Canada continues immigrant-friendly policies by setting ambitious targets to welcome new immigrants desiring to study, work, do business, and settle here. It is clear from Canada’s 2024 target of welcoming 485,000 new immigrants. One can expect Canada to surpass the goal, considering its track record of setting new records of welcoming new permanent residents in three consecutive years, including 2021, 2022, and 2023.
A recent survey placed Canada as the world’s most sought-after work destination. Canada attracts new immigrants by promising better lifestyles, diverse work and business opportunities, access to quality healthcare, and ease of integration. Read ahead to discover the most popular options for relocating to Canada in 2024.
Express Entry selection for permanent residence
Express Entry is the most popular option to achieve permanent residency status under these three main federal economic immigration streams of Canada:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Express Entry manages applications under these main economic immigration pathways for speedy processing. Applicants upload their Express Entry profiles for ranking and competitive selection. Successful candidates receive invitations to apply for permanent residence through regular draws. Canada plans to welcome 110,770 new immigrants through the above immigration programs under the Express Entry system each year.
Eligibility for any of these programs and a good CRS score will improve your chances of receiving an invitation to apply for permanent residence through periodic Express Entry draws. Candidates with active Express Entry profiles qualify to receive provincial nomination despite low CRS scores.
Provincial immigration streams
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) across Canada’s provinces and territories are quite popular among prospective immigrants. PNPs facilitate Canada’s territories and provinces to attract eligible immigrants by matching local economic and demographic priorities.
Provincial immigration programs enable you to settle in the province of your choice by qualifying for the program’s eligibility criteria. Canada aims to welcome 110,000 new immigrants by 2025 through diverse PNP streams. Each PNP provides a dedicated stream for candidates having active Express Entry profiles.
Canada operates immigration programs under federal and provincial immigration categories. The Provincial Nominee Programs are competing with the federal pathways to permanent residence because of convenience and relaxation of eligibility criteria.
Having a link to the province, an employment offer from a local employer, and the ability to meet the province’s labor market objectives enables you to receive an invitation to apply for permanent residency in your favorite province. Provincial nomination allows the nominee to apply for permanent residence.
Family sponsorship programs
Canada fosters family ties and operates family sponsorship programs to reunite families. Canadian permanent residents and citizens are eligible to sponsor their close family members to come and live with them. You can sponsor parents, grandparents, spouses, common-law partners, siblings, and children under the family sponsorship programs.
The parents and grandparents sponsorship program may be open for new sponsors in 2024 to enable parents and grandparents of Canadian citizens and permanent residents.
Entrepreneurial immigration programs
Canada provides several federal and provincial business immigration pathways to help entrepreneurs settle in Canada by establishing their businesses. Canada aims to welcome 5,000 new immigrants through its business immigration programs.
Most entrepreneurs willing to settle in Canada use the Startup Visa option. The eligibility criteria include language skills, support of a designated investor, and a qualifying business idea.
Several Canadian provinces operate provincial business programs under their Provincial Nominee Programs. Canada operates Federal Self-employed Programs for aspiring professionals with proven self-employment experience. You can consider the option of a Super Visa to bring your parents and grandparents to Canada as a temporary option for the parents and grandparents sponsorship program.
