How to Immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2021
June 25, 2021
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If you are looking to better your future for you and your family, then there is no better place to go than Canada. Canada is a country where you will find a forward-thinking government that takes action when needed, an education system that is known all over the globe to be top of the range and an ever-growing economy which means plenty of job opportunities.
The above-mentioned does not have to be an unattainable dream because by reading this article you will discover how to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2021 and join the 1.23 million immigrants being welcomed within the next three years.
Move to Canada from Ghana
For Ghanaians looking to move abroad to Canada, there are several ways they can do just that. Let us start with one of the more popular Canadian immigration programs, the Express Entry system.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an online immigration system that manages three federal immigration programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class. These programs allow for foreign skilled workers to become Canadian permanent residents.
By going through the Express Entry system, applicants could see themselves in Canada sooner than they think as the program is known for its fast processing time of as little as six months. This plays a big factor in the Express Entry system being one of the largest immigration entry points in Canada.
The Express Entry system will contribute 332,750 Invitations to Apply (ITA) to the total of new immigrants welcomed in the next three years. Below is the breakdown of the 2021-2023 immigration targets:
- 2021 - 108,500 ITAs
- 2022 - 110,500 ITAs
- 2023 - 113,750 ITAs
How does the Express Entry system work?
Step 1: Find out if you are eligible
Applicants will answer a questionnaire to see if they are eligible for the Express Entry system. The questionnaire will take approximately 15 minutes to complete. It is important to answer the questions as accurately as possible as they will determine which program applicants qualify for.
Step 2: Get your documents ready
Applicants will then need to create an online profile. The following documents needed to complete the online profile are:
- Passport or travel document;
- Education credential assessment report;
- Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if the applicant has one);
- Proof of work experience (if the applicant has one);
- Provincial Nomination (if the applicant has one); and
- Proof of funds.
Step 3: Submit your profile
Applicants need to complete and submit their profile within 60 days. However, it is better to complete the application as soon as possible. This is because when there is a tie between two applicants, the tie-breaking rule states that the applicant who submitted their profile first will receive the ITA.
Step 4: Receive an invitation and apply for permanent residence
Once applicants have submitted their profile, they will be placed into a draw pool along with other eligible applicants. There they will receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score which determines their ranking within the pool. Each draw will have its own qualifying CRS score to receive an ITA, applicants will need to meet or exceed that CRS cut-off score.
A major benefit of the Express Entry system is that if an applicant is not successful after the first draw, they will remain in the draw pool for an additional year. It would be best to improve their CRS score during this time, thus increasing the chances of receiving an ITA and becoming a Canadian permanent resident.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is a great way for Ghanaians to specifically choose where they would like to live and work in Canada. This is because the PNP is an agreement between the government and the local provinces of Canada that allow the local provinces to nominate eligible economic immigrants who want to work or live in that particular province.
Of course, the province the applicant decides to apply to needs to have their specific skill on the occupation in-demand list in order to increase their chances of receiving a nomination.
After applying, the next step of the application process is to get approved by the province, which generally takes around four to nine weeks. However, the second step takes a little longer at around six to eight months as it consists of medical, police and security checks.
If the applicant is successful and receives a nomination from a province, they will need to get a work visa before moving to Canada. The province, by which the applicant has received the nomination, will assist them with the process.
How do I apply for a Provincial Nomination?
The applicant has two choices when applying for a nomination. They can apply directly to a province or via the Express Entry system.
Direct Application Process
This form of application is sent directly to the province. Applicants will need to submit a paper application via mail or courier. The wait for an application result can be anywhere between 15 to 19 months.
Express Entry Application Process
There are two options within the Express Entry:
- Expression of Interest - this is where the applicant can express interest in the province of their choice through the Express Entry profile. The province will nominate them if they have the right skills and experience.
- Apply through a Provincial Nominee Express Entry Stream. Each provincial government has its own system.
Going through the Express Entry system is certainly faster as the process will roughly take around six to eight months. The chances of an applicant receiving an ITA are also increased significantly.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is aimed at foreign skilled workers looking to become permanent residents in one of Canada’s four Atlantic provinces: Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edwards Island, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
There are three programs within the Atlantic Immigration Pilot that can be a way to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2021, they are:
- Atlantic High-Skilled Program.
- Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.
- Atlantic International Graduate Program.
Below we list the requirements for the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.
Requirements for the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program
1. Find out if you are eligible
- To apply for this program, you must have at least one year of experience working in a position that requires a high school education or job-specific training.
Applicants have two different ways to use their work experience for the Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program.
Option 1:
Have work experience at National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill level C. NOC skill level C is a type of job that usually requires a secondary (high school) education or job-specific training, such as:
- industrial butchers;
- long-haul truck drivers; and
- food and beverage servers.
Option 2:
Applicants can have work in one of the following:
- as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse (NOC A 3012); or
- as a licensed practical nurse (NOC B 3233)
Other requirements are as follows:
- Have a high school diploma equal to a Canadian credential, for which you will need an Educational Credential Assessment;
- Take an approved language test to prove they are proficient in English or French to live and work in Canada; and
- Have proof of funds that meet the minimum required amount to support themselves. This includes anyone the applicant supports even if they are not immigrating to Canada with them.
2. Get a job offer
Applicants will need a job offer that meets the requirements below:
- Your offer must be completed on an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National form;
- The employer needs to be designated as one taking part in the AIP by the province;
- The job must be full-time, which means 30 paid hour weeks and non-seasonal;
- The job is skill type/level 0, A, B or C under the NOC;
- Employment is permanent with no set end date.
3. Submit your application
Once the employer and applicant have completed all the above steps, only then can the applicant submit their permanent residence application. The applicant can begin filling in the application before all of the above steps are completed to save time.
Applicants can apply for a temporary work permit at the same time as they apply for their AIP, requirements are the same and it will allow the applicants to begin working while waiting for the AIP application to be processed.
A great benefit of this program is that applicants’ common-law partners or spouses can apply for an open work permit if the applicant’s work permit has been obtained through the Atlantic Immigration Pilot.
Ghanaians in Canada
Many Ghanaians are living in Canada and as a result, create a massive Ghanaian community. Most Ghanaians live in the Greater Toronto Area while other regions with a significant population of Ghanaian Canadians include Vancouver, Montreal, Edmonton, Calgary, Ottawa, and Quebec City.
As a newcomer to Canada, there are plenty of helpful resources such as the Ghanaian Canadian Multicultural Centre (GCMC) who helps individuals with whatever they might need, such as youth and child support services, family support services and health promotion and fitness programs. Ghana Fest is one of the main events that is held by GCMC, it is a yearly event where the community comes together to celebrate purpose and culture.
With the knowledge on how to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2021, most could see themselves celebrating the next Ghana fest in Canada in 2022!