From Far and Wide Immigration Consultancy

There are generally two parts to getting your foreign credentials recognized in Canada: for immigration purposes or for licensing in your occupation.  For Immigration Purposes: the ECA (Educational Credential Assessment) There are 5 organizations currently accredited to evaluate a foreign credential and determine its equivalency compared to Canadian standards. These organizations are: Comparative Education Service (CES) International Credential Assessment Service of Canada (ICAS) World Education Services (WES) International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS) International Credential Evaluation Service (ICES) ECAs are valid for 5 years and must be valid at the time an application for permanent residence is submitted. As a general rule, only the highest level of education should get assessed. In some cases, where an applicant has two credentials with one of at least 3 years, two assessments might increase the chances to be successful with their application for permanent reside...

Canada has long been recognized for its inclusive and robust immigration policies, attracting individuals from around the world seeking new opportunities and a better quality of life. To further enhance the efficiency and transparency of its immigration system, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has implemented significant updates, including improvements to online processing time tools. These changes aim to provide applicants with clearer expectations and timelines throughout their immigration journey. Understanding Forward-Looking Processing Times One of the key enhancements introduced by IRCC is the implementation of forward-looking processing times for various immigration applications. This new approach offers applicants applying today a more accurate estimate of how long they can expect to wait before a final decision is made on their application. Specifically, forward-looking processing times are now available for the following pathways to permanent residence : Ca...

Excited about the chance to settle in Alberta, Canada through the Tourism and Hospitality Stream? This newly introduced stream under the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) provides exciting opportunities for individuals with work experience in Alberta's tourism and hospitality sector.  Eligibility Requirements Explained The Tourism and Hospitality Stream is a new option under Alberta's Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) , which allows nominees to apply for permanent residence in Canada. As with any immigration program, understanding the eligibility requirements is crucial before applying.  Approved Employer Requirements: To qualify under the Tourism and Hospitality Stream, candidates need a job offer from an eligible Tourism and Hospitality employer in Alberta. Employers' primary business activities must belong to an eligible industry as defined by the Worker’s Compensation Board (WCB) – Alberta industry code or exempt activities: Museums/Art Galleries: WCB indust...

Who, Where, When, What, Why - Understanding Immigration Medical Exams in Canada Immigrating to Canada involves both eligibility requirements for the respective program for temporary or permanent residence (PR) as well as admissibility to Canada. Undergoing a medical examination is required to determine if an applicant is medically admissible. Immigration medical exams are an essential part of the Canadian immigration process, ensuring the health and safety of both applicants and the Canadian public.  Who Needs a Medical Exam? Generally, individuals applying for permanent residence in Canada are required to undergo a medical examination. Some temporary residents, such as international students or workers , may also need a medical exam depending on their length of stay, type of application and work in Canada, and travel history. Medical exams can be required for temporary residents if they travelled in designated countries for a certain amount of time, if they are applying for a par...

Provincial Nominee Programs for Immigrating to Canada Canada has always been a land of opportunities and a sought-after destination for immigrants worldwide. With its diverse culture, strong economy, and welcoming atmosphere, it's no surprise that many individuals dream of starting a new life in the Great White North. For skilled workers and entrepreneurs, the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) offers a pathway to Canadian permanent residency .  What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)? The Provincial Nominee Program is a partnership between the Canadian federal government and provincial or territorial governments. Through the PNP, provinces and territories can nominate individuals who possess the skills and qualifications needed to address specific regional labor market demands. Each province or territory in Canada has its own set of PNP streams, tailored to meet its unique economic and demographic needs. Benefits of the Provincial Nominee Program: Express Entry Pathway: Many P...

Canada's Express Entry system is undergoing a significant update with the introduction of category-based selection. This new approach aims to enhance the immigration process by providing more tailored pathways for skilled workers to become permanent residents. Express Entry is Canada's flagship program for managing the intake of skilled workers who wish to immigrate and become permanent residents. It operates through a comprehensive ranking system, where eligible candidates are awarded points based on factors such as age, education, language proficiency, and work experience. These points are used to determine an individual's Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, which ultimately influences their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency. Under the new category-based selection system, candidates in the Express Entry pool will be grouped into different categories based on their skills and attributes. These categories are designed to align...

NOC 2021 With the implementation of the new NOC 2021, the federal and provincial governments are updating the requirements for their immigration programs. British Columbia (BC) used this opportunity to revise their Provincial Nominee Program's (PNP) Skills Immigration in order to strengthen the integrity of the program while protecting the safety of British Columbians. Applications received before November 16, 2022 will continue to be processed using NOC 2016. All registrations and applications submitted on or after November 16, 2022 will now use NOC 2021. The general eligibility criteria were updated to reflect the new Training, Experience, Education and Responsibilities (TEER) categories of the NOC 2021 rather than the Skill levels of the previous NOC 2016. If those eligibility criteria are met, a candidate can register for the BC PNP Skills Immigration and receive a score based on human capital factors. A registration is considered an expression of interest to be considered for ...

British Columbia Canada's westernmost province is world-famous for its beautiful scenery and cosmopolitan flair. The metropolitan area of Vancouver and the capital city of Victoria account for almost half of BC's five million residents. Many others are drawn to the province's scenic mountains, coastline and lakes, and settle in more rural areas.  How can I immigrate to BC? There are 6 steps to immigrating under the Provincial Nominee Program of British Columbia (BC PNP): Step 1: Choose the stream that is right for you, and register with BC's Skills Immigration Registration System (SIRS). SIRS is similar to the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) used for Express Entry but considers other factors such as annual salary and intended region within British Columbia. Step 2: Receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA). The BC PNP will periodically invite people who are in the registration pool to submit an application to the program. The information provided in registrations will b...

Rounds of invitations resume for all Express Entry programs The month of July saw the first two all-program draws under Express Entry since the beginning of the pandemic. For 18 months, no candidates under the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Federal Skilled Trades (FST) programs were invited, and since September 2021, Express Entry rounds of invitations were exclusively held for provincial nominees. On July 6, a total of 1,500 Express Entry candidates with a minimum CRS score of 557 were invited to apply for permanent residence (PR). This was the highest score since 2015 when the Express Entry system was implemented. The second draw on July 20 saw a slight increase in invitations for a total of 1,750 invitations which dropped the required score to 542.  Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has since confirmed that both rounds of invitations included candidates under the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Federal Skilled Worker (F...

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) currently refers to occupational codes under the National Occupation Classification of 2016 (NOC 2016) to determine eligibility for temporary and permanent residence programs. The revised NOC 2021 and its TEER structure was implemented in November 2022. The new TEER structure replaced the previous skill type/level classification as follows: NOC 2016 NOC 2021    Skill Type 0      TEER 0 Skill Level A     TEER 1 Skill Level B TEER 2 TEER 3 Skill Level C TEER 4 Skill Level D       TEER 5 This resulted in minor changes for most programs (e.g., the use of new terminology), but more substantive changes are needed for programs with narrower occupational criteria where the current Skill Type/Level groupings are used, including those managed under Express Entry (i.e., Federal Skilled...

Settlement funds required to immigrate to Canada increase as of July 28, 2025. These numbers are updated every year, based on 50% of the low income cut-off totals. The table below shows how much money you need to settle in Canada. If you are invited to apply for permanent residence under the Express Entry system, written proof is required that these funds are readily available to you.  Number of family members Funds required (CAD) 1    $ 15,263 2    $ 19,001 3    $ 23,360 4    $ 28,362 5    $ 32,168 6    $ 36,280 7    $ 40,392 For each additional family member    $ 4,112 Family Size The minimum settlement funds required depends on the size of your family that you support. To determine your family size, you must count: yourself, your spouse or common-law partner, your dependent childr...

In response to the crucial need for more healthcare workers and early childhood educators (ECEs), BC has implemented changes to their Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) to prioritize these occupations, effective March 10, 2022. Priority Access for Care Occupations Targeted invitations to apply will give priority access to select occupations in the care economy, specifically registrants whose occupation is on a pre-determined list of in-demand health occupations as well as early childhood educators. The Health Care Professional category has been renamed Health Authority category and is open to all occupations employed by a health authority. Targeted invitations to apply (priority access) replaces the registration points awarded for high demand occupations in the Labour Market Outlook. The total registration points and total points for economic factors have been adjusted accordingly. Periodic general draws will be conducted for other skilled and semi-skilled workers who meet program cri...

In most cases, applicants for permanent residence in Canada need to prove their language skills in English or French. To do so, they must take an approved language test. There are five language tests accepted for immigration to Canada; three for English and two for French: •   Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program ( CELPIP) •   International English Language Testing System ( IELTS) •   Pearson Test of English ( PTE)  •   Test de connaissance du français ( TCF) •   Test d’évaluation de français ( TEF) IRCC will use the test results as proof of an applicant's language skills. In order to be valid, test results must be less than two years old at the time of application for permanent residence. There are provisions if a candidate cannot complete one or more sections of the language test because of a disability. The Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) (or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French) was crea...

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is one stream under the Express Entry system for Permanent Residence in Canada. Immigrants are selected based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other criteria that have been shown to help people succeed in the Canadian labour market. Spouses and children are included on the application. In addition to minimum requirements for skilled work experience, language skills and education, candidates are assessed on a 100-point grid based on six selection factors for eligibility for the Federal Skilled Worker Program. These factors are: age education work experience a valid job offer English and/or French language skills adaptability Candidates must meet all the minimum requirements AND score 67 points or higher on the selection factors to be eligible. These points are separate from the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score used to rank people in the Express Entry pool. A higher score under the six sel...

The Express Entry online system is used to manage applications for Permanent Residence under three separate programs: Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Canadian Experience Class Each program has its own eligibility criteria. Candidates need to meet all requirements for at least one program to apply under Express Entry, and can't mix and match criteria from different programs. The following table shows the eligbility requirements for each of the three programs: Eligibility Criteria Canadian Experience Class Federal Skilled Worker Program Federal Skilled Trades Program Language skills English or French skills CLB 7 for TEER 0 or TEER 1 occupations CLB 5 for TEER 2 or TEER 3 occupations English or French skills CLB 7 English or French skills CLB 5 for speaking and listening CLB 4 for reading and writing Type/Level of work experience Canadian work experience in an occupation...