Canadian Immigration: Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Canada announced that it intends to receive 465,000 new immigrants in 2023 in order to solve the problem of the growing shortage in the labor market.

The Government of Canada has announced 3 different programs that can be followed to immigrate to Canadian territory, according to the following methods:

First Program: Immigration to Canada 2023 through the Skilled Worker Program (Express Entry)

The “Express Entry” program, or as it is also called the “Skilled Worker” program, remains the first way to immigrate to Canada in 2023.

Canada plans to welcome approximately 83,000 highly skilled immigrants in 2023, and the number will rise to 109,000 in 2024 and 114,000 in 2025.

There are many professions in demand, from truck drivers to nurses and teaching assistants to payroll managers and more.

This program has 3 categories for immigration, namely:

1-The Federal Skilled Worker Program

This program is for skilled workers with foreign work experience who wish to immigrate to Canada permanently.

The minimum requirements for this program are:

Skilled work experience.
language ability.
education.
You must meet all minimum requirements to be eligible.

If you meet the minimum requirements, your application will then be assessed based on:

the age.
education.
work experience.
The validity of an offered job opportunity is taken into account.
Proficiency in the English and/or French language.
The quality of being adaptable.
These factors are taken into consideration when evaluating the eligibility criteria for the Federal Skilled Worker Program, using a 100-point grid.

You earn points for doing well in each of the six factors, while the current passing mark in 2023 is 67 points.

You must also prove that, while working in your primary job, you have performed the duties stipulated in the main statement of the occupational description in the NOC issued by the company upon termination of service.

Your skilled work experience must also be in the same type of job as on your NOC, and the same one you want to use on your immigration application.

For English or French language ability, you must have a score of at least 7 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) exam.

2- Canadian Experience Class

If you are a skilled worker with work experience in Canada and are looking to settle in the country permanently, then the Canadian Experience Class may be the program for you. This program is exclusively for individuals who are already residents of Canada and have established themselves in the Canadian workforce. By providing a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers, the Canadian Experience Class helps to retain valuable talent and bolster the country’s economy.

This category requires many conditions, such as:

Meet the language levels required for your job for each language ability

Writing.
reading.
listen.
talking.
Have at least 1 year of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last 3 years prior to applying.
You are not eligible for the Canadian Experience Class if, you are an asylum seeker in Canada, work without permission, or have gained your work experience without temporary resident status in Canada.

3- Federal skilled srades srogram

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is an option for skilled workers seeking permanent residency in Canada based on their qualifications in a skilled trade. This program shares many of the same requirements as the Canadian Experience Class, including work experience, language proficiency, and education. Essentially, the Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed for individuals who have acquired specific technical skills and are looking to put those skills to use in Canada on a permanent basis.

Quick note: Immigration test to Canada 2023
The Express Entry tool of the Canadian Ministry of Immigration provides a quick test of only 15 minutes for those who wish to immigrate to Canada through the “skilled worker” program. It asks you some questions and you have to answer them, through which you can find out the percentage Your chances of approval of the file that you will submit.

The test includes questions about nationality, age, language ability, family members, education, work experience, etc.

And getting high scores on this test does not guarantee that your application will be approved, because it is only an estimated tool, while the application is considered by the immigration official in accordance with the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

You can take the test by following the link  here.

Program 2: Immigrate to Canada 2023 by running from a province (Provincial Nominee)

In 2023, the Provincial Nominee Program is the primary economic initiative under the Express Entry system for accepting immigrants to Canada. This program, which enables provinces and territories to nominate candidates who meet specific eligibility criteria. Is the largest of its kind and has been instrumental in facilitating economic growth in various regions across Canada. Essentially, the Provincial Nominee Program provides a pathway for skilled workers and entrepreneurs to settle in specific provinces or territories. Contributing to local economies and helping to meet labor market needs.

Canada plans to receive more than 105,000 newcomers through this immigration program. Distributing them to all of the following Canadian provinces: British Columbia, Grand Prairie in Alberta, and Saskatchewan. Manitoba, Ontario, and the Atlantic Canadian provinces of Nova, Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador. and Prince Edward Island.

While provinces are primed to select immigrants specific to their economic needs, candidates should therefore consult lists of target occupations.

Each province or territory has its own PNP immigration programs targeting specific groups such as students. Business people, or skilled workers.

In order to apply to this program, there are two ways:
Method 1: Applying as a provincial candidate through the non-Express Entry process

This is the non-Express Entry application process for the Provincial Nominee Program, and you must apply in two stages:

To begin the process of immigrating to Canada. You need to determine which province or territory you want to live in and then apply to that specific region for a nomination. The province or territory will then assess your application using specific criteria, including:

The province or territory will evaluate your application based on their individual immigration requirements and priorities.
If your intention is genuinely to reside in the province or territory you have applied to. Then your application will be more likely to be successful.
Second: After a province or territory nominates you. You must apply to (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) to obtain permanent residence. And your application will be evaluated based on Canadian immigration law.

Method 2: Apply online as a provincial candidate through Express Entry

It is online ( register here ), you must meet the minimum Express Entry requirements for the province or territory. Then the province can nominate you for this stream. And you must create an Express Entry profile and meet the minimum criteria for this stream.

The third program: Immigration to Canada 2023 through a work contract from the Province of Quebec
to the Province of Quebec is a category of its own. Because it has complete control over its income from economic immigration. The Quebec provincial government is said to go to great lengths to ensure that all immigrants welcomed into the province are francophones (those who speak the French language).

François Legault, leader of the Avenir Quebec Alliance, believes that the French language is essential to preserving Quebec’s culture.

The “French” language requirement becomes less of a priority for candidates who have a qualified job offer in hand.

The process for immigrating to Canada as a Quebec Selected Skilled Worker involves two stages of application:

Stage 1: The first step in the process is to submit an application for a Quebec Selection Certificate to the Quebec government.

The Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) is a document issued by the Quebec government that confirms an individual’s eligibility to immigrate to Quebec as a skilled worker.

Quebec will evaluate your application based on its own set of criteria and regulations.
The Quebec Selection Certificate is proof that the Province of Quebec has approved your immigration as a skilled worker.
Stage 2: If the province of Quebec selects you and awards you a CSQ. You must apply to Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada for permanent residence.