Canada is today one of the most popular destinations for those who want to emigrate from the CIS. Millions of people dream of moving overseas to this country. Canada has a high standard of living, a social security system that is considered one of the best in the world, and, on the contrary, low crime and unemployment rates. Canada is a rich country with a developed industry and vast resources. Its nature is amazingly beautiful. Canada is located in several climatic zones and is the second largest country in the world by area. This state has many immigrants from all over the world, including from Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. How to immigrate to Canada and stay there for permanent residence?

Canadian immigration laws

Canada is officially ruled by Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain. The actual government of the country is carried out by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Today's Canadian immigration laws are in a state of transformation. Since 2013, the country has been gradually introducing new and improved immigration programs. They involve attracting highly qualified specialists from all over the world. The influx of “brains” and “golden hands” should provide Canada with further economic growth and prosperity.

Canada has two official languages ​​- English and French. The province of Quebec speaks French, the rest speak English.

The Canadian government has established certain quotas for immigrants. Thus, in 2016, the country received 260 thousand migrants from all over the world. At the same time, the segment of business immigrants in the total number amounted to about 65%, the segment of those who moved under the family reunification program - 24.4%, refugees - just over ten percent. For 2017, immigration quotas have been significantly increased; Canada plans to accept three hundred thousand people from all over the world. But the figures for 2016 were already considered record-breaking. The quota structure will also change somewhat. Thus, the number of economic immigrants (starting a business or being employed) will increase from 160 thousand people in 2016 to 172.5 thousand in 2017. A significant reduction in the number of refugees accepted by Canada is planned (from 40 thousand in 2016 to 16 thousand in 2017). m). The number of immigrants arriving for family reunification will increase slightly (from 80 to 84 thousand people). The population of the kingdom as of 2016 is just over 35 million people.

Canada is the second largest country in the world

Ways to legally immigrate to Canada from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan and other countries

The following can seriously count on obtaining residence permit and permanent residence status in Canada:

  • highly qualified specialists who can benefit the country. Canada faces a shortage of skilled workers in various sectors of the economy. In order to meet the requirements of Canadian immigration programs, you must have a high professional level and its documentary evidence, as well as a good command of English or French;
  • family reunification program participants;
  • forced migrants who are subject to international refugee protection programs;
  • representatives of foreign businesses who have significant business experience are ready to invest in the Canadian economy and conduct business in the kingdom;
  • foreign students studying at Canadian universities;
  • participants of international humanitarian missions.

Video: where to start immigrating to Canada?

Immigration programs

F.S.W.P. This program is designed for those who have a high professional level and do not have work experience in Canadian territory. The basic requirements for candidates are as follows:

  • availability of a certificate confirming professional qualifications or an invitation from a Canadian employer;
  • good knowledge of one of the official languages ​​of Canada (English or French), which is confirmed by successfully passing tests according to the Canadian system;
  • having a higher education diploma. It can be issued by a Canadian or foreign university. Basic requirements for a foreign diploma: it must be issued by a university with a world ranking and not require nostrification;
  • The candidate must have at least one year of relevant professional experience.

SES. This immigration government program is designed for specialists in their field who have already worked in Canada. These candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • have a good command of one of the Canadian official languages;
  • have at least one year of continuous experience in Canada.

Canada willingly accepts specialists from different countries

PNP. This program was created for immigrants who have in-demand job skills. It is designed to support provincial areas, since the country's megacities are relatively staffed with blue-collar workers. In order to use it, you must meet the following criteria:

  • have relatives, friends in a certain province or have labor connections on its territory;
  • undergo training in the territory of this province;
  • have guarantors in this province, which can also be relatives permanently residing in Canada or having;
  • argue and prove the need for immigration to the specified province.

Canadian provincial immigration programs

At different periods of time, Canadian provinces received a certain autonomy in developing immigration programs adapted to their conditions and needs. The criteria for applicants to become Canadian residents are slightly different in some provinces. In some they are more gentle, in others - vice versa.

Alberta

The Canadian province of Alberta began to develop rapidly after significant oil and gas deposits were discovered in its depths. Therefore, today Alberta hospitably opens its doors to qualified specialists in the field of oil and gas production, as well as in the field of oil refining. There are many such professionals in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.

Petroleum specialists in demand in Alberta

Quebec

A feature of the immigration policy of the Canadian province of Quebec was the creation of highly competitive conditions in the labor market between its native residents and visiting foreign specialists. In addition, Quebec is very interested in foreign investment. More information about Quebec's immigration programs can be found on the province's official job search website.

Quebec is a province of Canada that has long been trying to secede and become a separate state. There were several attempts to initiate a referendum process on this issue, but each time there were not enough votes. Residents of Quebec do not recognize English and speak French. Quebec's immigration policy is very active, so it is somewhat easier to move to Quebec than to other Canadian provinces. Adaptation is also easier here for recently arrived foreigners. For example, unemployment benefits are due to a new arrival after just three months.

Manitoba

The province of Manitoba is waiting for specialists from various fields; you just need to receive an invitation from the employer and a work permit from the authorities. You can also move if you have relatives or with the support of the local community.

In Canada, there is a general information resource for those seeking work in Canadian provinces.

Video: features of federal provincial relocation programs

Features of economic immigration

When finding employment in the kingdom, recommendations from former employers can play an important role, especially if they are from Canada. If a candidate for a vacancy has previously worked in one of the world-famous transnational corporations, then recommendations from its administration can also significantly help in finding employment.

Since 2015, Canada has launched the Express Entry electronic economic immigration program. Through it, centralized submission of applications is carried out. To select candidates, a point system has been developed, which takes into account language knowledge, skill level, age of the applicant and some other factors. The passing score is set at 67.

How to say correctly: immigration, migration or emigration? It is not difficult to answer this question.

Immigration refers to the arrival of foreigners in a country, if you look at the process through the eyes of citizens of that country.

Emigration is leaving one's own country abroad.

And migration is the process of resettlement as such. This can be population migration within the country or outside its borders.

The above can be clearly illustrated with an example: a Belarusian moved to Canada. For a native Canadian, he will be an immigrant; a US resident will simply call him a migrant. And for native Belarusians he will become an emigrant.

Canada is called the Country of the Maple Leaf because it is depicted on its flag.

Family immigration

To obtain a residence permit, you can marry a Canadian citizen. If one of the spouses is a subject of the kingdom, then the second can freely come to him and apply for a residence permit. To obtain a Canadian passport, you must have lived in a legal or common-law marriage for at least three years. In the first case, you will need to present a marriage certificate, in the second you will have to prove that the marriage is not fictitious.

The family reunification program also includes moving to close relatives who are Canadian citizens or legally permanent residents of this country. This could be for elderly parents in need of care to move in with their children, or for a child to immigrate with the parents or one of them. Relevant documents must be provided to prove relationship.

Canadian legislation places great emphasis on the family reunification program. Family members can move to the country if they have any degree of relationship, and they do not have to be close blood relatives. In Canada, sponsorship of visiting family members is legally permitted. Canadian relatives sign an obligation that guarantees the maintenance of arrivals and provision of necessary services, such as medical care.

Canadian laws allow you to bring not only family members, but also other relatives.

For foreigners arriving in Canada under the family reunification program, it is very important to have a certificate of satisfactory health and absence of problems with the law. Having an outstanding criminal record will definitely lead to a refusal to issue Canadian resident status, as will a violation of the country’s immigration rules.

The average life expectancy in Canada is 80.5 years. Men live seven years less than women (77 years). The average salary as of 2016 is 3,150 US dollars. However, salaries in Canada range from $2,300 to $3,900. The most profitable work is considered to be in the field of oil, gas and coal production. The least - in the field of catering and hotel business.

Is it possible to obtain refugee status in Canada?

In order to qualify under the international refugee protection program, irrefutable evidence of persecution and persecution in the homeland must be provided for political, religious views, professional activities, race or nationality. Evidence must be documentary. In 2017, Canada significantly reduced the quota for refugees arriving on its territory. Nevertheless, this program continues to operate.

Today it is somewhat easier for Ukrainians to take advantage of the refugee protection program. Since fighting is taking place on the territory of Ukraine, its citizens living in areas that are in the battle zone or close to them can count on receiving refugee status in Canada. In addition, there is a powerful Ukrainian diaspora (community) in the kingdom that can help with the move.

The process of immigration to Canada intensified at the beginning of the twentieth century. The first immigrants were residents of the neighboring United States, who went north in search of a better life, amid a growing economic crisis in the United States. Today, about 30% of Canada's population consider themselves immigrants. Just over 4.5% consider themselves to be members of the indigenous Indian population of Canadian lands and their descendants. According to 2015 data, more than one and a half million ethnic Ukrainians of pure Ukrainian or partially Ukrainian origin live in Canada. They, for the most part, live in the western part of the country. The Russian community numbers 600 thousand people (data for 2015). The largest numbers of ethnic Russians are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, where they make up 31.6% and 25.5% of the population, respectively. There is no exact data on the number of ethnic Belarusians living in Canada. But some Belarusian experts believe that there are at least one hundred thousand of them.

Conditions for business immigration to Canada

Canada has developed special immigration programs for foreign investors. To do this, you must meet certain conditions. The right to obtain a residence permit arises with an interest-free investment in Canadian government bonds of at least 800 thousand US dollars for a period of five years. Money back is guaranteed by the state. In this case, it is necessary to confirm legally obtained assets of at least 1 million 200 thousand US dollars (in the equivalent of Canadian dollars - 1 million 600 thousand).

Also eligible for the business immigration program are foreign entrepreneurs who have significant experience in managing their own business and have the necessary amount for the initial investment in registering and starting legal business activities. It is different for different provinces. On average across the country, this will require from 120 to 360 thousand US dollars.

Video: how to go to live in Canada without a higher education and with weak English

How to move through training

Foreign students who come to study at universities in Canada can become holders of this type of residence permit. To obtain a residence permit, you must provide a guarantee letter of invitation from the administration of a Canadian higher education institution, which will contain confirmation of enrollment as a full-time student, indicating the faculty and specialty that the student has chosen for study. Also in the letter it will be necessary to indicate the duration of study and confirm the applicant’s willingness to pay for the first year (year) of study. In this case, the evidence for Canadian immigration authorities will be an extract from the applicant’s bank account, an extract from his credit card, a receipt for payment of tuition fees in fact, or a sponsorship commitment from his parents, who will be able to prove their solvency with the help of appropriate documents.

Studying in Canada provides good job prospects

The cost of education at Canadian universities varies greatly. The provinces of the country have significant autonomy, so different rules and tariffs apply in each of them. On average, one training course will cost from seven to fifteen thousand US dollars. After graduating from university, a young specialist has the opportunity to legally work in Canada and obtain permanent residence status. A Canadian diploma is valued all over the world, so there will be no problems with nostrification either.

Canada allows advanced training courses on its territory. Therefore, upon arriving in Canada, you can obtain a residence permit in this country by enrolling in courses that will last one to two years. Canada does not set any age restrictions for students, so in its universities you can meet even those over fifty.

Departure to Canada for participants of international humanitarian missions

There are representative offices of many international humanitarian missions in Canada. Volunteers who are part of them also have the right to expect to receive residence permit status. To do this, they need to provide appropriate documentary evidence from the leadership of their mission. The duration of the residence permit will be equivalent to the period of stay of the applicant (applicant, applicant) on Canadian territory as part of this mission, but should not exceed three years.

Resident card

The first step to immigration is obtaining a residence permit. After several years of living in the country, you can obtain permanent residence and then citizenship.

What documents are needed

Basic package:

  • an application for granting residence permit status in the country, written in English or French in free form. It should convincingly substantiate your application for residence permit status, indicate the expected period of stay in the country, sources of income, occupation and marital status;
  • four current color passport size photographs on a white background, without corners;
  • documents on the right to own real estate in Canada or a long-term rental agreement;
  • certificate of no criminal record in your home country;
  • bank account statement showing the movement of funds on it for the previous three months;
  • a certificate from work indicating the salary amount and clarifying the possibility of working in this company on a remote basis;
  • for pensioners - a certificate from the pension fund in their home country about the amount of security paid to them;
  • health insurance policy;
  • a valid passport and copies of all its pages;

In addition to the basic package, other documents will be required, depending on the type of permit requested. This could be a military ID for those serving military service at home, a work book for participants in economic migration programs, etc. To work, you must first obtain permission from local or federal authorities. Documents must be translated into English or French and notarized.

In order to travel to Canada for the first time, you should apply for an entry permit. The visa can be single, multiple or transit. All useful information can be found on the website of the Canadian Embassy in the Russian Federation or in the country of citizenship.

Video: differences between immigration to the province of Quebec and English-speaking regions

Validity periods

The validity of a residence permit in Canada is a maximum of three years. The immigration bureau of the country where you should apply to obtain it initially issues a residence permit status for a year with the prospect of its further extension.

How much does it cost to obtain a residence permit?

Initial registration of status will cost the applicant from 200 to 400 US dollars. The cost varies markedly depending on the type requested and the province in which the immigrant intends to settle. Therefore, you can find out the exact price only after deciding on your place of residence.

How to stay in Canada for permanent residence

Additional documents when applying for permanent residence status will be a certificate from the Canadian police stating that there are no problems with the law, a document confirming passing exams on knowledge of the language, the principles of life and the legislation of the country, confirmation of a permanent source of income.

The Canadian Permanent Resident Card allows you to enjoy all the rights of a resident of the country.

To obtain a Canadian passport, you must have three years of permanent residence in Canadian territory.

Canada allows dual citizenship, so you won't need to surrender your old passport.

Reasons for refusal to issue resident status

Canadian immigration law allows for refusal in the following cases:

  • if the immigrant potentially poses a threat to the country;
  • if you have an outstanding criminal record in your home country;
  • if there is suspicion of links with international organized crime;
  • if you have serious health problems;
  • if the applicant is not financially secure;
  • if Canadian immigration authorities become aware that the applicant has serious financial problems in his home country;
  • if the package of documents is incomplete or some additional ones are missing;
  • if one of the applicant's family members is prohibited from entering Canada.

Canadian authorities are required to voice the reason for refusing to issue resident status in their country. If it is insignificant and easily removable, then you should correct the identified errors and try to submit the application again.

What advantages does a Canadian residence permit give to Russians, Ukrainians and other foreigners?

Among the many advantages of living in Canada, the main ones include:

  • higher education in Canada is recognized as one of the best in the world, Canadian diplomas do not require nostrification;
  • employment in the country will lead to professional self-realization and decent wages;
  • the social security system in Canada is perfect and guarantees real protection;
  • Canada has created one of the best healthcare systems in the world;
  • Canada recognizes dual citizenship;
  • there are many Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian immigrants in Canada who will always provide support;
  • Having resident status allows you to visit many countries without a visa.

Also, the main advantages of residency include the opportunity for all family members to move to Canada, regardless of the degree of relationship.

Canada has always been a dream for many who wanted to exchange the boring reality of their native post-Soviet country for overseas life. Today, the economic and political crises are accelerating immigration processes. This is also facilitated by Canada’s liberal immigration policy, which further opened its doors to those wishing to become permanent residents in 2016–2017. Many today will choose to immigrate to Canada. Large national Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian communities prove in the best possible way that Canadian land is attractive and hospitable. And in order to better prepare for the process of moving overseas, you should first carefully study the immigration rules and traditions of Canada.