Express Enrty

Canada’s Express Entry is a candidate assessment and selection system used by IRCC to select candidates for immigration to Canada. It is not a separate immigration program, it is a system devised to aid and manage applications for permanent residence.

The Canada Express Entry system was created to cater for Canada’s demand for skilled workers and professionals. A growing economy, abundant natural resources and a dwindling workforce has created strong demand for skilled professionals from abroad.

In order to arrange for an efficient and faster immigration process, by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada – IRCC (previously known as Citizenship and Immigration Canada or CIC) created an online system known as Express Entry. The system began on January 1st, 2015.

LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)

The LMIA is a document issued by employment and social development Canada. Assessing the impact of hiring a foreign national in Canada. A positive LMIA indicates that there is no Canadian citizen or permanent resident to fill a position, therefore enabling an employer to hire a foreign national. The LMIA Process is different depending on the targeted employee being classified into “high wage” or “low wage”.

A foreign national cannot apply for an LMIA. Rather, LMIAs are documents which must be applied for by a Canadian employer. An employer may submit an application for an LMIA as early as 6-months prior to the intended start date for the position.

PNP’S (All Provinces)

Citizenship and Immigration Canada has signed up with provinces and territories (except Quebec – which has a separate selection program) in Canada, allowing them to nominate immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).

The most well-known Provincial Programs in Canada is the British Columbia PNP (also known as BC PNP), Manitoba PNP and Alberta PNP.

Those who wish to apply under Provincial Nominee Programs must have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of that province or territory and must want to live there. Provincial Nomination is also an important fast-track option available for Canadian Permanent Residency.