You’ve wanted to do it for a while now: move for some fresh air, for some new opportunities, for the good schools for your kids, and for a more stable life. If you’re reading this article, it’s a good chance that you’ve Googled “How to get Canada PR from India” five times. Don’t worry. And we know that Canada is a favourite destination for Indian immigrants, for many reasons.
But the truth is, it’s complicated. There are multiple pathways and much paperwork to wade through. Let’s make it a little easier.
Why Canada? (Why People Migrate)
Canada is more than a beautiful maple leaf and wintery trees. It’s an open and friendly place. They’re actively recruiting skilled immigrants (such as from India) to fill jobs.
Here’s why people are going:
- Permanent Residency (PR) that leads to citizenship (unlike other countries, where PR is used as a carrot)
- Free health care for you and your family (as residents)
- Cheaper world-class education (than in the US or UK)
- Multicultural Canadian cities like Toronto, Vancouver and Calgary, where you are not the minority, you are the majority
- A robust economy in the sectors of IT, health care, trades and finance
The Most Popular Canada Visa Programs for Indians
There is no “single Canada visa”. There are a number of different programs and the one you apply for will depend on your age, education, work experience and language.
- The most popular skilled worker program is Express Entry. It uses a merit-based (Comprehensive Ranking System or CRS) system, and is competitive. The higher the points, the sooner you’re invited to apply for PR. This is for three programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC).
- And there are Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs). Every province has a different demand (or “stream”) for immigrants. If you’re nominated, this will boost your Express Entry score. This is important if you don’t have high CRS.
- There’s a trend in the Study Permit to PR category, especially among young people. You come to Canada as a student, complete your course, work for a few years and then apply for PR as part of the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). It’s slow, but it’s a good option.
If you’re lucky, you might have a spouse, parent, brother or sister who is a Canadian citizen or PR. They can sponsor you to come and live with them.
Check if you’re Eligible for Canada PR
This is the fun part. They either think they’re eligible or ineligible. Both are mistakes.
If you are eligible for Canada PR through Express Entry, it is based on your:
- Age (the younger you are, the better)
- Education (if it is from overseas, it must be assessed by Educational Credential Assessment (ECA))
- English test (IELTS for Canada PR or CELPIP)
- Work experience (one year of skilled work experience (right NOC))
- Flexibility (do you have a job offer, have studied in Canada or have a sibling living there?)
The first step would be to see if you’re eligible for Canada PR, via the official calculator, or an immigration professional. Don’t make decisions about your life that you might later regret.
Here’s Why You Need an Immigration Consultant in Delhi
Let’s be clear about this. Canada’s Immigration Rules are constantly evolving. Cut-off scores fluctuate. Document requirements shift. It’s easy for one thing to be missing, and for the whole application to be rejected, even banned for some time.
An immigration consultant in India who’s a member of the Immigration Consultants of Canada Regulatory Council (ICCRC) (the new name is the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) can:
- Assess your profile accurately
- Advise you on the best program for you
- Advise you on how to be competitive in the CRS system
- Make sure your application is complete
- Keep you up-to-date on the draws and changes
The fees of a legitimate consultant are worth it to save you time, money and stress.
A word to the wise: be careful of who “guarantees” your visa or very fast processing. Nobody can “guarantee” that you will be successful with Canadian immigration, not even the most successful consultant.
Your Next Step
If you want to go to Canada, do this. Assess your present circumstances: education, language and work experience. Then, consult with the best immigration consultant in India, who will help you to make a plan.
It is very possible to move to Canada from India. Each year, thousands of Indian families do. If you plan and prepare, you can do it too.