Canadian Permanent Residency under Skilled Worker Program

Canada is one of the most popular destinations for immigration. The number of opportunities and benefits that people can enjoy in a multicultural and diverse environment is priceless.

The Government of Canada cordially invites skilled professionals and their families to the country who can prove to be an asset to the country’s economy. If you are someone willing to immigrate to Canada and gain a Canadian permanent residency, here is what you should know.

General Eligibility Criteria for Canadian Permanent Residency

• Find an occupation in the occupation list.

To begin with, you initially need to find your occupation in the Canada National Occupation Code (NOC) list. Once you find an occupation closely related to your previous employment, you can proceed and nominate yourself for the particular occupation.

• Meet the required educational requirement as per the NOC code.

However, before nominating yourself for an occupation that is closely related to your skills, you must make sure that you meet the required educational requirements. A bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement. Some occupational NOC codes require a master’s degree or a more specialised degree. Thus, you must have a relevant educational qualification for the work you are doing.

• Minimum work experience relevant to the NOC code

If you are a skilled professional, you must have at least one year of working experience in an occupation closely related to your educational qualification. Specific occupations may demand more working experience, and sometimes, Canadian work experience is also required.

• Meet minimum immigration points..

Even after meeting all these requirements, you will still need to secure a minimum of 67 points to be eligible to create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in Express Entry. These points are collectively secured through language proficiency, educational qualification, work experience and certain other factors.

Different Visa Categories for Canada Migration

• Federal Skilled Worker

Starting January 1, 2015, applications under the Federal Skilled Worker program are being processed through Express Entry. Candidates eligible for the Federal Skilled Worker Program must first create an Expression of Interest (EOI) profile in the online Express Entry system.

• Quebec Skilled Worker Program

The Government of Canada and Quebec developed the Quebec Skilled Workers Program. The Quebec Skilled Workers Program enables highly skilled foreign candidates to immigrate to the province of Quebec. Candidates who apply for Quebec are offered a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). Candidates receiving a CSQ can apply for Canadian permanent residency.

• Provincial Nominee Programs

As we know, Canada has its provinces, which form part of the Canadian immigration system. Candidates willing to settle in any of the provinces of Canada must meet the requirements of the particular province. Sometimes, provinces also track applications in the Express Entry pool and, upon finding a profile on the government’s demand list, send a Notification of Interest (NOI) to the candidate.

Steps to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency

To apply for Canadian Permanent Residency, candidates must follow specific steps to have their skills and abilities assessed.

World Education Services (WES)

The World Education Services (WES) is an educational credential evaluation body that assesses your educational qualification for immigration or studying in a Canadian university. The WES evaluation helps immigration authorities better understand your qualifications and academic background.

The WES educational credential assessment takes up to 20-25 days to evaluate your educational qualification for immigration or pursuing an education in Canada. The fee applicable for a WES evaluation is 3$ Canadian dollars. To understand how WES works, please read the article.

Language Proficiency

To migrate to Canada as a Canadian permanent resident, you must be proficient in the English language. The government of Canada will consider you proficient in English only after assessing your IELTS scores. The scores you secure in the IELTS test are translated into a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score. The CLB scores vary depending on the profile.

• IELTS

Candidates will need to take the IELTS test to demonstrate their English proficiency level. Candidates typically need to take the IELTS General Test. ELTS includes tests for different modules to test your English listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. A candidate can score a maximum of 9 bands in the IELTS test and a minimum of 1 band. You can learn more about the IELTS general test in this article.

Creation of Express Entry Profile

Express Entry is a system where candidates create their profiles and show interest in an occupation. Eligible candidates are contacted by Canadian immigration authorities to progress with their Canadian permanent residency process. The dynamic application form to be filled out for the process requires details about the candidate’s age, work experience, education, language, and family information.

The information you provide here is not up for verification by immigration authorities. Once invited, you need to submit the certified copies of any document mentioned while filling out the form and provide proof of the same. If a candidate does not receive an ITA after one year, their profile will automatically be removed from Express Entry.

Receiving an Invitation to Apply

A candidate selected by the Canadian immigration authority is sent an invitation to apply for permanent residency in Canada. You should not confuse the Invitation to Apply with entering the Express Entry pool. It shouldn’t be confused with a job offer either.

The Invitation to Apply has a deadline of 90 days, and you should decide once the Canadian immigration authority sends an Invitation to Apply. If you do not take action on two consecutive Invitation to Apply as sent by the Authority, your application will be eliminated from Express Entry.

Final Visa document Submission

The final process of submitting your visa requires the candidate to upload the documents only. The papers should justify the date’s personal information, educational qualifications, previous employment records, police clearance, medical clearance, and any statutory declarations. You are also required to pay your visa fee online. His fee can change as you include or exclude a family member.

Documents Review by Immigration Authority

Once you have submitted your documents online, the immigration authorities will begin verifying your records to see if the documents you submitted are accurate with the ones that you mentioned in your Expression of Interest (EOI). If there are any missing documents, the Canadian immigration authority will request that you provide the required documents to support your case.

After submission of all the correct documents, you can expect a grant letter indicating that you have received your Canadian Permanent Residency status.

Validity of your Canadian Permanent Residency

Your Canadian permanent residency status is valid for up to 5 years, and you will enjoy all the rights that a normal Canadian citizen enjoys. Alternatively, you can apply for Canadian citizenship after living in Canada for 3 years. You can also extend your Canada permanent residency status for another 5 years if you do not choose to apply for Canadian citizenship.

Change Canada Permanent Residency to Citizenship

To change your permanent residency status to citizenship, you must meet specific eligibility criteria and have resided in Canada under permanent residency for at least 3 years. Being a citizen of Canada allows you to apply for government jobs.

Canada Proof of Fund

You are to prove to the Canadian immigration authority that the funds you are carrying are enough to support you and your family. His rule applies to both Skilled Workers through Express Entry and Self-Employed immigrants.

You need to provide specific letters to the immigration official as proof of your funds. These letters will confirm that the funds you have will be readily accessible upon our arrival in India. You also need to prove that these funds could be used for your settlement in Canada.

You also need to arrange a letter from your bank, clearly stating your financial status. The information provided by the bank must be printed on a legal letterhead.

The letter should display the following –

• Your name
• Your account number, the opening date of the account, the current account balance and the average balance for six months
• Status of your outstanding debts, either credit card or loan
• Bank’s name, address and telephone number

Benefits of a Canadian Permanent Resident

Being a permanent resident of Canada allows you to enjoy several benefits. Some of the key benefits that you would want as a permanent resident of Canada are as follows:

• You will have the right to live as a permanent resident in Canada. You will be enjoying almost all the rights that a normal citizen of Canada enjoys, except for casting a vote.
• As a permanent resident of Canada, you will be able to sponsor your family members who are eligible for permanent residency in Canada.
• As a permanent resident of Canada, you have the freedom to work anywhere in Canada, and if proven eligible, you can pursue different professions.
• As a permanent resident of Canada, you will be paying local tuition fees as Canadian citizens do when you take up educational courses in a Canadian educational body
• As a permanent resident of Canada, you will also be receiving several social benefits as mentioned below:
  • Unemployment benefits
  • Healthcare benefits
  • Childcare benefits

Social Rights for Canadian Permanent Residency Holders

The social rights of a Canadian permanent residency status holder are as follows:

• Healthcare Benefit: As a permanent resident of Canada, you are eligible to avail yourself of the healthcare benefit. With the healthcare benefit, you can receive free treatments at listed Canadian healthcare units and enjoy subsidies on medications.
• Unemployment Benefit: Candidates who become permanent residents of Australia can avail of the unemployment benefit after spending some time working in the country.
• Childcare Benefits: If you are a parent and have a child/children below the age of 13, you are also eligible to avail the childcare benefit.

Canadian Permanent Residents’ Income, Expenditure and Savings…

While staying in Canada as a Canadian permanent resident, you must be aware of the maximum income you can earn, the applicable tax and expected savings.

• Salary: As a Canadian permanent resident, you can earn up to CAD$8,000 to CAD$12,000 as your monthly income.
• Tax: A Canadian permanent resident earning about CAD$8,000 to CAD$12,000 would be paying anywhere from CAD$2,000 to CAD$3,500 to the Canadian government as tax.
• Savings: Candidates earning approximately CAD$8,000 to CAD$12,000 can save between CAD$2,000 and CAD$4,000 per month.

Canadian Citizenship Benefits

A Canadian permanent resident can apply for Canadian citizenship after completing three years of stay in Canada. After becoming a citizen of Canada, you can live in Canada indefinitely without requiring a visa.

The permanent resident, now a citizen, can cast votes, join the defence, apply for government jobs and take political stands. After becoming a citizen of Canada, you can also apply for the Canadian passport, which is considered one of the most valuable passports in the world.

Documents Necessary for Moving to Canada…

Here are the documents that you should arrange for –

• Birth certificates and passports of all family members
• Adoption certificate, if applicable
• Marriage certificate, divorce or annulment certificate, if applicable
• Immunisation certificate for all children (Very important)
• Medical records, including X-rays, dental records
• Copies of all educational certificates
• A letter of reference from your previous employer
• A professional portfolio or samples of your work
• A valid driver’s license and an international driver’s license. He’ll let you drive immediately in Australia for up to 3 to 6 months before you get a Canadian driving license.
• Car insurance papers
• Travel insurance papers
• Certificates of valuation and authenticity for jewellery and other valuables
• Enough funds
• Documents relating to foreign income, properties or other investments
• Transfer Your Investments: If you have any cash or investments, you must transfer them all. Before leaving the country, you should close all your bank accounts to avoid bank fees.
• Medical rec, words, including X-rays
• Dental records
• Immunisation records for children and adults
• Optical prescriptions
• Other medical prescriptions
• Work Documents: All documents relating to your professional experience must be included as well.

Also Read: 10 Key Points for Canadian Migrants like Job Hunt, Cost of Living and Taxation