How To Migrate To Canada from Philippines? (Visa Programs)

If you are from the Philippines and dream of migrating to Canada, you may be tempted to actually do so. Good social and healthcare programs, excellent education, and plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities are just some of the things that this developed country has to offer. So, how to migrate to Canada from the Philippines? 

In reality, it may seem that the program is very complex. But, actually, it is straightforward. First, you need to choose what program you would like to apply for. Express Entry, Provincial Nominee, Business Migration, Student Visa, and Family Sponsorship are just some of the Canadian government programs to migrate to Canada. Once you know your desired program, you should gather the necessary documents and upload them online. Then, you should wait for your Invitation to Apply. 

The rich Canadian immigration program enables people of different educational and experiential backgrounds to apply and possibly move to Canada. In fact, these programs have different prerequisites when it comes to the application process itself, so it is best to inform yourself before the application process and see what your possible weak points are. This will help you make an informed decision and know where to focus your efforts in the upcoming months to improve your score and improve the likelihood of getting an ITA. 

To learn about all aspects of migrating to Canada from the Philippines, follow the guide below and get all your queries answered in one go.

Let’s get started.

Different Ways To Migrate to Canada From the Philippines

In total, there are over 80 programs that you can apply for a Canadian Permanent Residence. Besides humanitarian and refugee immigration and even economic immigration, these programs include Provincial Programs, a separate group of programs that you can apply for that have their own separate prerequisites. Getting a PNP status (Provincial Nominee Program status) will help you score even more CRS points and be more competitive in your draw cycle. 

As these cycles generally occur once every two weeks, there are plenty of opportunities to apply, but there is no need to do so – as this will cost you a lot.

The endless options might be overwhelming, but you don’t need to worry. Below is a brief description of different ways of moving to Canada:

Express Entry

If you are coming from the Philippines, you’ve probably heard of the Express Entry system. This program is the most popular immigration program among those who want to immigrate to Canada as it is fast, as the Express Entry process lasts around six months from application to Invitation to Apply. 

This program is set to issue some 500,000 ITAs by 2025, around 100,000 a year or more. Another great benefit of this program is that you do not really need to have a job offer to apply. This program offers applications through three different streams: 

• The Federal Skilled Worker
• The Canadian Experience Class 
• The Federal Skilled Trades

Federal Skilled Worker

When it comes to the Federal Skilled Worker Program stream of the Express Entry program, this stream enables applications for the following Skilled Worker job categories: 

• TEER 0 – Management occupations (e.g. advert manager, PR manager, marketing manager) 
• TEER 1 – University degree occupations (e.g. financial advisors, engineers, mechanical engineers, civic engineers, software engineers)
• TEER 2 – College Diploma occupations or more than two years of apprenticeship occupations (e.g. technologists in medicine, dentistry, radiologists, medical nurses (senior positions) 
• TEER 3 – College Diploma or apprenticeship shorter than two years (e.g. bakers and dental assistants, communication with clients, etc.)

To be able to join the Federal Skilled Worker stream of the Express Entry system, you will need to have had at least one year of paid and relevant work. This work must have been realized within 10 years before the day of the application. You will also need good language scores – CLB 7 (Canadian Language Benchmark) at minimum. 

Having an education equivalent to a diploma from a Canadian high school or post-secondary school is also a prerequisite. You should also be admissible to Canada and have no plans of moving to Quebec. To make sure you are eligible, you will also need proof of settlement funds or at least a Canadian job offer lasting for at least a year. 

Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class stream of the Express Entry Program will also secure you an Invitation to Apply and possibly get permanent residency, especially if you fulfill all the prerequisites set by the Federal Government. These include at least one year of work experience IN CANADA (therefore the name) in TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3. There are no education requirements, but they are welcomed and a big plus. 

When it comes to the language, this is a prerequisite, and you will need: 

• At least CLB 7 results for TEER 0 and 1 workplaces 
• At least CLB 5 for TEER 2 and 3 workplaces 

You will also need to be admissible to Canada. No plans of moving to or living in Quebec is also a big plus. This stream of the Express Entry Program is intended only for those who have worked in Canada before. After a while, you will be able to apply for permanent resident status, and some can even become Canadian citizens. Beware that a number of behaviours can disqualify you from this. 

Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for everyone who: 

• Has 2 years of relevant, paid work experience within the last five years 
• Meets the requirements for the chosen skilled trade (e.g. certifications and diplomas)
• Has a valid job offer to work in Canada for a period of at least one year
• Has valid language test scores with a CLB 4 results at minimum for reading and writing and CLB 5 for speaking and listening
• Has proof of funds if they have no job offer 
• Is admissible in Canada
• Has no plans of living in or moving to Quebec
• Has educational background, although this is not a prerequisite, it can be a big plus. 

This program offers immigrants to work in one of the following job categories: Major Group 72, 73, 82, 83, 92, 93, 6320, and 62200. These groups entail the following work positions: 

• Major Group 72 – technical trades and transportation officers and transportation controllers 
• Major Group 73 – General trades 
• Major Group 82 – supervisors in natural resources, agriculture
• Major Group 83 – Occupations in natural resources 
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing supervisors, utility supervisors, and utility operators 
• Major Group 93, central control and process operators and aircraft assemblers and inspectors 
• Minor Group 6320, cooks and bakers
• Unit Grou 62200 – Chefs and other kitchen staff

Provincial Nominee Program

Provincial Nominee Programs plan to welcome more than 117,000 people to Canada. To apply for any of these, you will need a connection to a province to apply. Canadian provinces and territories have their own prerequisites and PNP programs that depend on the provincial government and their needs for overseas applicants and overseas workers. PNPs are also paid, although much less than Express Entry – usually up to CAD1,500 and sometimes nothing. 

These programs can nominate overseas workers, but overseas candidates will need a valid job offer, although some do not ask for it. And while some provinces do ask for a separate application, others do not: Ontario and Nova Scotia invite candidates they deem appropriate from the Express Entry pool. After these programs, you can also apply for permanent resident status (PR – Permanent Residency). Please beware that in these cases, the Express Entry fees apply. Here are some provinces and territories and their own immigration programs: 

• AINP – Alberta Immigrant NP
• BCPNP – British Columbia Provincial NP
• MPNP – Manitoba Provincial NP 
• NLPNP – Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial NP
• NBPNP – New Brunswick Provincial NP
• NSPNP – Nova Scotia Provincial NP
• NTNP – Northwest Territories NP
• OINP – Ontario Immigrant NP
• PEIPNP – Prince Edward Island Provincial NP
• QSWP – Quebec Skilled Workers Program
• SINP – Saskatchewan Immigrant NP
• YNP – Yukon NP

Study Permit

If you wish to immigrate to Canada temporarily, as a student, you may do so through Student Direct Stream. The standard application processing time is 20 days, and in this short time, you will know if you are getting your student visa or not. This platform allows students to apply if they: 

• Apply outside of Canada
• Have an acceptance letter from a College or University in Canada
• Have proof of payment for the first year of study
• Have passed a required medical exam
• Have a guaranteed investment certificate (GIC) of CAD10,000
• Have passed an acceptable language test with a grade equal to or above CLB 7.0
• Have the latest study transcript
• Have a debit or a credit card to pay the fees: Application Fee (CAD150) and Biometrics Fee (CAD85)

Students from other countries can apply as well: 

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Brazil
• China
• Colombia
• Costa Rica
• India
• Morocco
• Pakistan
• Peru
• Philippines
• Senegal
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Trinidad and Tobago
• Vietnam 

Sponsorship/Family Class Sponsorship

If you have relatives in Canada, they can sponsor your immigration process and visa program. They need to be a citizen of Canada (it typically takes spending three years within a 5-year period of staying in Canada to be able to apply for citizenship in Canada). After they have their citizenship, they can sponsor your arrival under certain conditions. It typically costs around CAD1,135 to sponsor the arrival of a single family member (more family members cost more to sponsor). 

Here are the family members to whom you can apply for family sponsorship for migration to Canada: 

• Spouse or common-law partner
• Dependent child, both biological and adopted
• Parents 
• Grandparents 
• Brother or sister (they should be orphaned) 
• Nephews or nieces (they should be orphaned)
• Grandchildren (orphaned)

Business Immigration/Start-Up Business

Business immigration programs are a group of Canadian immigration programs that allow one to migrate to Canada and to move their existing qualifying business there. Additionally, this program allows you to take your skills to Canada and start a business there. These immigration programs usually require significant investments, although there are ways to offset a portion of these expenses or pay less in general. 

One way to do this is to start a business in a smaller town or a less densely populated area. This way, you will be paying less on taxes and for renting the space. You will also be contributing to increasing the employment rate in this place and will be able to reduce your initial expenses. Please beware that starting a business in Canada is not cheap, that every province has its own laws and regulations to be followed, and that a different level of investment may be required in different provinces. 

With this type of immigration program, you can immigrate to Canada with a start-up visa. Furthermore, you can also use this program to bring family members to Canada without the long family sponsorship programs. There are several Canadian immigration programs that allow business migration: 

• Quebec Migration – any business larger than 50 employees has to conduct their business in French
• Agri-Food Pilot Programs 
• The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot 
• Caregivers Program
• Entrepreneur and Self-Employed Programs 
• Investor Programs
• The Atlantic Immigration pilot 

LMIA Work Visa

LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) is a complex and involved process to join. Under this program, you MUST have a job offer. The first step is that your employer starts their own part on the LMIA platform. This entails submitting documents, such as your work contract as well as proof that they have tried to find an employee for the position among the exiting job seekers in Canada. 

Once this is submitted, the process goes on to verify the documents and assess the labour market impact. Once this is done, their application will receive its assessment – a positive assessment means that the work you will be doing (and your arrival) will have a positive impact on the Canadian economy, and vice versa. 

Once this is done, you apply for migration, usually through Express Entry. You present your job offer and the LMIA results, and this completes your part of the application for immigration to Canada. This way, you can gain a higher CRS score and boost your chances of receiving an ITA. 

Canadian Investor Immigration

The Canadian Investor Program is a program that asks for a lot of financial funds. These should be invested in a Canadian investor program that has to be an approved investor fund. These programs are intended to help the migration of high-net-worth individuals who can bring their spouses and children with them. Currently, there are three available programs: 

• The Federal Immigrant Investor Program
• The Entrepreneur Program
• The Quebec Entrepreneur Program

All investments have to be made for a period of at least five years. 

What are the Advantages of Migrating to Canada?

Canada is a beautiful country to live in. Still, many think about it for too long and possibly miss a chance to actually immigrate to Canada or become permanent residents. Among some of the biggest advantages of moving to Canada are good job opportunities, affordable healthcare, a low crime rate, a great educational system (testified by Canada’s move to a knowledge-based economy), good social welfare programs, and the beautiful outdoors. You can gain all of these with a permanent residence status:

Job Opportunities

Canada offers a lot of job opportunities for all who would like to migrate to Canada and work there. This is exactly the reason why so many Canadian migration programs exist – provinces and the Canadian government are looking for individuals who can migrate to Canada and help their economy. Since there is a constant need for new workers, the programs are flexible and the unemployment rate is as low as 6.5%. 

Affordable Healthcare

Canada is one of the developed countries that have affordable healthcare. This means that there are no exorbitant costs, whatever the procedure you may be looking for. As in most countries, elective surgery is not covered unless this is reconstructive surgery, usually sought after after injuries, accidents, and disease. Healthcare is available to all residents and all taxpayers. All the services are paid for by the taxpayers’ money. 

Low Crime Rate

Canada is also a very safe country. It has some of the safest streets in the world, and the UN Happiness Index places it at number 13 of the best countries to live in. This way, you are certain that both you and your family, in case you immigrate to Canada, will live in a safe place. 

Great Educational System

Canada also has a great educational system. In Canada, the government provides funding so that all children can study and get free education. The only schools that are paid for are private schools. In general, public education in Canada is of good quality and is accessible to all. Children are expected to study until the age of 16 (compulsory education), with the same level of compulsory education is 18 years in Nunavut, New Brunswick, Manitoba, and Ontario. A permanent residence permit is enough for your children to gain access to this education. 

Social Welfare Programs

Canada is also known for good social welfare programs. These programs do not only provide to those who are temporarily out of employment, but they also allow people to specialize/specialize and develop skills that the contemporary labour market needs. So, these programs allow many to keep in touch with the demands of the market and to keep being employed despite changes in the labour market and what it may be looking for. 

Beautiful Outdoors

Although a good economy, affordable healthcare, good education, and social welfare programs should not be forgotten, Canada is also well-known for its beautiful outdoors. Here, everybody can find a place for themselves – from the beautiful seaside (Canada has access to three oceans, two of which are good for swimmers), to amazing mountains and a lot of chances for winter sports. High snowfall and a lot of rapid rivers offer chances for skiing and rafting, while the amazing forests are a haven for all who enjoy hiking. 

What are the Disadvantages of Migrating to Canada

Of course, not all is so great about Canada. Needless to say, the two biggest complaints that people have about the country are that the weather is simply too cold and that the country is really expensive to live in. However, it should be mentioned that Canada is a vast country and that it will easily provide to everybody who needs that. 

Cold Weather

The cold weather is a harsh reality in Canada. However, this is a great chance for everybody who loves nature, mountains, and winter sports to really find themselves in this country. As the country is so large, there are several types of climates that can be observed, from arctic climate up North, all the way to continental and moderate climate on the coasts and in the Great Lakes area. 

Some places are just very cold to many. Winnipeg, Manitoba, is the coldest city in Canada. The average temperature during winter months is as low as negative 30°C – which would be a challenge to all coming from the Philippines. Ontario and Maritime Provinces are among the warmest places in Canada, which could be more suited to your needs and temperature preferences. 

Expensive Living

While Canada is not crazy expensive, it is worth noting that many places can be. Large cities, city centres, and economic hubs are generally very expensive throughout the world, and Canada is not an exception here. In reality, Canada is, on average, 85% more expensive than the Philippines, which is not as high of a living expense as it may seem. Some expensive areas to stay away from include Vancouver, Toronto, Victoria, Calgary, Edmonton, Mississauga, and Ottawa. 

8 Steps on How To Migrate to Canada From the Philippines

If you took your time to consider all the pros and cons of moving to Canada, it may be time to actually look at what the process of migrating there looks like. With this in mind, here you will find a detailed step-by-step process that you should undertake if you are looking for a place under the Canadian sky. Let’s dive right in. 

Step 1 Choose a Program

We’ve mentioned before that there are over 80 programs that you can use to immigrate to Canada. In reality, going through all of those can be challenging, so it is important to consider your actual needs and possibilities. You should consider your education, the place you would like to live in, your climate preferences, and any other factors that you may find important. Then, look into those programs only and bear in mind that all the programs have SIMILAR prerequisites, but never the same. 

Step 2 Self-Assessment

Even before starting the process of immigration to Canada, you should be able to do a proper self-assessment. It is important to be very honest with yourself and to not make things look prettier than they actually are. If you have a certain level of language ability, for example, be informed that it takes at least six months of several hours of work every day to move one level up. Be realistic about what you have now and what you can accomplish before you actually make the application. 

At the same time, consider your work experience. Do you feel that you can undergo additional training at your workplace to stand out among other candidates? Do you feel that you could have more experience or that you can up your career by looking at a different company or a different role within your current one? You should consider all factors that could help you reach a higher CRS score. 

Step 3 Working on Shortcoming

Being realistic when doing a self-assessment means knowing both your strengths and your weaknesses. This way, you will know what you can work on. As detailed above, working on your language skills and your work experience is of paramount importance, so prioritize these over others – you will be surprised what a difference in the CRS score a few months of hard work can make. 

Language Test

The language test is usually the biggest obstacle that many face. Not because these tests are so difficult or learning a second language is a pain in the neck, but rather because the test is rigorous and there is only one chance to take a test within a period of time. Here, it is important to bear in mind that these tests can be taken many times and that each result should be seen as a progress test result rather than a set level of knowledge. 

Education

Education is the next thing to focus on. If your diploma or degree is not valuable enough to you, make sure to revise it and see what kind of advanced education/training you can undertake to be able to provide more value to a potential employer. You can search job hunting platforms online to see what positions seek what level of education in Canada and then go and seek that type of education for you. 

Experience

Work experience is important, so much so that it can make a big difference in your CRS score. If you think that you could gain more experience, seek it. You can volunteer, offer to work odd hours in certain places, or even offer to help out. Make sure that the job is valid and legal and that you will be able to present your results and experience to a potential Canadian employer. 

Credentials

Understand that each country has a unique education system and that not all systems may be aligned. With this in mind, you should be able to estimate an equivalent Canadian education level based on your existing education. You should be able also to see what kinds of training and certification a workplace could be asking for and then seek ways to obtain them. For example, your country may not ask for food safety training to work in a restaurant, while others may. 

Funds

Significant financial funds will be needed throughout the immigration journey. When considering your funds, make sure that you can check the pricing of each document you will be paying for submission to the system and write these down. Depending on the program, you will also need to pay processing and biometrics fees, as well as any additional fees that you may incur during your Canadian immigration program application. If your funds are limited, there are some PNP programs that offer to apply at very low prices, sometimes even for free. In some cases, you will also need settlement funds – CAD13,000 per person moving to Canada. 

Step 4 Prepare Documents and Certificates

Once you know what kind of funds you will need and the funds that you have at your disposal, it is time to prepare the documents. You can find online checklists for each of the programs that you can use while seeking the documents to make sure you forget nothing. Be careful and patient, and make sure that your documents are issued or translated to English or French by a sworn court translator. 

Every program has different document requirements to immigrate to Canada, but you will generally need the following documents: 

• Birth Certificate
• Educational Credential Assessment Report
• Language Test Results
• Marriage Certificate (if applicable)
• Medical Exam Results
• Passport
• Police Certificate
• Proof of Funds
• Proof of Relevant Employment
• Written Job Offer from an Employer

Step 5 Job Hunting

Once this is done, start preparing for job hunting. There are many websites and platforms that can help you with this. Among these, JobBank Canada is the best one. Now, here is an abridged list of deficient jobs in Canada: 

• Accountant and Accountant Manager
• Administrative Assistant
• Business Consultant
• Cashier
• College or Vocational Instructor
• Cooks and Chefs
• Driver
• Electrical Engineer
• General Labourer
• HR Manager
• Pharmacist
• Project Manager
• Registered Nurse
• Receptionist
• Sales Associate

Here are some websites for job hunting: Job Bank, Monster, Workpolis, Indeed, SimplyHired

Tips for looking for a job in Canada: 

• Make a good resume (US English: CV), and a good cover letter – beware that each new job application will need a different cover letter
• Explore different job sites and forums and stay in touch with the field to know about all the new developments
• Be enthusiastic and show interest in the job you are applying for – copy/pasting job applications can be counter-productive
• Set up an online resume and use it for job hunting online 
• Be confident – sound confident in both written and spoken English. If you have no chance to practice speaking, there are online schools (Eikaiwas)

Step 6 Employment Verification

When looking for a job offer, you should make sure to check them before signing anything or starting the visa application process and your long immigration journey. In general, you should check them out online – there are a number of online tools, including GlassDoor, that you can use to check whether the advertised conditions are the conditions that the job actually offers. Additionally, your employer can apply for an LMIA – and prove the conditions and the need for you as a worker on its own. 

Step 7 Visa Application

Once all the previous steps are done, you should make an online application for your visa. Double-check whether you have all the documents and enough funds. Then, follow these steps: 

1. Check your eligibility
2. Choose an appropriate migration program
3. Create an account here 
4. Fill out the application form 
5. Pay the processing fee and the biometrics fee
6. Check the processing time of your application periodically – you can do this in the Express Entry system, under your Express Entry profile

Step 8 Research About Canada

Use OnTheMoveCanada to learn more about Canada. Driving rules may be different to your country’s, and the same goes for the education system and all other aspects of life. Take your time to get accustomed to the idea of moving. Getting informed on time will help you deal with the culture shock once you are there as well. 

Check Out How to Immigrate to Canada from the Philippines:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY4os4-jpO4

How Much Does It Cost To Immigrate To Canada?

A single application can be as high as CAD2,300 for an individual and CAD4,500 for a couple. If you have a job offer, this will be about it. However, if you have none, you will also need settlement funds of CAD13,000 per person, and there may be additional fees connected to your application. 

All streams of immigration demand a substantial amount to be here in Canada. If you are going to move to Canada to set up and expand your business there, an immense amount of investment is required. If you do not have enough penny to support your business in Canada can contact the provincial or federal government. They can provide you with an interest-free loan.

Factors To Consider in Choosing a Place To Live in Canada

Immigration to Canada from the Philippines is not as soft as fur and not as easy as watching a dream. It involves fundamental steps, and the procedure is so lengthy that you have to wait for an extended period until your visa comes.

Canada is a big city with several cities, provinces, streets, and houses. You can not decide in a hurry to just travel to Canada. A complete survey must be done, a survey of its cities. The city that suits you the most according to the job location or accommodation will be your dream city. 

So we advise all our viewers to collect data about the cities. Have a look at the factors which affect your decision to choose the city:

• Your Career and Job
• Your Family
• Your Lifestyle
• The Community

Your Job And Career

Affording a Canadian lifestyle is not a little deal. Beware and be careful of extra expenses. Try to choose an area to live in close to your work area. So that there is no transport, no fare, and no extra expenses, it will save an employee’s time.

Concerning career, the living area does not matter too much. Some companies provide their employees with the fortuity to work more and more, express their skills and abilities, and promote themselves, leading to career growth. 

Collecting all, choose the area that is better for your career growth. Because the more you give, the more you get.

Your Family

Canada is a safer place for all its citizens and overseas. But a family requires a family place to live. Suppose you have children who are getting an education and a spouse who will do a job. It must be according to the school or college of children and work area of both spouses. 

In short, schools and job locations must be simultaneous. Once you get a place that is not suitable for anyone in the family, then you will go to change that place. Right? However, it will hurt the studies of the children as they will face difficulty adjusting to a new area and school.

Your Lifestyle

It’s all up to you whether you want a big city or a small town. It depends on the lifestyle you want to have there in Canada. Big cities offer more enormous shopping malls, cinemas, stadiums, and charming restaurants. The small cities can give you a realistic view to enjoy camping, cycling, and other activities.

The Community

Having good neighbours is a good fate who supports you in every matter of your life. A friendly environment is a must thing for overseas. Suppose you already have relatives there in Canada or other friends or colleagues. In that case, you may contact them and can live with them. It is because they may help and guide you in a new city.

Most Filipinos live in Alberta and Ontario. So you can also choose these two cities to create a community with your people, with the same thoughts, background, and stories.

FAQs

Final Thoughts

If you live in the Philippines and would like to immigrate to Canada, you should know there are many ways to do that. Over 80 programs and different ways to get a legal visa and a Canadian job offer are just of the ways to get where you want to be. This country has to offer opportunities for outdoor activities, big cities, great job opportunities, and good education and healthcare. 

During the application process itself, you should be able to stay patient and organized. There will be a lot of paperwork, but nothing that a few days off cannot help you collect. Follow our guide to ensure your application process is smooth and as short as possible.