What is the Express Entry System
Express Entry is a points-based system that manages three federal permanent resident immigration programs:
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Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)
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Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
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Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for those with foreign skilled work experience who want to immigrate to Canada. Selection of applicants is based on several factors including education, language ability, and work history.
This program is geared towards individuals who have a minimum of one year of work experience in a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3 job. These are usually jobs that require some college or university and will often fall into more senior job positions such as management, operations, etc.
Basic eligibility criteria include:
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A minimum score of 67 out of 100 on the FSW selection grid.
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A minimum of 1 year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience.
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A minimum CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) 7 in English or French in all abilities (reading, writing, speaking, listening).
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A Canadian secondary or post-secondary education credential or the foreign equivalent via and Education Credential Assessment (ECA).
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for skilled tradespeople who want to become Canadian permanent residents. This program focuses on practical trade skills more than it does on academics and it requires lower language scores than both the FSW and CEC programs.
Basic eligibility criteria include:
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A minimum of 2 years full-time (or equivalent part-time) work experience in a skilled trade within the 5 years before submitting your application.
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A valid full-time Canadian job offer for a minimum of 1 year or a Certificate of Qualification in your skilled trade from a Canadian provincial/territorial authority.
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A minimum CLB 5 in speaking and listening and CLB 4 in reading and writing, in English or French.
Skilled trades fall under NOC TEER 2 and 3 jobs and include trades such as industrial, electrical construction, maintenance, equipment operation, butchery, baking, etc.
Canadian Experience Class Program
The Canadian Experience Class Program is for those who have recent Canadian work experience and want to become a Canadian permanent resident. It is specifically geared towards individuals who are already integrated into the Canadian work force; however, a job offer is not required for eligibility.
Basic eligibility criteria include:
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A minimum of 1 year of skilled, paid work experience in Canada within the 3 years before submitting your application. Work experience must fall under a NOC TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 job.
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A minimum CLB 7 if your work experience falls under NOC TEER 1 or 1 and a minimum CLB 5 if your work experience falls under NOC TEER 2 or 3.
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Your Canadian work experience must have been gained with in Canada with a valid work permit.
There is no minimum education requirement for the Canadian Experience Class Program; however, education can assist in increasing
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The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate people for Canadian permanent residence based on local labour market and demographic needs. Each province or territory has its own streams that target skilled workers, semi-skilled workers, international graduates, and entrepreneurs.
Eligibility criteria for PNP varies by province and program and includes areas such as education, language, and work experience. There are two PNP pathways:
1. Enhanced PNP - Express Entry Aligned
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This gives the candidate 600 additional CRS points in the Express Entry System.
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Allows the flexibility to apply to multiple provincial streams if you're eligible.
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Applications are processed through Express Entry, which means faster processing.
2. Base PNP
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These streams are not connected to the Express Entry System and are processed directly through the province you are applying to and IRCC.
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There are no additional CRS points associated with Base PNP streams.
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Processing can take longer since applications are processed in two stages - first through the province or territory and then through IRCC.
Regardless of which PNP pathway you apply through, you must commit to residing and working in the province through which you applied for permanent residence. All Canadian provinces and territories, except for Quebec and Nunavut, offer PNP programs.
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Regional and Pilot Programs through IRCC are geared toward skilled workers, graduates and business immigrants who can bring their experience, knowledge and expertise to provinces and territories looking to boost their workforce, economy and community.
There are several pilot programs to explore, including:
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Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)
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Rural Community Immigration Pilot
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Francophone Community Immigration PilotVisa Program
- Start-Up Visa Program
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Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot
Each of these pilot programs have different requirements that must be met in order for an applicant to be eligible.
If you are interested in scheduling a consultation to find out of you're eligible for one of Canada's pilot programs, contact us today! We can help you navigate this.
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Canada’s Family Sponsorship Programs allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor eligible family members to become permanent residents. The goal is to reunite families and help newcomers establish themselves in Canada with the support of loved ones.
Who Can Be Sponsored
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Your spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.
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Your biological or adopted dependent children.
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Your parents or grandparents.
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Other relatives in limited circumstances, such as orphaned siblings, nephews, nieces, or grandchildren under 18, or one relative if you have no other family in Canada).
Who Can Be A Sponsored
When you become a sponsor for someone to bring them to Canada for the purpose of gaining permanent residence, you undertake several responsibilities and requirements by the Government of Canada. Some of these include:
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That you are 18 years of age or older.
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That you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or registered Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
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That you reside in Canada, or plan to return once the sponsoree arrives in Canada or is granted PR.
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That you have the financial ability to support your sponsored family member and ensure they do not require social assistance.
Sponsors are required to sign an undertaking agreeing to provide basic necessities for their sponsored family member for a set period of time:
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3 years for a spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner.
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10 years, or until the age of 25, for a dependent child.
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20 years for a parent or grandparent.
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Protected Persons in Canada
Canada has a long-standing commitment to protecting people in need of safety. Individuals who are fleeing persecution, violence, or danger may be eligible to become permanent residents under Canada’s refugee and protection programs. There are two main pathways for refugees to obtain Canadian PR - Refugees from Abroad, and Protected Persons in Canada.
Refugees from Abroad
Individuals may qualify as a Refugee from Abroad under two main programs:
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Government Assisted Refugees (GARs)
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Referred to Canada by UNHCR or another designated referral organization.
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Once accepted, they receive financial and settlement support from the Government of Canada for up to one year, including assistance finding housing, language training, and assistance with adjusting to life in Canada.
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Privately Sponsored Refugees (PSRs)
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Refugees supported by private groups or organizations who commit to providing financial and emotional support for the refugee’s first year in Canada. These groups or organizations can be community associations, faith-based groups, or groups of Canadian citizens or permanent residents.
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Canada provides protection to individuals already who are already in the country and would face serious harm if they were to return to their home country.
You may qualify as a protected person if:
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You are being persecuted based on race, religion, nationality, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group; or
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There is a risk to your life, a risk of torture, or cruel and unusual treatment or punishment if you return to your home country.
Protection is granted in one of two ways:
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By making a refugee claim in Canada.
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By applying for a Pre-Removal Risk Assessment (PRRA).
Once recognized as a protected person, individuals can apply for permanent resident status for themselves and certain family members. This provides the right to live, work, and study anywhere in Canada, and access to healthcare, education, and settlement services.
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Applicants who may not qualify under any other Canadian immigration program may be eligible for PR on humanitarian and compassionate grounds. This program is for individuals facing exceptional circumstances, and offers a pathway to permanent residence based on compassion, fairness, and the unique hardships a person would face if required to leave Canada. Each case is assessed individually, based on the applicant’s personal situation and the degree of hardship they would experience if forced to return to their home country.
What Factors does IRCC Consider in an H&C Application?
Several factors are taken into consideration when an immigration officer reviews an H&C application; however, the core factors they look at include:
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The applicant's establishment in Canada.
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The applicant's family ties in Canada.
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Best interests of any children that are included in the application.
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The hardships the applicant would faced if they were to return to their home country.
Who Cannot Apply on Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds
The H&C program reflects Canada’s core values of empathy and inclusion. It provides a chance for individuals who have built a life in Canada—and who would face undue hardship elsewhere—to stay and continue contributing to their communities.
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Canada. Your Home.
Becoming a permanent resident of Canada is a big deal - at Satov Immigration, we understand the complexities of moving your whole life to a new country. We are here to help alleviate the stress of this process with an indepth understanding and years of professional experience assisting individuals with gaining PR status.
Contact us to find out if you may be eligible for one of several Canadian permanent resident pathways, and how we can guide you through the steps of this journey so that you don't have to worry about missing any details.
