Presently, Canada’s demand for newcomers into the country is insatiable. Since its independence from the British empire in 1982, the country has moved on to leverage immigrants from all around the world with the qualifications and skills to bring about development in the country’s economy and support Canadian societies.
To this end, the Philippines is not an exception. The Philippines is considered to be the third leading country with Canadian immigration with over 900,000 immigrants as of 2023, preceded by India and China.
This higher rate of Filipino immigration to Canada can also be attributed to their high literacy rate as far as education and language proficiency are concerned, and also due to their professional work experience. These factors are among those that are considered in the economy immigration programs before the Federal Immigration Agency, IRCC, accepts foreign applicants.
If you are considering applying for Canada Permanent Residence from the Philippines, then the first area to look out for is the immigration programs that can guarantee your success.
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Available Immigration Pathways you can Consider to obtain Canada Permanent Residence
Most Canadian immigration programs are designed in such a way that can enable newcomers to become permanent residents. This immigration program includes:
Federal Economic Class
The Federal Economic Class of immigration program provides foreign immigrants, in this case Filipinos, with the opportunity to become permanent residents of the country. One basic requirement of this economic class is the applicant’s ability to move the economy of the country forward utilizing his skills and work experience.
This is why it is important to have a minimum of 1 year of professional working experience, without which you will not be qualified for the programs within the immigration economic class.
There are three programs under the Federal Economic Class.
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
Across these immigration programs, one year of Canadian experience is required before one can apply to obtain Permanent Residence.
Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker program aims to welcome Filipinos skillful in a certain profession that is contained within the body of the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC).
It requires that the applicant has at least one year of professional working experience and an educational degree that is recognized in Canada and must have passed the Clearance Language Benchmark required for an English-speaking individual.
After a successful application has been made, submitted through the Express Entry portal, and the applicant has been Invited To Apply, he can then go on to apply for Permanent Residence.
It takes an average time frame of 6 months before receiving a notification to apply for Permanent Residence. However, this time frame can be shortened or even made longer. It depends on how high your Comprehensive Ranking System point is.
Canadian Experience Class
To apply for Canada permanent residence from the Philippines, this program requires that you have an existing one-year Canadian living and working experience.
What differentiates the Canadian Experience Class program from the Federal Skilled Worker Program is the compulsory one-year Canadian experience. Every other program follows the same direction.
Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program enables Filipinos with sufficient knowledge of trade to obtain Permanent Residence.
At the point of application, there are two fees to be paid. The first is a processing fee, and the other is the permanent residence fee. Payments of both the processing and the permanent residence fee make you eligible to be considered to obtain permanent residence after being invited to apply (ITA).
Your education history is not required in this program. However, if you have an educational credential or its equivalent to the Canadian educational system, it is going to increase your CRS points and place you above others for consideration during the Express Entry draws.
Provincial Economic Class
This refers to the Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). There are 10 provincial nomination programs across the provinces of Canada and three across the different territories.
Each of these immigration programs works by considering the needs of the province and cross-checking it with the skills the applicant has. The applicant will be granted a nomination if the skill he has aligns with the needs facing the province.
There are several opportunities contained in each province. It is up to you to research these provinces for opportunities that align with your objective and purpose for immigration. This will determine which province to move to.
To be eligible for a provincial nomination, you need to have a recognized skill that meets the economic or labor demand of the province, educational credentials, language proficiency, your intent to settle in Canada, and the required funds to support yourself and your family, if any.
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This program would grant you the eligibility to as well apply for Canadian Permanent Residence. In most cases of being nominated by the province, you stand a higher chance of being invited to apply (ITA) from the express entry pool.
Quebec has an immigration program that is entirely different from the other provinces and territories in Canada.
Quebec Immigration
Quebec has several immigration programs that can be utilized to obtain permanent residence. As a Filipino, you can immigrate to Quebec as an investor, entrepreneur, or a self-employed worker.
Each of these programs has its different requirements. However, there are general rules to strictly adhere to when considering immigrating through this path.
These rules include:
- Quebec is primarily a French-speaking Canadian region. Having the minimum language benchmark of NCLC 7 is necessary.
- A minimum of 2 years of working experience in a profession authorized for practice in Quebec.
- Obtain approval authorizing you to practice the profession in Quebec, Canada.
Business Immigration, which includes the Start-Up Visa Program
The business immigration pathway is for foreign immigrants who wish to apply for Canada permanent residence. It requires that they have a business they wish to expand and are considering Canada to be the best location for the establishment.
This pathway presents foreign immigrants with the opportunity to get funding from designated organizations. That may include designated angel investors, business incubators, or venture capital funds.
To qualify for Permanent Residence through this program, you require the following:
- The business must have a presence in Canada.
- A minimum of 10% of voting rights must be attributed to the applicant.
- Nobody in the corporation must have a voting right of 50% and above.
Transition from Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident
You are eligible to apply for Canada permanent residence after you have spent at least 1 year as a temporary resident, gaining Canadian experience.
During this first year in Canada, you can obtain a work permit through different programs such as the International Mobility Program, International Experience Canada Program, and Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Family Class Sponsorship
This form of immigration pathway permits Filipinos to immigrate and become Canadian permanent residents through the sponsorship of a relative residing in Canada. This relative is expected to either be a Canadian citizen or one who has also obtained the status of permanent residence.
To be eligible for this program, you need the following:
- Show proof that you are 18 years of age or older.
- Both the sponsoring relative and the sponsored must sign a sponsorship agreement that commits the sponsoring relative to any financial obligation along the process of Immigration.
- The sponsoring relative must be ready to provide financial support for the dependent applicants for up to 10 years or until he clocks 25.
Conclusion
There are several pathways to apply for Canadian permanent residence in the Philippines. It could be acquired through the economic immigration pathways, business and Quebec immigration pathways, the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway, the provincial economic class, and family class sponsorship.
Although these are all ideal immigration pathways, it is necessary to understand that your objective of immigration is what determines the pathway to follow and this will guide how you go about obtaining the Permanent Residence.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average waiting period to obtain permanent residence after application?
It could take up to 730 days to finally obtain the Canadian Permanent Residence. During this period, the applicant is expected to be active in Canada, living, working, and contributing positively to the economy of the country.
How much does it cost to apply for Canadian Permanent Residence?
It costs about C$575 to apply for Permanent Residence.
What are the benefits of applying for Canada Permanent Residence?
With a Canadian Permanent Residence, you get to live, study, or work anywhere in Canada. Also, this status allows you to apply to become a Canadian citizen.
With Canadian permanent residence, you can also begin enjoying the privileges and social benefits reserved for the citizens of the country, with an exclusive opening to health care coverage.
Why is Canada interested in welcoming foreign immigrants?
This is the medium through which Canada finds growth and development in the economy. While the country provides the basic amenities required for the immigrant to have a sustainable living, the country requires the immigrant to return the favor by committing to activities that will bring about economic flourishing.
How much do you need to immigrate from the Philippines to Canada?
As a Filipino considering immigrating to Canada, you require proof of funds showing you own at least C$14,690.
