In 2023, Canada aims to welcome 465,000 new permanent residents. By 2025, this goal is increased to 500,000. Pakistan is one of the top countries of origin for new immigrants to Canada, which is currently home to more than 300,000 Pakistanis. Most Pakistanis live in Ontario, especially Toronto, Mississauga and Milton.
Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
Pakistan remains in the top ten countries of origin for new immigrants to Canada. Between 2016 and 2021, the number of Canadian immigrants born in Pakistan rose from 202,260 to 234,110, almost 32,000 people. Also, in 2022, some 6,400 Pakistani students came to study in Canada.
The best way to immigrate to Canada depends on your individual situation and goals, so it is important to know your options and determine which pathway you are most eligible to optimize your chances for successful immigration.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The most popular way to immigrate to Canada is through cheap immigration, which has more than 100 immigration pathways available. One of these pathways is the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). The program allows candidates with work experience to apply for permanent residence, even if they do not have a job offer in Canada or have no connection to Canada.
The FSWP targets skilled foreign workers who would be successful in Canada based on their work experience abroad, education, and language skills. To be eligible for the program, candidates must have:
- One year of full-time or equivalent continuous paid work experience in the last 10 years in a skilled occupation classified in the National Occupational Classification (NOC) TEER category 0, 1, 2, or 3;
- Validated language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in English or French in all skills (reading, writing, listening and speaking); and
- A Canadian educational credential (certificate, diploma, or degree) or a foreign credential and an Educational Credentials Evaluation (ECA) report.
- At least 67 points on all six IRCC immigration selection factors.
- Enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada.
The FSWP is one of three programs administered under Express Entry, which is the Canadian government’s application system. The other programs include the Canadian Experience Class and the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
Once an applicant has submitted an Express Entry profile, they will be ranked based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The CRS will give you a score out of 600 based on individual factors, such as age, education, work experience, and language skills. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will send invitations to apply (ITA) for permanent residence to the highest scoring applicants.
IRCC has also recently introduced a new category-based draw selection for Express Entry candidates. Candidates may be eligible under the new draw categories if they have a good command of the French language or have work experience in the following areas:
- Health care
- STEM careers
- Trades, such as carpenters, plumbers, and contractors
- Transport
- Agriculture and agri-food
On June 28, IRCC held its first category-based lottery and invited 500 healthcare workers to apply for permanent residency.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another popular option for Pakistani candidates. The PNP allows each province and territory (except Nunavut and Quebec) to design its own immigration pathways based on its labor market and economic and demographic needs.
Provinces and territories will nominate foreign skilled workers for immigration to their provinces through the PNP. Each province has its own eligibility criteria that a candidate must meet to be nominated.
Candidates may apply directly to the province, however, candidates who are also in the Express Entry pool may be invited to apply for a province’s nomination. If a candidate is nominated via Express Entry, she receives an additional 600 CRS points, essentially guaranteeing an ITA for permanent residence in an upcoming draw.
Work permit
In order to work in Canada, a foreign worker generally needs a work permit. Canadian work permits are divided into two programs: the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TWFP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP). The main difference between the two is that the TWFP requires a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), while the IMP does not.
The LMIA is the responsibility of the employer and demonstrates to the Canadian government that hiring a foreign worker will have a neutral or positive effect on the Canadian labor market.
In most cases, a job offer from a Canadian employer is required to apply for a work permit. However, there are some situations where IRCC allows open work permits, which are not employer specific.
Study in Canada
Canada is a very popular destination for international students, due to its high-quality education and affordability, the opportunity to work while studying, and the pathways to permanent residence that are available to international students after graduation.
IRCC data shows that Canada welcomed a record 551,405 international students from 184 countries in 2022. Additionally, at the end of 2022, there were 807,750 international students with valid study permits, another all-time record.
To study in Canada, you must first be accepted to a Canadian school. Once he receives his acceptance letter, he applies for his study permit.
There are more than 1,500 Designated Learning Institutions in Canada that accept international students. After graduation, international students may be eligible to remain in Canada for up to three years (depending on the length of the study program) with a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP).
Additionally, a Canadian education can give you an advantage when applying for permanent residence, as many federal and provincial immigration programs value candidates with Canadian education and work experience.
There are many immigration options available to you if you are originally from Pakistan and want to settle in Canada. It is recommended to consult with an experienced immigration attorney who will explain the programs available and guide you through the application process.
Find out if you are eligible for Canadian immigration
