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What Is Needed to Move to Canada?

by Cheyenne Cartwright

Overview

The Canadian government has established criteria for people who want to move to that country permanently. Immigration programs exist for professionals and skilled workers in locations other than Quebec; skilled workers chosen by the Quebec government; people who have recently worked in Canada or graduated from college there; self-employed people; entrepreneurs and investors; provincial nominees; and people who are related to Canadian residents.
Professionals and Skilled Workers Outside Quebec

To be eligible to live anywhere in Canada other than Quebec, professionals and skilled workers must either have a job offer, be foreign nationals who already have lived and worked or attended school in Canada for a least a year, or have worked for at least a year at any of a number of professions. Having met those criteria, the individual must have at least a year's work experience, which has been completed within the last 10 years and is of specified skill types or levels. Once the prospective immigrant meets these requirements, six more criteria enter the equation, including education, age, ability to speak English and/or French, work experience, whether the applicant has work awaiting him in Canada and adaptability. He will also have to prove he has sufficient funds to support himself in Canada.

Professionals and Skilled Workers in Quebec

The province of Quebec has its own immigration laws, so to move there, an applicant must first apply for a certificate of selection. Once that is secured, the applicant can proceed with a regular immigration application.
Canadian Experience Class

Applicants applying for admission under the Canadian Experience Class must have worked full-time in Canada for at least two years or attended a Canadian college full-time for at least one year, all with proper authorization from the Canadian government. The work must have been done in specific fields and/or at specific school levels. Workers are evaluated on the basis of their experience and their ability to speak the language. Student applicants are evaluated based on their education.
Self-Employed Persons, Entrepreneurs and Investors

Applicants in the self-employed category must have relevant experience in certain fields, pass muster in the six-criteria examination (education, age, ability to speak English and/or French, work experience, whether the applicant has work awaiting her in Canada and adaptability) and pass medical, security and financial requirements. Entrepreneurs must have a minimum net worth of at least $300,000 Canadian, have at least two years of experience in their business, meet the six-criteria requirement and pass the medical, security and financial requirements. Investors must have business experience, be worth at least $800,000 Canadian and be prepared to invest at least $400,000 Canadian in a business in the country.
Provincial Nominees

Each province in Canada can nominate individuals with specific skills for immigrant status. The requirements vary by province, so aspiring applicants should contact officials in the province they want to work in for direction.
Sponsoring Family Members

People who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents can apply to sponsor family members who wish to immigrate to Canada. There are two different procedures, one for people who want to sponsor their spouses, domestic partners or dependent children and another for people who want to sponsor other family members. Applicants must agree to be financially responsible for the person they wish to sponsor. The aspiring sponsor must complete an application prior to submitting one for the person wishing to immigrate.
Procedures for All Applicants

Having met the requirements of his immigration class, the aspiring immigrant then must complete an application form, including the results of a medical examination, a police certificate and sometimes the results of a language test, and submit the application to the correct office with the appropriate fees.