In 2020, our lives were forever changed by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. It impacted a lot of peoples plans to migrate and start a new life in Canada. Unfortunately, the virus didn’t pack up and leave our planet at the stroke of midnight on December 31st, and so we proceed into 2021 with caution, but purpose.
We have adjusted the way we conduct business and live our lives, and as the year opens, the intent shown by the Immigration, Refugee Council Canada (IRCC) to grant permanent residence to more immigrants than ever before this year, makes 2021 the year to immigrate to Canada.
After accepting 341,000 immigrants in 2019, the target set for 2021 by the IRCC is an awesome 401,000 invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residency. While many are still skeptical due to the fluid nature of the CoronaVirus and the impact it is still having on global travel, it is important to note that vaccines are already being rolled out in Canada which will make Canadian immigration an achievable goal again.
Your Canadian Immigration Options
Even if barriers remain in place making a move to Canada this year difficult, the high target set by the IRCC means you can still apply, and if you are approved make the transition to your new home country at a later more suitable date. The provinces and Canada as a whole are urgently looking to normalize the immigration system as soon as possible, as the country will require human capital intake to support the post COVID economic recovery.
5 Ways You Can Immigrate to Canada in 2021
So what are the best options to immigrate to Canada this year? While some don’t require you to have a job offer to apply for permanent residency, others do. If you are highly skilled/qualified, you may be able to apply for permanent residency without a job offer. If you are a semi-skilled worker, there are regions and towns throughout Canada that urgently need hard working foreigners and securing a job offer from outside of Canada may not be as challenging as you think.
The Express Entry System
At least a quarter of immigrants who are issued ITA’s this year will be through the Express Entry System. The system consists of three federal immigration programs:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program – for professional and managerial candidates who have a three year qualification and/or relevant experience ie. doctors, engineers, accountants and IT workers;
- Federal Skilled Trades Program – for candidates who have the necessary qualification or experience in a qualified trade ie carpenters, plumbers, pipefitters, mechanics and welders;
- Canada Experience Class – for candidates who fall into one of the above categories, but also have at least one year of experience working in Canada.
If you want to immigrate to Canada in 2021 and secure permanent residency before making the move here, Express Entry is your best option. The system works by scoring applicants based on their credentials using a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Twice a month draws take place and applicants with the highest scores are issued ITA’s. Sometimes exclusive draws take place where only applicants with a provincial nomination are issued an ITA, let’s take a look at how to go about securing one of those next.
The Provincial Nominee Programs
If you are picky about where you want to live, you can apply to your province of choice for a provincial nomination. If you aren’t picky about where you want to live, you can apply to a province that may grant you a provincial nomination, because your skills or qualifications are in demand in that province. Some provinces are harder to earn a nomination from than others, so increasing your chances by applying to the right province is key to securing a nomination.
There are 13 provinces and territories in Canada, only two don’t have Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). Between the 11 provinces participating in the PNP, there are over 40 immigration programs to apply to for a provincial nomination. That is where enlisting the help of an expert can come in handy.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot
If you are interested in settling in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces on our east coast, you stand a very good chance of securing permanent residency through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). If you haven’t thought about where you might want to settle, we would highly recommend one of the Atlantic provinces.
One of the most beautiful regions of Canada goes largely unnoticed by immigrants because they aren’t home to any of the major cities. There are still smaller cities like Halifax, Moncton and Edmonton and hundreds of beautiful towns all receiving immigrants with open arms. The provinces created this immigration pilot solely to help skilled and semi-skilled immigrants make Atlantic Canada their new home, because more people means more economy and that is their goal at the end of the day. There are three immigration programs within the pilot:
- Atlantic International Graduate Program – complete a post secondary program of 2 years or longer at a designated learning institution in one of the four Atlantic provinces and secure a job offer upon graduation.
- Atlantic High Skilled Program – get a full time job offer in a managerial or professional role in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
- Atlantic Intermediate Skilled Program – get a full time job offer in a semi-skilled position in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
It is much easier to get a job offer in Atlantic Canada as businesses in the provinces are exempt from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirements that other provinces are subject to.
Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot
Much like the AIP, the Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) was formed by 11 small cities, towns and communities across Canada that also seek to reap the benefits of economic migration. Also like the AIP, employers in these communities can hire foreign workers without a LMIA. The process is fairly straightforward, secure a job offer in one of the communities, apply for a recommendation for permanent residency from your community to the IRCC and start your new life in the community of your choice.
Care Provider Pilots
For our last entry on the list (but by no means one of the last ways to immigrate to Canada in 2021) are the Home and Child Care Provider Pilots. These immigration programs are directed more towards women, as the professions tend to be female dominant. The journey to become a permanent resident via this route:
- 1. Secure a job offer as a care provider in Canada ie. au pair, disabled care, special needs care, elderly care;
- 2. Apply for your open work permit – care providers are now given open work permits, meaning they can change employers;
- 3. Apply for permanent residency at the same time, two requirements are a one or more years qualification in care and two years of experience working as a caregiver in Canada;
- 4. After you have completed two years of experience working in Canada, submit this to the IRCC and await the decision for your permanent residency.
Last year wasn’t the greatest, few of us achieved what we set out to. 2021 won’t be easy, but if you’ve been thinking about moving to Canada, make it the year you stop thinking and do.
Are You Ready To Start Your Canadian Immigration Journey?
There are over 100 visa and immigration programs available from the IRCC. We only looked at 5. The Canadian government plans to invite more people this year than ever before to become permanent residents. The Canadian economy is recovering, the unemployment rate is dropping rapidly to pre-pandemic levels, healthcare and education are free, we have a government that works for its people. Need we say more? To immigrate to Canada in 2021, all you need is to want to (and be admissible, but that’s a quick check). It may be a tough nut to crack, but we’re here to help.
Let us take care of the paperwork while you plan your life in Canada. We make sure that all forms are completed correctly and sent in on time. Simply fill out our application form to receive your assessment today and take one step closer to a happy life in Canada.
