As Canada’s population ages and the birth rate remains abysmal, there is a continued motivation to sustain the workforce. The majority of Canada’s immigration programs are focused on recruiting skilled workers from around the world to contribute their skills and talent to Canadian society and bolster the economy. 

To support this effort, Canadian immigration authorities implement employer-driven immigration programs to expedite the process of obtaining a Canadian work permit, with the potential to obtain permanent residency down the road. A lot of foreign nationals immigrate to Canada by obtaining a work permit first, accumulating employment experience in Canada in order to strengthen their profiles and subsequently qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

While you may secure a work permit in as little as 6 months, it can take another year of living and working in Canada before you are even eligible to start the application process for permanent residency, and then even longer to process that application. Overall, many foreign nationals spend several years navigating the application process for Canadian permanent residency, all the while living in limbo. 

However, Canada’s immigration system offers two immigration programs that present the opportunity to secure permanent residence without first obtaining a work permit. Let’s take a closer look at these opportunities for eligible foreign nationals, and the qualifications required to submit a successful application.

Option 1: Canada’s Express Entry system 

The Express Entry system is by far the fastest Canadian immigration program offering a direct pathway to Canadian permanent residence for qualified candidates. This immigration program was designed to attract young, educated, skilled workers who want to settle in Canada for the long haul. The true appeal of this program is that it can lead to permanent residence in as little as 6 months, making it the most popular of Canada’s immigration programs. 

If you are interested in applying through the Express Entry system, you’ll have to submit a profile. You will then receive a CRS score, based on your qualifications including your age, education, work experience, language knowledge amongst other factors. Express Entry is highly competitive and you will be ranked against other applicants. Only those with the highest CRS scores will receive invitations to apply for Canadian permanent residence. 

Option 2: Canada’s Start-Up Visa (SUV)

Canada’s Start-Up Visa program (SUV) is a popular choice for many foreign nationals with an entrepreneurial spirit and experience in starting and running a new business. One of the main reasons this program has such a wide appeal is that it offers a direct pathway to permanent residence, typically within 12 to 16 months.

Canadian immigration is seeking skilled entrepreneurs with innovative business concepts and the potential to contribute to the Canadian economy, create jobs, and compete on a global scale. 

If this sounds like you, you could benefit from the fast-track application process leading directly to the Canadian permanent residence allowing you to remain in Canada permanently. 

While highly competitive, the above immigration programs offer applicants the opportunity to obtain Canadian permanent residence much more quickly than other programs. If you possess the right qualifications, you could be on your way to permanent resident status in as little as 6 to 16 months!