Vancouver Immigration: 3 Ways to Move to Beautiful British Columbia

Published on: April 29th, 2019
Last updated: May 17th, 2023
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Vancouver is one of Canada’s most popular cities for newcomers, with first-generation immigrants accounting for over 42% of its total population. With increasing immigration targets, more and more foreign nationals can move to the beautiful city of Vancouver.

Here are the three most popular options for Vancouver immigration:

#1 – Express Entry – Federal Skilled Worker (FSW)

Express Entry is Canada’s most popular immigration pathway for skilled workers. Qualified candidates can become Canadian permanent residents in as little as 6 months. Permanent residency grants individuals the right to live and work anywhere in the country.

The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program is one of three immigration programs operated through the Express Entry system. FSW is highly popular because it does not require candidates to have a previous work experience or education in Canada. Anyone can apply from anywhere in the world.

FSW is a competitive program. The Express Entry system ranks eligible candidates against one another using the points based Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS score). Candidates receive points for their age, education, language ability, work experience, and other factors. Only candidates with the highest scores will receive an invitation to submit an official applications for Canadian permanent residency.

If you are a young skilled worker with a high level of education and strong English or French language proficiency, FSW could be a great option for you to move to Vancouver.

#2 – Studying in British Columbia

For those who aren’t quite competitive enough under Express Entry, studying in Canada can be a great step towards improving your chances for Vancouver immigration. Completing a post-secondary program in British Columbia not only results in more points for Express Entry, but it also could make you eligible for the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).

Most international student graduates are eligible to apply for a Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) allowing you to stay in Canada to work for up to three years.

As one of Canada’s largest cities, Vancouver hosts a number of world class educational institutions. The University of British Columbia consistently places high in global rankings of universities. As well, Simon Fraser University has an exceptional reputation across Canada.

If you are interested in continuing your education, studying at a BC institution could help you to immigrate permanently.

#3 – The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)

The British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP) is a collection of immigration streams that allow BC to nominate foreign workers for permanent Canadian immigration. The BC PNP has two main categories: one for workers with skills needed by the province, and one for entrepreneurs with the experience and finances to build a business in the province.

For the PNP streams targeting workers, applicants must have a job offer from a BC employer or have completed a graduate program at a BC university. If you can secure a job offer from a BC employer and demonstrate that you meet the other program criteria, then BC will assist you to obtain a work permit. A work permit will allow you to work in the province while Canada processes your permanent residency application.

For BC’s entrepreneurial stream, applicants must have several years of experience owning and/or managing their own business. As well, applicants must invest a minimum of CAD $100,000 in establishing their BC business.

 

If you meet the requirements for any of these three immigration options, you could have the chance to immigrate permanently to Vancouver. To find out detailed information about your eligibility for Canadian immigration, simply complete our free immigration assessment and a member of our team will review your options!

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