Canada, the “Great White North” has become the dream country of many immigrants for a host of reasons including a thriving economy, political stability, better healthcare, and education.
However, while moving to Canada might sound like a dream come true, this is the 100% working guide to apply for Canada Visa.
Apply For Canada Visa – 100% Working Guide
Step 1: Determining Your Eligibility
The process of relocating to Canada for immigrants begins with determining your eligibility, of course, if you aren’t eligible for immigration you wouldn’t be considered so there’s no point wasting time and money.
To determine whether or not you qualify you should create a checklist of the Canadian government’s requirements for immigration. You may not be eligible for immigration if you have:
- A record of human or international rights violations
- A criminal record
- Health issues
- An inadmissible family member
- Been discovered to be non-compliant with the Immigration Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)
- Inadequate funds
Step 2: Choosing an Immigration Route
There are different legal entry channels for moving to Canada. When planning your immigration, it is vital to consider the legal routes as anything else may lead to your deportation and ban.
Before you move, you need to choose from:
- Express Entry: Often considered to be the fastest way for new immigrants into Canada, the express entry route also doubles as an excellent pathway to Canadian permanent residency. To qualify using this route, you would have to rank highly in the express entry poll which uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) considering factors such as age, education, work experience, Canadian connection, and language ability (proficiency in English or French).
Under this route, you may consider the Federal Skilled Workers (FSW) Program, which is targeted at skilled workers with higher education degrees. On the other hand, the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Program requires no formal educational requirement, however, candidates with secondary or post-secondary education tend to receive higher CRS scores.
- Work Permit: Another easy route for immigrants looking to move to Canada, using the work permit, temporary workers, entrepreneurs, and students can work in Canada for a short period of time. Under this route, you could choose between an open work permit or an employer-specific work permit
However, to qualify for immigration via this route, you would need an employment offer from a recognized Canadian employer.
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP): The PNP programs are the different immigration programs of the different Canadian provinces and territories. Another route to a Canadian permanent residency, is provinces through the PNP support the immigration of individuals who have expressed interest in settling in their province. However, under this route, you are only allowed to settle in the selected province. To find out more about the Provincial Nominee Program, check HERE.
- Family Sponsorship: Immigrants with family members over 18, parents, or spouses can be sponsored by them to move to Canada as long as they can prove financial support and are permanent residents or citizens. To find out more about family sponsorship, check HERE.
- Startup Visa: Entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas can move to Canada on a work permit and receive permanent residency after setting up their businesses. Find more information HERE.
- Study Visa: Students looking to further their education can also move to Canada via this route and access a work permit post-graduation to stay longer.
You can also consider the Rural and Northern Pilot immigration program or the caregiver immigration program.
Step 3. Begin Application
Depending on your choice of immigration program, you can proceed with the application process via the Canadian immigration website, making sure to provide relevant documents in your application as listed on the site. After which you would have to pay the application fee which may range between CAD500 to CAD 1500 depending on your visa type.
Step 4. Visa
It may take as long as six months to get a response to your application as such it is vital to do it way ahead of time. If rejected, you may reapply when your situation changes however this decision may not be appealed.
Step 5. Prepping
Once you receive your visa approval, you can begin the planning process of relocating to Canada. Start by gathering the required documents for entry into Canada;
- Your Canadian immigrant visas
- Confirmation of Permanent Residence for each family member traveling with you
- A valid passport and other travel documents for each member of your entourage
- Two copies of a detailed list of any person of household items you have with you
- Two copies of items that may arrive later and their monetary value.
Next, you would need to make accommodation arrangements. Thankfully you can now view homes virtually which makes the selection process easier. Alternatively, you can visit a month before your final move for a physical walk-through.
Step 6. Health Insurance
While Canada offers its residents and citizens free health insurance, new immigrants would need to purchase private health insurance for coverage up to three months from when they first arrive in Canada. These insurances vary depending on the province.
Although Canada offers free health insurance to residents and citizens, you will need to purchase private health insurance to ensure coverage for up to three months after you first arrive in Canada. The providers will vary depending on your province.
Finally, after you move
Since the goal of immigration is most times a search for a better life, then Canadian citizenship should be your final goal. After four years of permanent residency in Canada, you can apply to be a citizen on the condition that you have lived in Canada for three out of the last 5 years.
To be considered for citizenship, you must be at least 18 years of age, be able to speak English or French, understand Canadian social protocols, and pass a Canadian government and politics exam.
Once completed, you would then be granted legal Canadian citizenship and an invitation to attend a citizenship ceremony.
