Many Indians dream of immigrating to Canada to start a new life. However, as many people know, having a dream is one thing but turning it into a reality is completely different.
Thus, one question that people ask is whether it is hard for an Indian citizen to immigrate to Canada? We’ll answer this question in this article while also showing you the best ways for an Indian to imigrate to Canada.
Canada Immigration Statistics
A popular saying is “stats do not lie” and in this case, it seems as though the stats are in favor of any Indian wishing to immigrate to Canada.
The facts show that Indians have been the biggest beneficiaries of Canadian immigration programs. In recent times, Indians have dominated the list of Canadian permanent residents as well as Canadian immigrants overall.
For example, in the first quarter of this year (January – March 2022), Canada admitted 113,535 immigrants as permanent residents. Interestingly, Indian citizens received the highest admissions, as 34,995 Indian citizens were admitted as permanent citizens.
China received the second-highest number of admissions, with 7,825 Chinese citizens receiving permanent residency. The top 10 on the list are completed by the Philippines, Afghanistan, Nigeria, U.S.A., Iran, France, Brazil, and Pakistan.
Highlights from the 2022 Canadian admissions of permanent residents include:
- India citizens account for 30.82% of the total number of immigrants that received Canadian permanent residency in the first quarter of 2022
- The number of Indians that became Canadian permanent residents (34,995) was more than that of the next best country (7,825) by 27,170
- The total number of Indians that became permanent residents (34,995) is more than the combined number of the next 7 countries on the list (32,580)
With these facts, there’s no doubt that Indian citizens have enjoyed more success than other nationals in immigrating to Canada. This suggests that it is relatively easier for Indian citizens to immigrate to Canada than it is for other nationals.
Popular Canada Immigration Pathways for Indian Citizens
Indians have been very successful in immigrating to Canada because there are many immigration pathways that Indians can take advantage of.
Some of these India to Canada immigration pathways are:
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program
- Family Sponsorship
- Student Visa
1. Express Entry Program
Express Entry is the most popular pathway for immigrating to Canada from India. It allows skilled workers in India to settle and work in Canada as permanent residents.
There are three Express Entry programs:
Canadian Experience Class (CEC) – The CEC program is for skilled workers who have Canadian experience. If you have at least one year of working experience, obtained in Canada within the last 3 years, you can apply for permanent residency under the CEC program.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) – The FSWP is for skilled workers who may not have moved out of India before. If you have a college degree and at least one year of experience in a managerial, professional, or technical job, you can apply for Canadian permanent residency under the FSWP.
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) – The FSTP is for skilled workers who may not have college degrees but have vocational training. With one year of experience in vocational trades, you can apply for permanent residency under the FSTP.
The Express Entry programs target different categories of workers, making it easy for everyone to immigrate from India to Canada.
For example, while qualified Indian doctors and accountants can seek Canadian immigration using the FSW program, Indian equipment operators and chefs without college degrees can seek immigration using the FST program.
Candidates who apply to the Express Entry programs are added to a pool and ranked using a comprehensive ranking system (CRS). In each draw, candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency.
Many Indians have been able to easily immigrate to Canada via Express Entry by boosting their CRS scores. The scoring system uses applicants’ age, education, experience, language proficiency, and Canadian connection. So, some ways to boost the CRS score include:
- Applying as soon as possible (the younger you are, the higher your age score)
- Getting a higher degree
- Getting relevant work experience
- Improving your proficiency in official languages (in order to score high on the language proficiency test)
- Secure a job in Canada before applying
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
The PNP is the second most popular India to Canada immigration pathway. Eleven of Canada’s thirteen provinces/territories run the programs.
The Canadian provincial nominee programs are:
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
The programs allow the provinces/territories to select candidates that match their labor needs for permanent residency under the Express Entry program. A successful PNP application adds 600 points to your CRS score and automatically makes you a strong candidate in the EE pool.
3. Student Visa
Another popular Indian to Canada immigration pathway is the student visa. It allows Indian students to move to Canada to study in the country. It gives only a temporary stay in Canada as it is only for the duration of the study.
However, the Student Visa is a way for Indians to easily immigrate to Canada because it is easy to obtain, and it makes it easier to get permanent residency.
The Student Visa is relatively easy to obtain – When applying for a student visa, the main requirement is an acceptance letter from a Canadian institution. Interestingly, this is easy to get if you meet the institution’s minimum entry requirements and can pay the required fees.
The Student Visa puts you in Canada – In recent times, the Canadian permanent residency programs have targeted applicants that are already in the country. So, getting a Student Visa allows you to move to Canada, which then makes you a preferred candidate when applying for permanent residency.
Get a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) after your studies – After completing some programs, you’ll be able to apply for a Post Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). The PGWP allows you to temporarily remain in the country (and work) after your studies.
Many Indians easily immigrate to Canada by targeting courses that allow them to get a PGWP after their studies. Also, working in Canada after schooling gives you Canadian experience which weighs heavily in your favor when applying for permanent residency.
4. Family Sponsorship
Another easy way to immigrate to Canada is via family sponsorship. However, this requires you to have a family member in Canada.
The Canadian government wants families to be together, not separate. So, it creates this immigration program for Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons registered in Canada as an Indian (under the Canadian Indian Act) to sponsor a family member to the country.
Examples of people that can sponsor you are:
- Spouse/ partner
- Parent or Grandparent
- Children
Final Thoughts
Most Canadian immigration programs are open to every nation. As a result, they are very competitive. However, as recent statistics show, there are more Indians successfully immigrating to Canada than other nationals.
This can only mean that Indians are finding the process easier than immigrants from many other nations. Hopefully, this means you can soon turn your Canadian immigration dream into a reality.
Take the assessment test on our website Assessment Forms to find out what immigration program will be best for you and contact us here to help you with the application process.
