadian citizen
a permanent resident
have submitted an H&C application for which a decision has not been made
have an outstanding refugee claim
became a designated foreign national within the last 5 years

Temporary Work Permits in Canada

International Experience Canada (IEC)

International Experience Canada work permits are approved through a randomized draw system. The chance of getting International Experience Canada Work Permits approval does not depend on EOI itself. Chances of success depend on the allocation for each program and country. There are three separate programs. IRCC has set general requirements, interested candidates must verify the requirements for the separate programs. Each program has unique requirements, and can result in a different form of work authorization:

Working Holiday
Young Professionals
International Co-op Internship

Intra-Company Transfer

The Intra-Company Transferee, a Canada work permit program, allows multi-national companies with a presence in Canada to transfer staff to their Canadian branch, affiliate, or subsidiary office.

To be eligible to work in Canada under the Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program, foreign workers must fall into one of three defined categories:

Executives primarily direct the management of the enterprise, or a major component thereof, and receive only general (if any) supervision from higher-level executives.

Senior managers manage all or part of the enterprise and supervise or control the work of other managers or professional employees.

Workers with ‘specialized knowledge’ can prove specialized knowledge of the enterprise’s product or service, or an advanced level of expertise in the enterprise’s processes and procedures.

In all cases, workers being transferred to Canada must have at least one year of full-time work experience with the foreign enterprise and be coming to Canada to perform comparable work.

Requirements for Canadian work permits under the Intra-Company Transferee program:

A worker must have been working for the company in a similar capacity for at least one year.
The proposed employee must be offered a salary in Canada that meets or exceeds the “prevailing wage” for their occupation.
The Canadian business will have to demonstrate a qualifying relationship with its foreign counterpart – e.g. parent, subsidiary, branch, or affiliate.

Free Trade Agreements

Usually, foreign workers who are qualified under an FTA need a work permit but are exempt from obtaining a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), making the process of obtaining a Canada work permit cheaper and quick.

The Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) agreement is the largest FTA to which Canada is a party, and is similar to several Free Trade Agreements to which Canada is a party:

The Canada-European Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), along with Chile, Peru, Columbia, and Korea FTAs are akin to CUSMA and all contain provisions that allow temporary entry to 4 groups of business persons: business visitors, professionals, intra-company transferees, and traders and investors.

Under the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), professionals are authorized to enter either as professionals or intra-company transferees.

Eligibility requirements vary expressively from one category to another. However, the same LMIA exemption applies.

Canada-United States-Mexico (CUSMA) Agreement. Formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
Canada-Chile FTA
Canada-Peru FTA
Canada-Colombia FTA
Canada-Korea FTA
Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA)
GATS
Canada–Panama Free Trade Agreement
Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

Canada Work permits for spouses and partners of foreign workers and students

An Open Work Permit (OWP) allows a successful candidate to work in Canada in ANY job, without limits. The successful candidate of an OWP does not require an LMIA or confirmation of employment first. Once the work permit is approved, the holder can apply and work in any job/occupation in Canada.

Foreigners that are qualified for an Open Work permit:

Spouse/common-law partner being sponsored for Permanent Residence through an Inland Spousal Application
International study permit holders who recently graduated from a Canadian post-secondary institution and are eligible for the Post-Graduation Work Permit Program can apply for a Post-Graduation Open Work Permit
Spouse/common-law partner of a Temporary Foreign Worker
Spouse/common-law partners of International Students studying in Canada
International Experience Canada (IEC) Candidates.

Visa Options To Study in Canada

A Canadian study permit is not an immigration program. A study permit is always a non-immigration program. But, a study permit can be one of the Canadian immigration pathways. A candidate for a Canadian study permit may include his or her dependent family members on the application, so that they may accompany the primary candidate to Canada. A dependent spouse may be able to get an open work permit, allowing them to work for any Canadian employer, and minor children may be able to study at Canadian schools.

To be eligible to apply for a Canadian study permit, a prospective student must:

Get a letter of acceptance from a designated learning institution to apply for a Canadian study permit;
Demonstrate sufficient financial support to cover the first year of tuition, as well as living expenses and return transportation to his or her home country
Obtain a Certificat d’acceptation du Quebec (Quebec Acceptance Certificate, or CAQ) if he or she needs to study in Montreal or elsewhere in the Quebec province
Have a clean record. Visa candidates with a criminal background, or who pose a risk to Canadian security, may be refused. IRCC may request a candidate to supply a police clearance certificate
Be in good health. IRCC may request a candidate to complete a medical examination; and,
Satisfy the immigration officer that he or she will leave Canada at the end of the stay authorized by the study permit

The candidate may also be required to submit the following supporting documents:

Passport for the applicant and every family member included on the application;
Two passport photos for the applicant and each family member are included on the application, with the full name and date of birth written on the back;
Photocopy of marriage certificate, if applicable; and,
Any further documents are required by specific visa offices.

Things To Know Before Moving To Canada

Housing in Canada

Finding a good home in Canada is the first thing any immigrant will want to make sure of. Depending on the circumstances, a newcomer in Canada may wish to find temporary accommodation in Canada first, and search for apartments or houses for rent later on.

As of May 2020, some data shows that the cost of house renting in Canada’s most popular destination cities can vary. A good 1-bedroom apartment in the city of Edmonton would possibly cost less than $1,000 a month, but the same quality apartment in Vancouver may cost $2,000. Between these price ranges, you may find that Calgary, Montreal, and Hamilton are close to the lower end, while Ottawa and Toronto are closer to the more expensive end.

Healthcare

Healthcare in Canada is publicly funded, meaning the expenses of health and medicine are shared by taxpayers. Immigrants holding Canadian PR or Work Permits do not have to pay for most healthcare and hospital services in Canada. New permanent residents, as well as some foreign workers on work permits and some international students, might apply for public health insurance from their province or territory. Often, newcomers will have easy access to provincial health coverage as soon as they arrive in Canada.

Banks & Taxes

Like in other countries, In Canada, you will pay income tax on your income. If you have a salary, taxes are taken off routinely. If you are a self-employed individual, you may have to pay your taxes in a single payment or several payments.

Importantly, you must submit your income tax return to tell the government authority how much income you have made and how much tax you paid. If your tax payment is not appropriate you will be notified by the Canada Revenue Agency tax services office. Federal and provincial income tax forms come in the same package, except in the province of Quebec.

If you leave Canada for a prolonged period, you may still need to file an income tax return for that year.

Education

Compared to some other countries, Canada’s undergraduate tuition fees are fairly cheap. Canada’s undergraduate tuition fees in Canada are typically between $12,000 and $18,000 per annum. Average Living costs are around the same price as competitive countries like the U.S., UK, and Australia. Small apartments’ rent costs can be anywhere from $400 to $1,500 a month depending on where you are looking to live.

Cost of Living

immigrants prefer to look for housing in big cities because there are more job vacancies compared in smaller towns or any other regional area. It is to be considered that cities are always expensive. But, if you can get a good job or start a profitable business, you can make living in one of the country’s leading cities work for you.

Cost of the 10 Cheapest Cities to Live in Canada

City	Average Cost Per Person	Average Cost for 4 People
Sherbrooke, Quebec	$878	$3,206
London, Ontario	$1,013	$3,646
Winnipeg, Manitoba	$1,070	$3,829
Moncton, New Brunswick	$1,065	$3,840
Kitchener, Ontario	$1,071	$3,786
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan	$1,131	$3,945
Regina, Saskatchewan	$1,124	$4,012
Saint John, New Brunswick	$1,176	$4,205
Calgary, Alberta	$1,154	$4,110
Edmonton, Alberta	$1,183	$4,191

The most expensive cities to live in Canada include:

Vancouver, British Columbia
Toronto, Ontario
Montreal, Quebec
Calgary, Alberta
Ottawa, Ontario

Pros and Cons of Moving to Canada

The Pros of Moving To Canada

Quality of life

Canadians do not see air pollution. people choose this country for its natural beauty and outstanding landscapes.

Strong employment market

Even though a slowdown is expected as Canada exits the recent COVID-19 wave this winter, economists are still forestalling a strong 2022, with the Canadian unemployment rate expected to hang below 6 percent for much of the year.

When the recent COVID wave dissipates, experts can expect hiring to ramp up. Indeed, Statistics Canada estimates that there were around one million job vacancies close to the end of 2021.

In that report, StatsCan noted ‘The record-high job vacancies observed in recent months has focused attention on the extent to which unmet labor demand will contribute to upward pressure on wages.’

Safety for children

Canadian will enjoy a low crime rate compared to other countries. Therefore, this country I considered very safe for children.

Excellent healthcare

The healthcare system in Canada is recognized as one of the best in the world. People don’t need to travel to another country for any kind of health-related issues.

High-quality educational system

Canada also includes an extraordinary higher education system and it has been ranked top in the worldwide rankings. Canada is the home of the best schools and universities.

The Cons of Moving To Canada

Harsh weather condition

Because of the sprawling nature of Canada’s landscapes, the climate is incredibly varied. Despite the country’s stunning natural beauty, some parts may be put off by the freezing winters. However, Canadians do not stop themselves from enjoying an active outdoor lifestyle and sports like skiing and hockey!

Expensive to live in cities

Choosing to live in cities are expensive in Canada. Living expenses in the Cities like Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, and Calgary, are so expensive. But, people with good incomes can enjoy living in these modern cities in Canada.

Conclusion

Canada is undoubtedly the best place for immigration to Canada with families. People do not care about the harsh weather of Canada anymore. Canada’s employment opportunities, high-quality lifestyle, high-quality education, world-class healthcare, and human rights, have truly made Canada unique and one of the top livable countries.

FAQs

How Much Money do You Need to Immigrate to Canada?

Canada IRCC offers a wide range of immigration programs. Each program has its fee structure. For example, an Express Entry candidate requires to pay for ECA, IELTS/CELPIP, Visa application fees, and Province fees if applicable. But, there is always a settlement fund to show before applying to live in Canada permanently.

Number of family members	Funds required (in Canadian dollars)
1	$13,213
2	$16,449
3	$20,222
4	$24,553
5	$27,847
6	$31,407
7	$34,967
For each additional family member	$3,560

What are the Requirements to Immigrate to Canada?

Each program has its requirement. But, a person who has a higher educational degree, work or business experience, English test score, and is not overaged, may find a way to fulfill the visa requirements to immigrate to Canada.

How does the Canadian immigration process work?

Canada admits new permanent residents under four major categories. In 2019, 58 percent of new permanent residents were admitted through the economic immigration stream, followed by 27 percent through family sponsorship options, 14 percent through protected persons and refugees, and 1 percent through humanitarian or other.

What is the Fastest Way to Immigrate to Canada?

Express Entry is Canada’s fastest and most popular immigration program. Eligible Candidates that apply through the Express Entry system can receive permanent residence status as soon as six months.

What is the Maximum Age for Canadian Immigration?

There is no age limit requirement for any Canadian immigration program. in most categories of economic immigration to Canada, candidates between 25 and 35 obtain the maximum points. That doesn’t mean older candidates cannot be invited to apply for Canadian immigration.

Is it Easy to Immigrate to Canada?

The Canadian government has made immigration easy! Because Canada needs more immigrants to contribute to the ongoing economic developments in Canada. IRCC offers Canada immigration pathways under the economic immigration to Canada, and PNPs to attract more and more people to live and work in Canada.

Do I Need a Job Offer to Immigrate to Canada?

No, you do not need a job offer to immigrate to Canada. Although, some programs made a job offer a mandatory criterion to get selected.

Can I Get Canadian Dual Citizenship?

Dual citizenship occurs when someone is a citizen of two or more countries. A citizen of Canada will retain Canadian citizenship upon acquiring second citizenship in another country.

Can I Bring My Family to Canada?

Yes, you can! Bringing family members like spouses, children, parents, and grandparents are easier.

How To Immigrate To Canada