Canada has ranked among the top immigration destinations for people from all over the world, including Pakistan.
It is home to more than 300,000 Pakistani immigrants, and many of them live in Ontario, particularly in Toronto, Mississauga, and Milton.
With its high quality of life, excellent healthcare, world-class education, and diverse society, it’s no wonder that many individuals and families dream of making Canada their new home.
In this post, we will tell you about Canadian immigration processes from Pakistan. Whether you want to study, work, or be with your family, Canada has multiple choices for you.
Top 6 Canadian Immigration Process from Pakistan
If you’re a Pakistani looking to move to Canada, you might be confused about where to start. But don’t worry, Canada is a great place to live with good education, healthcare, jobs, and friendly people from all over the world. Lots of people from Pakistan are coming to Canada, and it’s becoming more common.
Canada has programs to help skilled workers, business owners, students, and family members of Canadians and permanent residents to move here.
Below are 6 processes that you can adopt for immigration to Canada from Pakistan. Additionally, to navigate these processes more smoothly, consider seeking assistance from top Canadian immigration consultants in Pakistan. These experts can provide valuable guidance and support throughout your immigration journey.
1. Express Entry For Permanent Residency in Canada
Canada’s Express Entry system offers a simple way to become a permanent resident, often taking just six months to process applications. The system gives points based on different things like work experience, education, language skills, and how well you can adapt. People with the most points get Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for permanent residency.
If you’re from Pakistan and want to go through Express Entry, there are three main programs to think about:
- Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class:
The FSW program is for people with experience in certain jobs. You get points based on your work experience, language skills, education, and other stuff. They give ITAs to people with the most points.
- Federal Skilled Trades (FST):
FST is for skilled workers who do specific jobs and meet some requirements like work experience and language skills. You don’t need as much education, but having an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) helps you get more points.
In Canada, an ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) is a process that evaluates and verifies the educational credentials of individuals who have studied outside of Canada. The purpose of an ECA is to determine the equivalence of your foreign academic qualifications to Canadian standards.
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC):
The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a way for people who have worked in Canada to become permanent residents. It’s for those who already have Canadian work experience, and it helps them stay in Canada as permanent residents.
If you’re struggling with immigration to Canada from Pakistan, you can check the CEC option.
In CEC, you can get points for language skills, education, and how well you can adapt. It’s one of the quickest ways to become a permanent resident in Canada.
2. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is crucial in helping Canadian employers address labor shortages by allowing them to hire foreign workers for temporary jobs.
However, there’s a key requirement: employers must get a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
It shows that they couldn’t find a Canadian citizen or permanent resident for the job. Only after getting the LMIA can they hire a foreign worker officially. Once that’s done, the foreign worker can apply for a Canadian work permit or permanent residency.
The TFWP includes different categories;
- High-wage workers
- Low-wage workers
- Global Talent Stream
- Foreign agricultural workers
- In-home caregivers
- Foreign academics
Some categories don’t require employers to get an LMIA, and some fall under the International Mobility Program. It is a set of policies and agreements that allow certain foreign workers to come to Canada to work without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
3. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)
Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) offer a way for Pakistanis to become permanent residents in specific provinces or territories.
Each province and territory has its own PNP programs, and they are made to fit their special requirements. These programs have different rules for who can apply and how to go to Canada from Pakistan.
PNP programs have different categories, like ones for international students, Express Entry candidates, semi-skilled workers, and businesspeople. If a province or territory picks you through their PNP, you can then apply for permanent residency at the national level.
4. Family Sponsorship
Family Class immigration programs in Canada are aimed at bringing families together. People often struggle with family immigration to Canada from Pakistan.
You can sponsor your family members to become permanent residents too. It includes your spouse, common-law partner, dependent children, and their dependents.
There are two ways to get immigration to Canada from Pakistan.
1- In-Canada Sponsorship:
If the person you want to sponsor is already in Canada with a valid temporary status, you can apply for sponsorship from within Canada. In this case, the person you’re sponsoring might also get an Open Work Permit, allowing them to work for any employer in Canada.
2- Overseas/Outland Sponsorship:
The second option is for Pakistani nationals who are not in Canada. You can apply to sponsor them from your home country or the country where they have legally lived for at least one year.
However, there are some things to keep in mind:
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Marriages of Convenience:
Some marriages in Pakistan have been for convenience rather than love. Immigration authorities may check to see if your relationship is real and not just for immigration benefits. To increase your chances of approval, you should prove that your relationship is genuine.
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Arranged Marriages:
While Canada understands arranged marriages, they want to be sure that both partners are committed for the long term. You should demonstrate commitment during interviews.
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Polygamy:
While polygamy is legal in some religious groups in Pakistan, Canada doesn’t allow it. Both the sponsor and the person being sponsored cannot have more than one spouse.
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Underage Marriages:
In Pakistan, Islamic law allows brides to be under 18, but Canada doesn’t accept child marriages.
Since 2015, Canadian immigration authorities have required anyone being sponsored from Pakistan to be at least 18 years old when the sponsorship application is submitted.
For couples planning to marry in Pakistan, the ‘nikah’ (official marriage contract) is the only recognized form of marriage for immigration purposes, even though there may be traditional cultural ceremonies.
5. Pilot Programs
The Canadian government runs several pilot programs to test new immigration ideas. For example, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot aims to attract immigrants to rural and northern areas, while the Atlantic Immigration Pilot focuses on employers in Atlantic provinces.
These programs have different rules and ways to apply, so it’s important to research which one suits you best.
6. Work & Study Visas
If you can’t apply for permanent residency yet, you might be able to come to Canada on a work or study visa. If you find a job in Canada, you’ll need a Canadian work permit. If you get accepted into a Canadian college or university, you can study there with a Canadian study permit. If you stay in Canada long enough on your work or study permit, you might qualify for permanent residency.
With many immigration options, making sure you succeed can be tough. Here are a few things to remember when figuring out how to move to Canada from Pakistan:
- Make sure you meet the rules for the program you want to apply for.
- Gather the documents you need, like language test results, education certificates, and work experience letters.
- Be careful when filling out your application forms; always give the correct information.
- If needed, get help from a qualified immigration consultant or lawyer for your application
Despite these strategies, the process of immigration can still be overwhelming and challenging. That’s why we strongly suggest using the knowledge and skills of Treklaw, your reliable partner in immigration and education consultancy in Pakistan.
TrekLaw provides valuable assistance in the Canadian immigration process from Pakistan by offering expert guidance in program selection, document preparation, and application submission. With our support, you can navigate the complex immigration system with confidence and increase your chances of success in your journey to Canada. In addition to immigration services, TrekLaw is also an education consultant in Pakistan, helping you explore educational opportunities in Canada to further enhance your prospects in this welcoming country.