As of 2021, Indians make up most of the immigrants with permanent resident status in Canada. This is followed by immigrants from the Philippines and China.
This article will outline some of the easiest and most popular ways of moving to Canada from India.
How can I move to Canada from India?
Moving to Canada from India may be done through any of these immigration programs offered by either the federal government or the provincial or territorial governments:
- Student Visa
- Start-Up Visa Program
- Express Entry
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
- Spousal and Family Sponsorships
In general, all applications, submission of documents, and payment of fees under these immigration programs are done online.
Student Visa
As an Indian national, you may move to Canada from India first as an international student, then as a temporary or employee. You can do this after completing your studies or while studying, depending on the conditions set out in your visa.
You would first need to have a valid student permit before moving to Canada from India. To get one, you must choose an education program to pursue in Canada and apply to that program.
This education program must be offered by a Canadian Designated Learning Institution (DLI). This is a college or university approved by a province or a territory to offer education programs for international students. After that, a letter of acceptance will be issued by the DLI which is used in applying for a study permit.
Soon after studying, you can apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP). This Permit will allow you to work in Canada. An international student may work in Canada under a PGWP for a period of three years, depending on conditions set by the academic program and DLI.
During your stay in Canada as a working professional through a PGWP, you can apply for permanent residency via Express Entry or via PNP.
Start-Up Visa Program
Another way to move to Canada from India is through the federal government’s Start-Up Visa Program. Watch this video to learn more:
You may also consult with an immigration lawyer in British Columbia, one of the Canadian provinces with a large population of Indian immigrants. Other provinces are Ontario, Alberta, and Quebec.
Express Entry
Another way of moving to Canada from India is through Express Entry. This points-based process managed by the federal government applies to skilled workers who want to work in Canada. They can eventually apply for Canadian permanent residency and citizenship.
Under Express Entry, a skilled worker can move to Canada from India through any of these immigration programs:
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC): for foreign skilled workers who have previously worked in Canada and gained work experience for a period of three years
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): for foreign skilled workers with work experience outside Canada for a period of one year over the last ten years. This work experience must be related to the Canadian job being applied for
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): for foreign skilled workers qualified in a skilled trade of a certain industry or sector (e.g., culinary, transportation, natural resources, agriculture, processing, and manufacturing).
Read also: How to move to Canada from Nigeria
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Indians may also move to a specific Canadian province or territory through its Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). Each province or territory has its own “streams” that an Indian national may apply under. These streams could fall under:
- Skilled Workers and Semi-skilled Workers
- Students
- Businesspeople and Investors
Applications for the PNP may be done through:
- Non-Express Entry: applications through the website of the specific province or territory; or
- Express Entry: applications through the federal government’s website
For example, if you are planning to move to Ontario from India through its PNP, you can refer to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). You may also consult with an Ontario-based immigration lawyer to assess your chances of immigrating to Canada from India.
Spousal and Family Sponsorships
An Indian can move to Canada through sponsorship by a spouse or relative who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. This is referred to as spousal sponsorships or family sponsorships under family class immigration as found in Canada’s primary law on immigration – the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
A Canadian will only become a sponsor after meeting these eligibilities:
- 18 years old and above
- a citizen of Canada; or a permanent resident of Canada; and
- living in Canada at the time of the spousal sponsorship
An Indian national should fall under any of the following for consideration to be sponsored:
- Spouse: 18 years old and above; any gender; and legally married to the Canadian sponsor
- Common-law partner: 18 years old and above; any gender; legally married to the Canadian sponsor; and has lived with the Canadian sponsor for the last 12 months without any long periods apart.
- Conjugal partner: 18 years old and above; any gender; currently not living in Canada; not legally married but in a conjugal relationship with the Canadian sponsor/spouse for at least 12 months; and marriage or cohabitation is impossible due to legal grounds (e.g., same sex marriage is not permitted in other countries).
An Indian family member or relative can move to Canada from India through sponsorship by a Canadian relative. The Indian family member should fall under any of these eligibilities:
- parents and grandparents: must be related to the Canadian sponsor by blood or through adoption
- sibling: must qualify as a dependent child and must be related to the Canadian sponsor by blood or through adoption
- orphaned family member: both parents are deceased; must be related to the Canadian sponsor by blood or through adoption; is single and under 18 years old.
Got more questions on how to move to Canada from India? Learn more by dropping your questions below or by consulting with the best immigration lawyers in Canada.