Last Updated on August 29, 2019

Aug 28, 2019 – While the Federal Express Entry system remains the foremost option for economic immigrants to Canada, there are a network of other pathways to permanent residence for skilled workers via provincial programs.

Minimum Comprehensive Ranking System scores for all-program Express Entry draws have been 450 or above since January 30.

Those with scores below that mark can either wait patiently for the score to drop, or be proactive about exploring other options for achieving permanent residence.

Canada’s provincial programs are expected to welcome 61,000 newcomers in 2019, according to the federal government immigration levels plan.

That compares with a target of 81,400 in the federal high skilled stream, through Express Entry.

By focusing only on Express Entry, economic immigration candidates are cutting themselves off a swathe of opportunities for permanent residence.

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Canada’s Provincial Programs

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan

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1) Consider One of Canada’s Provincial Programs

All of Canada’s provinces apart from Quebec operate Express Entry-linked streams, some with minimum CRS scores significantly below the federal draws and others that do not require any minimum score.

Alberta, for example, has conducted four draws this year featuring a 300 minimum CRS, and a further five with minimum scores ranging from 301 to 303.

Candidates with scores in the range of 300 to 303 essentially have no chance of receiving an ITA via a federal government draw.

CRS scores for Ontario’s Human Capital Priorities stream have dropped as low as 435 as recently as August 1. Other Ontario Express Entry-linked streams, for French Speaking Skilled Workers and Skilled Trades, have no minimum score requirement.

With a provincial nomination in hand, these candidates receive 600 points towards their total, guaranteeing an Invitation to Apply (ITA) in the next Express Entry draw.

British Columbia is Canada’s most prolific province in terms of the number of draws it conducts.

A total of skilled worker 34 draws have been conducted through the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program in 2019, nearly double the 17 Express Entry draws conducted by the federal government.

Manitoba and Saskatchewan also both conduct regular, large draws targeted at the Express Entry system, and for direct provincial streams.

Several of Canada’s provinces also have extensive lists of target occupations.

While a candidate’s credentials may no be in demand through federal programs, that is not to say it will not be in one of the provinces.

2) Come To Canada On A Work Permit, Then Apply For Permanent Residence

Even those candidates unable to find a direct route to permanent residence have not exhausted all of their options.

The two-stage pathway of coming to Canada on a work permit and then applying for permanent residence using the accrued experience is increasingly popular.

If you are a candidate looking for a Canada job, or an employer looking to recruit foreign talent from abroad, immigration.ca can help. Access our expertise through our in-house recruitment enterprises, www.grnmontreal.com and our newest asset, www.skilledworker.com, “the leader in foreign recruitment”.

3) Consider a Business Program

If the economic route does not work out, Canada has several options for business investors to come to Canada.

The options include Buy a Business and Move to Canada. Wealthy business immigrants are buying businesses and turning to Ottawa’s temporary work visa, ‘owner-operator’ policies to gain entry to Canada.

Discover the many other business immigration options to Canada at both the federal and provincial levels.