How Much Does It Cost to Migrate to Canada
Canada is among the top countries for consideration when thinking about immigrating. There are many reasons why including the great education system, state-of-the-art healthcare facilities and being an immigration positive country.
Canada has a goal of inviting over 1.2 million immigrants as permanent residents. This goal is possible due to Canada having more than 100 immigration pathways available. The number of immigration programs also increases the chance of a program being suited for an individual.
What could be the next important question after finding the program best suited for you is "How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada?". Now this answer will differ depending on the program.
Below we have a look at some of the more popular Canadian visa programs and their cost.
Express Entry
Express Entry is an online immigration system that manages potential skilled workers through three federal immigration programs. These are the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.
The Express Entry acts as one of the biggest contributors to immigration in Canada. For 2021, the goal is to issue 110,500 invitations to apply (ITA) through the Express Entry system.
Being a candidate within this program can also result in quicker processing times as applications can take as little as six months.
How the Express Entry System Works
Only if an applicant has met the Express Entry requirements, can they create an online profile. The applicant will need the following to do:
- Passport or travel document
- Education credentials assessment report
- Language test results
- Certificate of qualification in a trade occupation issued by a Canadian province or territory (if you have one)
- Proof of work experience (if you have one)
- Provincial Nomination (if you have one)
Each candidate has 60 days to complete and submit the online profile.
After which, they will get placed into a draw pool with other successful candidates and be given a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score. This will determine their ranking within the draw pool. The maximum number of points any candidate can score is 1,200 points.
In order to receive an Invitation To Apply (ITA), candidates must meet or score higher than the CRS cut-off score for a particular draw. Each draw pool has a different qualifying CRS score. Receiving the ITA means the candidate can now apply for their Canadian permanent residency.
A great benefit of being in the Express Entry draw pool is that if a candidate does not meet any particular CRS score, they will remain in the pool for up to a year. This allows them to improve their CRS and increase their chances of receiving an ITA with the next draw.
Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) is points-based and used by the Government to assess, score and rank all profiles in the Express Entry pool.
The higher the candidate's CRS points, the better the chance of them receiving an ITA. CRS scores are made up of two sections. They are:
- Core set of points - 600 points
- Additional set of points - 600 points
The Cost of Immigrating to Canada Via Express Entry
| Express Entry Costs | |
|---|---|
| Fees | Total in CAN |
| Your application - Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $ 1,325 |
| Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | $ 825 |
| Include your spouse or partner - Processing fee ($825) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $ 1,325 |
| Include your spouse or partner (without right of permanent residence fee) | $ 825 |
| Include a dependent child | $ 225 (per child) |
Family Sponsorship
The Family Sponsorship Program allows adults who are permanent residents or citizens of Canada, to sponsor a relative, spouse or child. When a person is sponsored by an eligible family member the person:
- will move to Canada as a permanent resident
- can move to Canada without a job offer
Who Is Eligible to Sponsor?
A person can sponsor their spouse, partner or dependent child if:
- They are 18 years or older.
- They are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada, or a person registered in Canada as an Indian under the Canadian Indian Act.
- They are a Canadian citizen living outside Canada, you must show that you plan to live in Canada when the persons you want to sponsor become permanent residents.
- They can prove that you are not receiving social assistance for reasons other than a disability.
- They can provide for the basic needs of any person you want to sponsor.
The sponsor also needs to make a promise that they can take care of the person they are sponsoring financially, this promise is known as an undertaking. The undertaking commits to:
- provide financial support when family members become permanent residents; and;
- repay any provincial social assistance their sponsored family might have received during that period.
There is also the sponsorship agreement which is a document stating that the sponsor and their sponsored family members agree that:
- you as a sponsor providing for the basic needs of sponsored family members, and
- the person being sponsored will make effort to support themselves and their family members
The length of the undertaking depends on the age of the person being sponsored, the relationship to the sponsor and where the sponsor lives. Below is a table demonstrating the period of each sponsor type.
| Length of undertaking for all provinces except Quebec | |
|---|---|
| Person you sponsor | Length |
| Spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner | 3 years |
| Dependent child (biological or adopted) or child to be adopted in Canada under 22 years of age | 10 years, or until age 25, whichever comes first |
| Dependent child 22 years of age or older | 3 years |
Having an idea of how much it costs to immigrate to Canada with different visa programs is always a good idea as people might be eligible for more than one program.
The Cost of Immigrating to Canada Via Family Sponsorships
| Family Sponsorship Fees for spouse, partner or child | |
|---|---|
| Fees | Total Amount in CAD |
| Sponsor your spouse or partner - Sponsorship fee ($75), principal applicant processing fee ($475) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $ 1,050 |
| Sponsor your spouse or partner without right of permanent residence fee - Sponsorship fee ($75) and principal applicant processing fee ($475) | $ 550 |
| Sponsor a dependent child -Sponsorship fee ($75) and processing fee ($75) | $ 150 (per child) |
| Include any dependent child - Include any dependent child on an application with your spouse or partner ($150) | $ 150 (per child) |
Home Support Worker Pilot
The Home Support Worker Pilot is a five-year pilot designed for foreign skilled and experienced home support workers to move to Canada and get Canadian permanent residency.
Being a home support worker could mean the worker helps seniors, people with disabilities or individuals in rehabilitation. The care is done at the employer's or client's home, depending on the contract the home support worker may need to live in the home.
Occupations that are eligible for the program include:
- Attendant for persons with disabilities - home care;
- Personal aide - home support;
- Personal care attendant - home care;
- Housekeeper; and
- Family caregiver;
These programs allow workers to change employers and allow their family members to immigrate to Canada with them.
Home Support Worker Pilot Eligibility
To qualify for the program applicants must:
- Have a valid job offer
- Be admissible to Canada
- Language Proficiency in English or French (at least benchmark level 5)
- Complete 1 year of post-secondary school education; or alternatively
- Child care and home management experience; and
- Have First Aid Certification and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training
The Cost of Immigrating to Canada Via Home Support Worker Pilot
| Home Support Worker Pilot Fees | |
|---|---|
| Fees | Total in CAD |
| Your application - Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $ 1,050 |
| Your application (without right of permanent residence fee) | $ 550 |
| Include your spouse or partner - Processing fee ($550) and right of permanent residence fee ($500) | $ 1,050 |
| Include your spouse or partner without the right of permanent residence fee | $ 550 |
| Include a dependent child | $ 150 (per child) |
When applying for a work permit, it would need to be paid separately to the caregiver fees. The work permit fees are as follows:
| Work Permit Fees | |
|---|---|
| Fees | Total in CAD |
| Work permit (including extensions) – per person | $ 155 |
| Work permit (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) | $ 465 |
| Open work permit holder | $ 100 |
| Restore your status as a worker - Restore your status ($200) and get a new work permit ($155) | $ 355 |
Is It Worth It Moving to Canada?
Canada is well known for its remarkable education, healthcare and safety. What you perhaps didn't know is that Canada is currently ranked number one in the world. This is mainly due to the quality of life in Canada. Another great factor Canada ranked number one for, is social purpose. This means Canada is the most progressive, inclusive and committed to social justice.
When asking yourself "How much does it cost to immigrate to Canada?", it's also important to remember why it's a great idea to move to Canada. And these points are just a few of many.
How Much Does It Cost to Migrate to Canada
Source: https://mdccanada.ca/news/immigration/how-much-does-it-cost-to-immigrate-to-canada