In 2023, Canada plans to welcome 465,000 new immigrants, hoping to fill a growing labour shortage with new immigrants.
In each of the next three years, it plans to set new records for permanent residents after breaking them in 2021 and 2022.
As a result, now is a great time to consider immigrate to Canada.
Here is a comprehensive list of 13 ways to immigrate to Canada in 2023.
1. Express Entry
In 2023, Express Entry will remain the top way to immigrate to Canada.
Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class, and Federal Skilled Trades applications are controlled by the flagship selection system.
According to the latest Immigration Levels Plan, Canada expects to welcome nearly 83,000 Federal High Skilled immigrants in 2023, followed by 109,000 and 114,000 in 2024 and 2025.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program now offers Express Entry to 16 new occupations following the launch of the new National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021).
Many new occupations qualify for Canada’s mass entry immigration program, from truck drivers to nurses to payroll administrators.
As part of the Express Entry program, occupation-specific draws will also be introduced this year. Canada introduced legislation last year allowing for specific economic labour shortages to be targeted.
2. Provincial Nominee Program
In 2023, only Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs will be bigger than Express Entry.
There are nine provincial (and two territorial) immigration programs in Canada that will welcome more than 105,000 newcomers.
From British Columbia in the west, through the prairie provinces of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, to Ontario and the Atlantic Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island, there are thousands of spots for Canada immigration in 2023.
A part of the PNP feeds into Express Entry, which means each of the provincial programs mentioned above has specific streams for the federally-operated selection system.
It is important for candidates to consult target occupation lists and streams since provincial and federal priorities differ.
3. Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is a new way for skilled workers and their families to come to live and work in Canada permanently. The program will help meet the needs of Canadian employers in the four Atlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, and Prince Edward Island.
The Program is open to eligible candidates from all over the world who have the skills, education, and work experience needed to contribute to the economy of an Atlantic province. Candidates must also have a job offer from an employer in the region.
The pilot will run for three years, starting in mid-2017. During this time, up to 2,000 applications will be accepted per year from each of the four participating provinces.
4. Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is poised to welcome skilled immigrants to Canada’s smaller towns. This government-backed initiative has opened the doors for eligible candidates to obtain permanent residency in 11 participating communities, including Thunder Bay, Sudbury, and Sault Ste. Marie, Timmins, North Bay, Peterborough, Kingston, Belleville/Quinte West, London, Windsor-Essex, and Kenora. In order to be accepted into the program candidates must possess one year of full or part-time experience in a high-skilled occupation located in one of the chosen communities; language skills applicable to said occupation; an intention of living and working permanently within their new community; hold a valid work permit (if applicable); while also obtaining a Letter of Support from a designated local organization. Community organizations play an integral role by evaluating applications and supporting those who qualify for IRCC admission. If you consider yourself qualified for this immigration program don’t hesitate to reach out to your relevant community organization for eligibility assessment.
5. Startup Visa Program
For business-minded individuals, the Start-Up Visa has become important for immigrate to Canada.
Candidates with a qualifying business or business idea must be supported by a designated angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator, as well as possess the required settlement funds and language skills.
To qualify for permanent residence, applicants must be actively involved in the management of their business within Canada while they establish their business.
A significant number of these will come through the Start-Up Visa, which will welcome 3,500 newcomers in 2023 and 6,000 by 2025.
6. Self-Employed Program
Quebec and the federal government both offer self-employment programs.
Applicants for the federal Self-Employed Class are expected to have relevant self-employment experience and the intention and ability to create their own employment and make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic, or athletic life of Canada.
By practicing a profession or engaging in a commercial activity, self-employed applicants differ from skilled workers in Quebec.
7. Family Class Sponsorship Program
The Family Class Sponsorship Program is a great way to immigrate to Canada if you have a close relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This program allows your relative to sponsor you for permanent residence in Canada. To be eligible for this program, you must be related to your sponsor as a spouse, common-law or conjugal partner, dependent child, adopted child, or other eligible relatives.
If you are sponsored by your relative, you will need to meet certain criteria in order to be approved for permanent residence. You will need to demonstrate that you have adequate financial support and that you are not inadmissible to Canada on health or security grounds. If you are approved for permanent residence, you will be able to live and work in Canada indefinitely.
The Family Class Sponsorship Program is a great way to reunite with your family in Canada. If you are interested in this program, be sure to consult with an immigration lawyer to ensure that you meet all the eligibility requirements.
8. Quebec Skilled Worker Program
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program is one of the most popular programs for skilled workers looking to immigrate to Canada. The program is administered by the province of Quebec and allows skilled workers to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
To be eligible for the Quebec Skilled Worker Program, applicants must have at least one year of full-time work experience in a skilled occupation. Applicants must also meet the minimum language requirements, which include proficiency in French or English.
The Quebec Skilled Worker Program has a points-based system that evaluates applicants on various factors, such as age, education, work experience, and language skills. A minimum of 60 points is required to be eligible for the program.
Successful applicants will receive a Quebec Selection Certificate (QSC), which will allow them to apply for permanent residency in Canada.
9. Study Permit and Post-Graduation Work Permit
750,000 international students are expected to study in Canada in 2023, making them the largest group of temporary residents.
It is possible for them to come into the country on a Study Permit and qualify for a Post-Graduation Work Permit, which will give them the experience they need to qualify for immigration via Express Entry.
Candidates should be aware, however, that this pathway is highly competitive. Only a fraction of the 750,000 international students studying in Canada will become permanent residents.
The reality is that very few international students succeed in achieving permanent residence in Canada, despite the claims of many immigration consultants and colleges and universities.
10. Parents and Grandparents Program
Canada’s Parents and Grandparents Program operates on a lottery system, where sponsors declare their interest in a pool and are randomly selected.
In 2023, Canada plans to welcome 28,500 newcomers.
Over the years, the stream has drawn controversy due to its oversubscription, with officials seeking the fairest way to select candidates.
As of now, the PGP pool has not been open to new sponsors since 2020. There have been three batches of sponsors who have applied since then. In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) may open a new window for submitting sponsor applications.
The Super Visa is an option for parents and grandparents who are not selected.
11. Temporary Workers
The number of Work Permit holders in Canada has fallen behind Study Permit holders as the largest group of temporary residents, but they remain a significant number at 750,000.
Workers come to Canada through several channels, including the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for those who need a Labour Market Impact Assessment and the International Mobility Program for others.
The LMIA confirms that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and no Canadian worker is available.
Without an LMIA, Canadian employers can hire foreign workers through the IMP. In addition, it includes intra-company transfers, people who enter Canada as a result of trade treaties, such as the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) or CETA, and people who are eligible for open work permits.
