Immigrate to Canada Without a Degree

It is no secret that Canada is in need of more skilled workers and have turned to immigration in the form of programs such as Express Entry. To qualify for this program, your level of education is very important, which makes it quite difficult for people without a degree. However, all hope is not lost. It is indeed possible to move to Canada without a degree. Industries like construction, hospitality, and retail are also in dire need of people, and this creates the perfect opportunity for semi-skilled and unskilled workers to take the plunge and apply for permanent residency in Canada. If you are an unskilled or semi-skilled worker, applying for permanent residence the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is probably your best bet. Read below for more information about this program and how to use it to immigrate as an unskilled worker.

What is the Provincial Nominee Program?

The Provincial Nominee Program was established by the Canadian government to grant each province the authority to establish its own system to deal with immigration in a way that suited the individual needs of that province with regards to gaps in the labour market. Through this program, they are able to target specific candidates who possess the skills, education or work experience needed to satisfy the needs of the workforce. These candidates have their applications for permanent residence fast-tracked by receiving a Provincial Nomination, adding 600 points to their Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) and almost guaranteeing that they will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence in the next Express Entry Draw.

For Unskilled Workers, this program is particularly helpful as it allows you to make up for other basic eligibility criteria in which you may be lacking. This criterion includes your level of skills and education. Not meeting these criteria results in a lower CRS score and significantly reduces your chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply. However, as stated before a provincial nomination adds 600 points to your CRS score. For context, the candidates who receive ITA’s in Express Entry Draws usually have an average of 430-490 CRS scores. The candidates with the highest CRS scores receive ITA’s and with a provincial nomination, you are placed in the top pool of candidates.

Which Provinces are in Need of Skilled Workers?

British Columbia

 

British Columbia is one of the prominent regions in Canada that are in urgent need of unskilled workers. If you are already employed in British Columbia in one of the eligible occupations, then this stream is perfectly suited for you to apply for permanent residence. The list of eligible industries and their respective occupations include food processing, travel, accommodation, tourism, long-haul truck drivers, food and beverage services, cleaners, and elemental services.

Saskatchewan

 

The Provincial Nominee Program in Saskatchewan allows for two industries aimed at unskilled workers, namely the Hospitality Sector Project and Long-haul Truck Driver Project.

The requirements for the Hospitality Sector Project are as follows: a high school education, be working in Saskatchewan on a (temporary) work permit for at least six months and be proficient in English. The occupation vacancies in these categories are aimed at food and beverage services, food counter attendant/kitchen helper and housekeeping/cleaning staff.

The criteria you need to meet in order to move to Saskatchewan as a Long-Haul Truckdriver is as follows: You need to have a Class 1A driver's license, have an offer of full-time employment from an approved trucking firm and have been working in Saskatchewan for six months. The wage of a long-haul truck driver can be up to $70,000 per year!

Alberta

The Provincial Nominee Program in Alberta is geared towards workers (both skilled and unskilled) who already work in the province on a temporary work permit. In addition, a high school diploma and a job offer from a company in Alberta are prerequisites in order to be eligible to apply through this stream. The eligible occupations include but are not limited to; Food and beverage, industrial butchers, meat cutters and poultry production workers. It is important to stay afloat of the occupations the province could add or remove from this list.

How We Can Help You

 

The Provincial Nominee Program is different for every province and with new occupations being added and removed every week, it could prove difficult to make the right choice.

With the help of our certified RCICs consultants at MDC, we can walk you through the application process to ensure you have the best chance of moving to Canada as an unskilled worker.