One of the reasons Canada welcomes high levels of immigration is to keep its economy strong. Despite having the world’s oldest population, Canada also has one of the world’s lowest birth rates. This creates economic and fiscal pressures. Canada has a low rate of natural population growth which results in low rates of labour force and economic growth.
As a result, Canada has been increasing its immigration levels for a while now to increase its rate of population, labour force, and economic growth. Canada now depends on immigration for the majority of its population and labour force growth and a larger share of its economic growth.
Are you part of those who aspire to migrate to Canada this 2024? Look no further as this article will be telling you the easiest ways to make that dream come true. The process of immigrating to a new country can be complex and time-consuming, but there are several ways to make it easier. Here are 12 of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada in 2024:
1. Express Entry (EE)
The Express Entry system is a way for the Canadian government to manage applications for certain immigration programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Skilled Trades Program, and Canadian Experience Class. To be eligible for Express Entry, you must first create an online profile and be accepted into the pool of candidates. You will be ranked based on factors such as your work experience, education, language skills, and others. If you are ranked highly, you may receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.
2. Provincial Nominee Programs
Each province in Canada has its own immigration program that allows them to nominate individuals who meet the specific needs of the province’s labor market. These programs are designed to help immigrants settle in a specific region of Canada. To be eligible for a Provincial Nominee Program, you must have the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to the economy of the province. You must also meet the program’s specific requirements, which can vary from province to province.
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another popular option for Nigerian foreign nationals to immigrate to Canada. Each province and territory (except for Quebec and Nunavut) create their own immigration pathways through the PNP and implement it according to their demographic and labour market needs.
Through the PNP, provinces and territories will nominate skilled workers to immigrate to their respective jurisdictions. Nigerian candidates can apply to immigrate to Canada directly through a PNP program, provided they meet the required eligibility criteria.
In addition, a candidate can also enter the Express Entry pool and be invited to apply for immigration by a province that will select candidates from the federal pool. If nominated through Express Entry, the candidate will receive an additional 600 CRS points, which virtually guarantees an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in an upcoming Express Entry draw.
The following provinces under PNP can nominate you if you have the skills needed by them. Each province has a different set of skills requirements; thus, each has its own PNP and set of requirements.
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NW PNP)
Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NL PNP)
Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP)
Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)
Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program (SINP)
Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
The cost of processing your immigration to Canada through the PNP is almost usually the same as the Express Entry. Some provinces do not require payment to process PNP applications, but others do; such as in Ontario, they can charge up to CAD1,500.00. You can find out the province that best suite your need and the province that is in need of the skill you carry.
3. Family Sponsorship
If you have a spouse, common-law partner, child, parent, or grandparent who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, they may be able to sponsor you to come to Canada. The sponsor must be able to demonstrate that they have the financial means to support you and ensure that you do not need to rely on government assistance.
Family reunification is still the foundation of Canada’s immigration policy, and the country is planning to welcome 105,000 new permanent residents through this program this year. Those who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can sponsor their relatives to live in Canada permanently. Some examples of family sponsorship program streams are;
i. Spousal And Common-Law Partner Sponsorship Stream
A permanent Canadian citizen can sponsor their spouse or partner for permanent residency through this stream. They can do it whether they are currently in Canada or not.
ii. Dependent Child Sponsorship
iii. Parents And Grandparents Sponsorship Stream
iv. Orphaned Family Members And Siblings
4. Study Permit
If you are accepted to a Canadian school, you may be eligible for a study permit, which allows you to live and study in Canada for the duration of your program. You must have a letter of acceptance from a recognized educational institution, proof of sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses, and a clean criminal record. After completing your studies, you may be able to apply for a work permit and eventually permanent residency.
Canada welcomed a record number of international students in 2022, reaching 551,405 students from 184 countries. In 2023, over 16,000 international students came to study in Canada from Nigeria. There are over 1,500 designated learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada. Once you apply to your school of choice and get accepted, you can apply for a study permit.
The benefit of a Canadian study experience is that a study permit can provide an opportunity to work while you study and offers a permanent resident pathway upon graduation. Many federal and provincial programs values candidates that have Canadian education and work experience.
Studying in Canada is a Pathway to Canadian Permanent Residency. After completing their studies, many students would decide to permanently live in Canada as there are many pathways available to them to transition to Canadian permanent residence status. However, they should ensure meeting their study permit conditions throughout their stay to not put at risk their immigration applications.
5. Work Permits
If you have a job offer from a Canadian employer, you may be eligible for a work permit, which allows you to live and work in Canada for a specific period of time. To be eligible for a work permit, you must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, meet the specific requirements of the job, and be able to demonstrate that you will leave Canada at the end of your work permit. This can be a stepping stone to permanent residency.
Canadian work permits are divided into two programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The main difference between the two is that a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required for the TFWP, while it is not for the IMP.
The purpose of the LMIA is for an employer to demonstrate that hiring the foreign worker will either have a positive or neutral effect on the Canadian job market.
6. Start-up Visa
The Start-up Visa Program is designed for entrepreneurs who want to start a business in Canada. To be eligible, you must have a business idea that has been accepted by a designated organization and receive a letter of support from that organization. You must also meet the requirements of the program, which include demonstrating that you have sufficient financial resources to support yourself and your business and completing a medical examination.
You can also Immigrate to Canada by buying a business. It is for the high-net-worth individual who has a business or managing a business overseas. Canada welcomes them as they can highly contribute to the country’s economy. It is one of the easiest ways to immigrate to Canada through a federal or provincial business immigration program.
7. Self-Employed Person Program
If you are self-employed and can demonstrate that you have the experience and skills to be self-employed in Canada, you may be eligible to immigrate through this program. To be eligible for the Self-Employed Persons Program, you must have relevant experience in cultural or athletic activities or in farm management. You must also have the financial resources to cover your expenses and establish your business in Canada.
8. Atlantic Immigration Pilot
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot is a program designed to help immigrants settle in the Atlantic provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. To be eligible for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot you must have an approved job offer.
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program (AIP) concentrates on recruiting newcomers for the four Atlantic provinces of Canada: Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It is to fill the labor gaps in these provinces with qualified immigrants with work experience.
The AIP programs are:
i. Atlantic International Graduate Program
ii. Atlantic High-skilled Program
iii. Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program
The three AIP programs have different requirements that applicants must meet. Applicants would receive information from the employer of which program they are being hired for and must meet the requirements. You are expected to meet the following requirements;
9. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot is a program designed to help immigrants settle in smaller communities in the provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Saskatchewan. To be eligible for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, you must have a job offer from a designated employer in a participating community and meet the specific requirements of the program. You must also have the skills and education needed to successfully integrate into the labor market and community in the participating community.
10. Humanitarian and Compassionate Consideration
If you are not eligible for any other immigration program or cannot apply for any other immigration programs, you may be able to apply for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. This is a flexible process, and each case is considered on its own merit. To be considered for humanitarian and compassionate consideration, you must prove that you would face hardship if you were required to leave Canada.
11. The Intra-Company Transferee (ICT)
A program that allows companies to temporarily transfer employees from their international operations to their Canadian operations. To be eligible for the ICT program, the employee must have been working for the company for at least one year and must be coming to Canada to work in a managerial, executive, or specialized knowledge position. The employee must also be paid a salary that is comparable to what they would earn in Canada for a similar position.
Overall, the easiest way to immigrate to Canada depends on your circumstances and qualifications. It is always a good idea to consult with a qualified immigration lawyer or consultant to determine the best path for you. They can help you understand the requirements for each program and guide you through the application process.
Moving to a new country can be an exciting but also overwhelming experience. It is important to do your research and prepare as much as possible before making the move. This can help ensure a smooth transition and make it easier to adapt to your new life in Canada. Good luck with your immigration journey!
Under its Immigration Levels Plan, Canada is aiming to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents by the end of 2023. By 2025, this target is increased to 500,000.
In 2022, Nigeria was Canada’s fourth top immigration source country, welcoming 22,085 Nigerian immigrants, making up 5.05% of Canada’s total number of permanent residents. In addition, there are over 100,000 Canadians of Nigerian descent who call Canada home.
Canada is a leading destination for Nigerians as it offers vast economic opportunities, political stability, an internationally recognized education system and highly developed healthcare system.
12. The Federal Skilled Worker Program
If you are overseas, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) may be the best option for you. The FWSP allows candidates with work experience and no Canadian job offer or connection to Canada to apply for permanent residence.
The FSWP is one of the programs managed by Express Entry, the Canadian federal government’s application system that manages the FWSP, the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
The FSWP targets foreign skilled workers who have foreign work experience, education, language skills and other human capital factors that will help them become established in Canada. In order to be eligible for the program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
One year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past 10 years in a skilled occupation classified under the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3;
Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking); and
A Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or foreign credential and Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.
At least 67 points on IRCC’s six immigration selection factors.
Enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.
Once you confirm you are eligible for the FSWP, you may upload your Express Entry profile onto Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) website. You will then be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score based on human capital factors such as age, education, work experience and language ability, among others.
IRCC has also recently launched new category-based draws for Express Entry candidates. Candidates within this program are chosen if they have a strong French language proficiency or have work experience in the following professions:
Healthcare
STEM professions
Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers and contractors
Transport
Agriculture and agri-food
Canada’s immigration goals are to strengthen the economy, reunite families, and help refugees. Each year, the Federal Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases a new Immigration Levels Plan which it uses to control the numbers of immigrants and to guide its operations.
In 2023, IRCC planned to welcome more than 465,000 immigrants to Canada. In 2024, Canada’s newcomer target is 485,000 new permanent residents (PRs). In both 2025, and 2026 Canada will aim to welcome an additional 500,000 immigrants (in each year). You can be part of the 2024 Canada immigrants!
