Express Entry…
is a way for skilled workers to immigrate and become permanent residents of Canada. The Express Entry system manages three types of immigration programs within it. The first is the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) which is for skilled workers who have three years of experience in the Canadian workforce prior to applying. The second program is the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) which is a way for skilled workers with foreign experience to immigrate and become permanent residents of Canada. The third is the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) which is for skilled workers who have experience and are qualified in a skilled trade to become permanent residents of Canada.
In the Express Entry system, an electronic system is used to manage the applications of skilled worker applicants. Eligible applicants are accepted into the Express Entry pool and are subject to ranking according to the federal government’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which is a points-based system used to assess and rank applicants based on an applicant’s age, education, work experience, language skills, and many other factors. Based on an applicant’s CRS score, the specific Express Entry program, and the country’s current economic goals, the IRCC will select and invite the highest-scoring applicants with an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence.
To be eligible for Express Entry, an applicant must meet the requirements of at least one Express Entry program, and they must complete language testing for writing, reading, listening, and speaking Canadian languages.
If an applicant receives an ITA for permanent residence from IRCC, the applicant must submit a completed Application for Permanent Residence to IRCC within the specified deadline. The application will need to include the applicant’s medical exam and police certificate. The applicant will also be required to submit biometrics once IRCC requests it. The IRCC will then review and make a final decision on the Application for Permanent Residence, and if approved, the applicant will receive Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
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The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)…
is a program for foreign nationals who have the skills, education, and background that can contribute to the working economy of a specific province or territory in Canada (save for Quebec), and who want to live in that specific territory or province and become permanent residents of Canada. Provinces and territories each have their own requirements and different immigration programs under PNP that can target specific types of foreign nationals such as students, skilled or semi-skilled workers, and business people, depending on the needs and goals of the province or territory. Applicants to the PNP may or may not need to apply using the aforementioned Express Entry process, depending on their eligibility for Express Entry and the program. If the applicant applies to a PNP that is processed through the non-Express Entry process, the processing time will be longer than through Express Entry. For all PNP applications, the applicant will need to pass a medical exam and will need to obtain a police check certificate for processing prior to the IRCC considering the issuance of an ITA for permanent residence. The applicant must then submit a completed Application for Permanent Residence to IRCC within the specified deadline.
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Family Sponsorship Programs…
are characterized by a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act, sponsoring certain eligible family members to work, live, or study in Canada as permanent residents. The IRCC has two main streams of Family Sponsorship which include the parent and grandparent sponsorship program and the spousal, partner, child or other relative stream. The requirements and process differ depending on the relative which is to be sponsored (the principal applicant); however, the intended sponsorer must always apply to become a sponsor and the intended sponsee(s) must apply to become permanent resident(s) at the same time. To be eligible to sponsor, the sponsor must be at least 18 years old of age, must prove that they are not receiving social assistance from the government (for reasons other than a disability), and must demonstrate that they can provide for the basic needs of any relative(s) they wish to sponsor. There may be an income requirement and a financial undertaking forming a binding sponsorship agreement. There are also various restrictions on who can sponsor a relative to immigrate to Canada. This is one of the reasons it is always a good idea to speak with and seek legal advice from a professional familiar with current and evolving immigration laws and policies.
- Government of Canada, Eligibility to apply for the Federal Skilled Trades Program (Express Entry) (August 25, 2023), online: Immigration and Citizenship <https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/eligibility/skilled-trades.html>
- Government of Canada, How Express Entry Works (August 23, 2022) online: Immigration and Citizenship <https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/works.html>
- Government of Canada, How the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) works (August 22, 2023) online: Immigration and Citizenship <https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/works.html>
- Government of Canada, Sponsor your family members (September 22, 2023), online: Immigration and Citizenship <https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/family-sponsorship.html>
NOTE: This article has been written for general information purposes only and does NOT constitute legal advice. For further questions and/or legal advice please consult a qualified lawyer.