Immigrating to Canada from Pakistan is possible through a variety of immigration routes. Approximately 300,000 people of Pakistani nationality reside in Canada, and their preference for Canada is due to the abundant economic opportunities.
Despite having a small population, Canada has a thriving South Asian diaspora that actively participates in the economy as skilled workers and business owners.
Other benefits that Canada provides include its safety and political stability, advanced medical facilities, and well-regarded educational system. Excellent public elementary school education is the strength of Canada. In addition to several top-notch colleges and skilled trade schools, Canada also boasts some of the top universities in the world at the post-secondary level.
Over 300,000 people with Pakistani ancestry now reside in Canada. They include some of the most well-known figures in Canadian society, including elected senators and members of Parliament. Due to more Pakistanis traveling to Canada each year to immigrate, work, and study, this number keeps rising. A large percentage of Canada’s permanent residents go on to become citizens. Also, they gain access to one of the strongest passports in the world that grants visa-free travel to more than 180 nations.
The majority of Pakistanis immigrate to Canada through the economic class. In the future, Pakistanis will have more options to immigrate to Canada thanks to its commitment to raising its immigration levels.
Immigrating to Canada from Pakistan- the different pathways
Due to their extensive education, professional work experience, and English language competence, Pakistanis are well-positioned to immigrate to Canada. These are some of the crucial parameters Canada takes into account when choosing immigrants from different socio-economic groups.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program
The Federal Skilled Worker Program can be your best choice if you are a Pakistani living abroad. Candidates without a connection to Canada or a job offer who have work experience are eligible to apply for Canadian permanent residency under the FSWP.
The program aims to attract qualified professionals who can use their education, employment history, language abilities, and other human capital assets to establish themselves economically in Canada. Candidates must particularly fulfill the following prerequisites:
- One year of constant full-time employment, or the equivalent, within the previous ten years in a profession falling under the NOC TEER category 0, 1, or 3;
- A Canadian educational credential in the form of a certificate, diploma, or degree or a foreign credential, along with an ECA report, must be shown as language proficiency proof.
- To meet the Canadian Language Benchmark 7 in English or French across all abilities (reading, writing, listening, and speaking).
- On the IRCC’s six immigration selection criteria, FSWP applicants must receive at least 67 points.
Demonstrate that you have the resources necessary to settle in Canada with your family.
FSWP eligibility
The Canadian government’s Express Entry application management system oversees three programs, including the FSWP.
You can upload your Express Entry profile to the IRCC website after verifying your FSWP eligibility.
Candidates from Pakistan who upload their Express Entry profiles are given a Comprehensive Ranking System score. The score is based on their human capital attributes, including age, education, job experience, and proficiency in an official language.
The top-scoring applicants in the pool receive invitations to submit applications for permanent residency every two weeks. Additionally, the IRCC establishes a 6-month processing service requirement for Express Entry.
The objective is to admit more than 110,000 permanent residents through Express Entry every year.
Provincial Nominee Program
For those seeking to immigrate from Pakistan, the Provincial Nominee Program is the alternative main route.
Ten provinces and three territories comprise the federal nation of Canada, most of which are in charge of the PNP. Since each province and territory has its own population and economy, the program enables them to create immigration pathways that suit their particular economic and demographic requirements. Provinces and territories can nominate applicants for skilled worker immigration to their respective jurisdictions through the PNP.
If eligible, Pakistani applicants may be able to submit a PNP application for immigrating to Canada from Pakistan. They may also participate in the Express Entry pool and get an invitation to submit an application for nomination from a province that will choose applicants from the federal pool. They will be awarded an extra 600 CRS points if their nomination is made through an Express Entry-linked stream in a subsequent Express Entry draw. Therefore, they will almost certainly receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
