How to Immigrate to Canada From France

If you’re a French citizen and are considering moving to Canada but are as yet unconvinced if you made the correct decision, then we would like to present the case that you have through the following information.

France has a long and extensive history with Canada through the process of colonization. The French presence in Canada stretches as far back as 1534, during the years of European exploration of the world known as the Age of Discovery.

Over the years through periods of turmoil, revolution, pacification and waves of successive settlement, French people gradually were able to carve out a distinct demographic community for themselves within the larger Canadian society.

The French cultural character in Canadian society is most exemplified in Quebec, the only province where the French language and francophone culture in general is predominant.

The majority of Canadians of French descent, referred to as French Canadians, live in Quebec, principally in the provincial capital of Montreal, which at a population of approximately 1,8 million people is Canada’s second largest city.

As a consequence of this significant population and the long history of French settlement in Canada, the governments of both nations have banded together to improve international relations between the two countries as concerns trade, co-operative socio-economic development and immigration.

So if you’re moving to Canada from France, there has never been a better time to leverage the opportunity to do so than today. The following is a presentation of some of the most popular immigration programs that you can use as a French citizen to immigrate to Canada, along with a step by step account about how to apply for each.

Express Entry

The Express Entry system was initiated and launched in 2015 by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) - a division of the government of Canada which handles all Canadian immigration- as a means of enabling skilled foreign workers and their families to become permanent residents in Canada as soon as possible.

Express Entry processing times can be as quick as six months, an expedited circumstance that ensures that the Canadian economy, which desperately needs skilled workers in a multitude of occupations and industries throughout Canada, remains developmentally on the rise.

The Express Entry system is made up of three programs. These programs are as follows:

Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)

The Federal Skilled Workers Program is specifically for skilled workers with a degree or equivalent from a recognized Canadian tertiary educational institution that’s also a Designated Learning Institution (DLI).

Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is specifically for skilled tradespeople with a recognized diploma or certified job-specific training.

Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

Canadian Experience Class is program is specifically for skilled workers living and working in Canada for at least 12 consecutive months via a study permit, work permit or Working Holiday Visa. If you’ve been in Canada for that time then you would be eligible for the CEC.

How to Apply

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

The first crucial step of your Canada Express Entry application process is ensuring eligibility for your chosen program. To be considered for any Express Entry Program, there are a few immovable requirements which includes the following:

• Work Experience: applicant must have at least one year of continuous full-time (or the equivalent hours in part-time) professional work experience.
• Language Ability: Express Entry applicants must demonstrate a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of seven in one of the Canadian official languages - English or French.
• Tertiary Education: The applicant must have completed a post-secondary educational qualification deemed equivalent to Canadian standards via an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
• Criminal Record: Have no criminal record, as shown through a clear police background check
• Medical Certification: Have no criminal record, as shown through a clear police background check.
• Travel Documents: All applicants must have a legitimate and valid travel document such as a passport to submit an Express Entry profile.

Step 2: Calculate Your CRS Score

Knowing your Comprehensive Ranking Score (CRS) score will give you a clear idea of how well you’ll likely do in the coming Express Entry draws. The best way to do this is via the government of Canada’s CRS calculator which you can find on their website.

Step 3: Gather Your Documents

You need to assemble the requisite host of documents that represent your details accurately. It also helps to have your documents sourced before you apply. Once you get your invitation (ITA), you will only have 60 days to source all of them.

• Passport
• National Occupation Classification (NOC)
• Education credential assessment report
• Recent language tests
• Proof of funds showing have sufficient settlement funds
• Police certificates
• Results of a medical exam from certified health professionals
• Job letters from past employers legitimize your work experience
• Canadian job offer (If you have one)
• Provincial Nomination (If you have one)

Step 4: Create Your Express Entry Profile

Once you have all of your documentation and are satisfied with your CRS score, create your Express Entry profile on the Canadian government website.

Step 5: Get an ITA, Pay Your Fees and Apply

Once your Express Entry profile is complete, you must monitor every Express Entry draw to see what the minimum requirement is, and whether or not you’ll be eligible to get your ITA. If you do receive an ITA, you’ll be notified on your profile.

Provincial Nominee Programs

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are Canadian immigration visa programs that allow accelerated immigration processing according to the provincial needs that have been set up in most provinces in Canada. There are two types of PNP programs.

The first type is the skilled worker PNP. The following may also be requirements for some PNP streams:

• Job offer from a local employer;
• Work experience in the province/territory; and
• Adaptability and familial ties to someone living in the province;

The second type of program is a business immigration program. Business immigration PNPs allow expedited immigration processing if the applicant does some variation of one of the following in the province:

• Establishes a new business;
• Invests money, or
• Enters a joint venture with a local business

How to Apply

When applying for permanent residency status through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) under the Canadian immigration system, there are two main options you can choose from:

• Apply directly to a province or territory
• The Express Entry-linked process

Direct Application Process

Applying for a provincial nomination directly to your chosen province means that you will have to submit a paper application via mail or courier. This is a long process and could take anywhere from 15 to 19 months to determine whether your application will be deemed successful.

Express Entry Application Process

Expression of Interest: When you create your Express Entry profile you can express interest in a particular province or territory. This allows a province to select your profile directly from the Express Entry draw pool and send you a provincial nomination. This is based on evaluation that assesses whether you have the relevant skills and experience that they are looking for.

Business Immigration

Business immigration programs aim to create new opportunities in local markets by welcoming those with the skill and experience to help grow it. These immigration programs and visas are designed to attract entrepreneurs, the self-employed and entrepreneurs who are not yet Canadian citizens.

Self-Employed Program

The Self-Employed program is explicitly designed for people capable of creating their own employment by contributing athletically, culturally or artistically to Canada's employment market. It facilitates professional athletes or performers to get permanent residency in Canada, provided they continue their cultural or athletic endeavors within Canada.

Start-up Visa

The Canada Start-up visa program is explicitly designed for immigrant entrepreneurs seeking permanent residence in Canada to either start a new business or bring an existing enterprise from another country into Canada. The Start-up Visa program is designed to stimulate Canada's economy by bringing in new enterprises to create jobs within Canada.

How to Apply

Applying for a Business Immigration Visa is a fairly straight-forward and simple process to follow that involves the following steps:

Step 1: Check Your Eligibility

Before you apply, remember that for your application to be eligible for processing, you must be eligible to apply.

Step 2: Get Your Documents Together

To ensure a complete application, you will have to include:

• All information requested
• Complete forms, as the principal applicant
• All supporting documents requested
• Medical clearance documents
• Police clearance
• Translation of documents that are not in English or French

Step 3: Complete Your Application Form

To fill out your application, you must sign in or create a Permanent residence online application portal account.

Step 4: Pay Your Fees

Pay the right of permanent residence fee ($515) immediately to avoid any delays. This will have to be paid before you get permanent residency.

Step 5: Submit Your Application

Once your application is complete, submit it online for processing.

Family Sponsorship

To foster further growth and address the need for immigrants to bring their families with them when they move to Canada, the Canadian government -through the IRCC - created several family sponsorship immigration streams that enable Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family members and bring them to Canada as permanent residents.

These family sponsorship programs are divided into categories based on the relationship between the Canadian sponsor and sponsored family member. These categories include:

• The Spouse/Partner Sponsorship Program
• The Parent and Grandparent Sponsorship Program
• The Dependent Child Sponsorship Program
• The Adoption Sponsorship Program
• The Adopted Child Sponsorship Program
• The Other Relative Sponsorship Program,
• The Canada Super Visa

How to Apply

Once you and your sponsor meet the requirements for family sponsorship, the next step is to apply for family sponsorship. You can do this in five steps.

• Step 1: Apply to Sponsor
• Step 2: Apply to Be Sponsored
• Step 3: Pay Your Application Fees
• Step 4: Submit Additional Information
• Step 5: Submit Your Application Online

Before submitting your application, please ensure you've filled in and signed all your documents. If your documents are incomplete or your application needs supporting documents, IRCC won't accept them.

Immigration Pilots

Immigration pilots are limited-term based programs that are designed specifically to address the needs of particular areas and communities in Canada. These pilot programs target unskilled, semi-skilled, and skilled foreigners to address the labor market needs and shortages. The idea is to create a path to permanent residence for those who want to live and work permanently in Canada.

Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP)

If you are a skilled foreign worker with a valid job offer or if you are a foreign graduate from a publicly funded post-secondary school institution in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador, or you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the AIP.

With the region's labor force still contracting, this year is a great time to secure permanent residency in Canada through this pathway.

Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

If you are a skilled foreign worker with a valid job offer or a foreign graduate from a publicly funded post-secondary school institution in New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, or Newfoundland and Labrador, or you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the AFIP.

With the region's labor force still contracting, this year is a great time to secure permanent residency in Canada through this pathway.

Care Provider Pilots

Replacing the old caregiver program are two new pilots. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot offers foreign workers an offer to take care of minors such as nannies and au pairs. The Home Support Worker Pilot provides foreign workers with employment offers for the care of elderly, disabled or otherwise incapacitated persons.

The Homecare Provider Pilot Program (HPPP)

Applicants with two years of work experience can apply for permanent residence under this program, and they should still be working in Canada with an HPPP work permit.

How to Apply

The steps to apply may vary, depending on the individual's situation and circumstances, we have given you a break of the steps below to apply for permanent residence through the pilot programs:

• Step 1: Ensure Eligibility.
• Step 2: Get the Instruction Guide or Contact an Immigration Expert.
• Step 3: Get Your Biometrics in Order: Your fingerprints and photo are your biometrics
• Step 4: Pay Your Fees and Submit Your Application:

Why Move to Canada From France?

Employment Opportunities

Canada is in need of supplementing their labor force with foreign workers as a consequence of their perennial labor shortages. Apart from the thousands of existing vacancies, many jobs are also created yearly.

Permanent Residency Benefits

Becoming a Canadian permanent resident comes with many benefits. This includes having access to free universal healthcare, as well as free schooling for all children up to the high school level.

World Renowned Universities

Becoming a permanent resident gives you access to Canadas educational system for free. This includes having access to student fess free university education, as well as free schooling for all children up to the high school level.

Canada is a Democratic Nation

The rights of Canadians are protected by a liberal government that values freedom above all else. People are free to be who they want, news broadcasters are free to report on interesting events without restrictions, and human rights are respected with complete dignity.

You Can Bring Your Family With You

Canada is serious about keeping families together. If you meet the minimum settlement fund requirements, you can bring your family with you.

Be Welcomed Into Canada’s Large French Canadian Community?

The big concern about immigration often comes down to how well you think you will adjust to a new country. Because Canada is such a multicultural hub, welcoming thousands of new immigrants every month, it is one of the easiest societies to integrate into. Fortunately, as a French citizen, you will have a far easier time integrating yourself into Canadian society than immigrants form other nations since France has had and continues to have a large influence on Canadian socio-cultural history.

Enter the Next Phase of Your Life in Canada!

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Ensure your visa application is successful with our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC). An RCIC will help you determine your eligibility and ensure all your documents are in order before submitting your application. Learn more about how an RCIC can maximize your chances of getting a Canadian Visa here. Sign up today and get a head start.

FAQs

What is the Best Place to Immigrate to in Canada as a French Citizen?

Montreal, Quebec is the best place to immigrate to Canada since it is the one place in which French citizens can easily assimilate into Canadian society the easiest due to Montreal retaining a significant amount of Francophone culture.

Is French an Official Language in Canada?

French is one of the two official languages in Canada, a consequence of the storied and influential history of French culture in Canadian society.

Can you Immigrate to Canada as an Experienced Worker?

Canada has a lot of immigration visa programs, streams and pilots that require very little to no work experience. IEC Working Holiday and Family Sponsorship programs are just a few examples of immigration visa programs you can use to immigrate to Canada without needing to use work experience.