How to Immigrate to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago in 2023

The lush green fields and sandy beaches of Trinidad and Tobago are a sharp departure from the ice cold landscapes of Canada. However, as much as these two countries stand in sharp relief to one another, the irresistible pull of Canada’s stellar immigration destination credentials and sizable community of Caribbeans still makes it a worthwhile immigration destination for a lot of immigrants.

If you are Trinidad and Tobagan and have some interest exploring new beginnings, wish to travel and/or work in another country, deciding to move to Canada is a recommended and wise decision. The following outlines some of the most accessible and best ways to immigrate to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago.

Top 3 Ways to Immigrate to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago

With over 100 different visa and immigration programs available for Canada, it is vital that you know your options and apply to a program that will give you the best chance of earning an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency.

There are programs suitable for when you know where you want to live, for obtaining permanent residency before you even move to Canada, for studying in Canada to obtain permanent residency, and much more. These programs are broadly representative of the three top ways to immigrate to Canada as delineated by immigration visa permit types.

Permanent Residency

Express Entry

Canada’s premier economic migration program is the Express Entry System. Divided into three programs based on your skills and expertise, the system works by candidates creating online profiles and entering their relevant information such as work experience, qualifications, language abilities, and so on.

If you qualify for one of the programs, your information will be used to calculate a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score and you will be entered into that particular program's pool of candidates.

Twice a month draws are held and the candidates with the highest CRS scores are invited to apply for permanent residency. Maximizing your CRS score is the key to receiving and ITA, and our professional consultants know just how to do it.

While you may not require a job offer in Canada to earn an ITA through Express Entry, it will greatly improve your chances if you can secure an offer of employment. The three programs or pools are:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program - for applicants with at least one years’ experience in managerial and professional roles such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers.
  • Federal Skilled Trades Program - for qualified trades workers with at least two years of experience in their profession. You will also require a job offer OR certification from a provincial Canadian regulatory body to be eligible for this program.
  • Canada Experience Class - If you have at least one year of experience working in Canada in one of the categories above, you are eligible for this preferred program.

Provincial Nominee Program

Every Canadian province, besides Quebec and Nunavut, has its own Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). The programs are operated by the provincial governments and streams are used to address the particular labor requirements of the province.

Most provinces have streams dedicated to skilled foreign workers, semi-skilled foreign workers, international graduates, and specific requirements such as IT and medical professionals.

If you know which province you would like to live and work in, it would be wise to investigate the particular immigration streams available so you can apply for a provincial nomination and become a permanent resident of Canada as soon as possible.

It is also worth knowing that if you can secure a provincial nomination, this all but guarantees your permanent residency application through the Express Entry System, as a provincial nomination is worth a staggering 600 points out of the total 1,200 available on the CRS.

You can create an expression of interest in a particular province when creating your express entry profile, and if they are interested in having you, they will endorse your application.

Immigration Pilot programs

The IRCC together with provincial and city governments have created a number of ‘pilot’ immigration programs to address the labor requirements of specific areas in Canada. Each pilot program has a different set of requirements, but they all boil down to the same thing.

Rural areas of Canada are looking to take part in the economic benefits of migration, and so they are assisting temporary foreign workers to obtain permanent residency and become Canadians if they choose. The pilot programs include:

  • Atlantic Immigration Pilot - graduate from a university or secure a job offer in New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island, or Nova Scotia and you could be eligible for permanent residency
  • Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot - 11 towns and small cities across Canada are helping foreigners with job offers in their communities obtain permanent residency
  • AgriFood Immigration Pilot- permanent residency is up for grabs for foreign workers in the agricultural industry, including supervisors, laborers, harvesters, food processing workers, and butchers
  • Care Provider Pilots - the old caregiver program was separated into two separate pilots, home care provider and child care provider. Foreign workers are also granted open work permits now, and after they have two years of work experience in Canada, become eligible for permanent residency.

Study Visa permit

Numerous immigration programs make provision for international students from Canadian institutions to become permanent residents after they graduate. The process is fairly simple and goes as follows:

  • Get accepted to a designated learning institution
  • Obtain your student visa and study permit
  • After graduation, apply for your Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) and permanent residency through the program applicable to where you studied, either one of the PNP streams or perhaps the Atlantic Immigration Pilot
  • International Experience Canada (IEC) has a category called the International Cooperative(Co-op) that offers immigration visas for students who come from countries with a youth mobility program. If your country does not have a youth mobility program then you may apply through seven recognized organizations.
  • Live and work in Canada as a permanent resident, and after three years become a citizen!

Work Visa permit

If a Canadian business provides you with a job offer, it becomes imperative that you apply for an immigration work visa permit. Work visas are usually divided into two types which are defined according to the kind of work you do and where in Canada you will be employed. The two types of work visas are: Open-work and employer-specific (closed) work visa permits.

  • Open work visas: allows the recipient to be employed anywhere in Canada where they can find work e.g IEC Working Holiday Visa. Most of work involved is low-skilled and requires very little to no job experience
  • Employer-specific(closed) work visa: recipient is only allowed to work at their employers location of choice e.g. in-demand PNP jobs. Most of the work involved is semi to highly skilled and requires significant job experience.

Why Move to Canada From Trinidad and Tobago?

Healthcare and Education

Having access to good healthcare and education plays an important part in our quality of life but it does not come cheap. Luckily, this is not something you ever have to worry about if you move to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago.

Canada’s public healthcare system covers 70% of all medically necessary healthcare. From COVID-19 tests and treatments, necessary medical procedures, to doctor visits and even prescription medicine if you live in Ontario and are under the age of 25 or over the age of 65.

You and your family can visit any of the various premium public clinics or hospitals in Canada headed by world-class doctors and healthcare staff. What’s more, your children can also attend primary and secondary school and obtain quality education for free.

With high minimum wages of $13 per hour and affordable living costs, you’ll have more money to spend on family outings, holidays, and fun activities in Canada – and there are plenty!

Safe and Secure Environment

Canada is considered a safe haven around the world due to its low rate of crime and violence. In fact, Canada is believed to be the 7th safest country in the world.

Canada’s crime rate is as low as 1.6 per 100,000. Here you can relax and live in comfort knowing you and your family are safe.

Abundant job Opportunities

Canada has recovered almost 76% of all jobs lost due to the pandemic and holds firm that immigration is the answer to get the economy back on track and better than ever. Skilled and semi-skilled workers from overseas can fill in-demand jobs in Canada by applying through various work permit categories.

Obtaining Canadian work experience is more often than not the best way to move to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago because it allows you to qualify for more immigration programs, increasing your chances of a successful visa application.

How can we Help you Move to Canada From Trinidad and Tobago?

If you want to move to Canada from Trinidad and Tobago, we can help guide your way through the intricate immigration process. Canadian Visa is a leading visa and immigration agency situated in Vancouver.

Our team of Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) is authorized by the Government of Canada to provide a range of professional services to our international clients to ensure the best results. Our services include:

  • Comprehensive eligibility evaluation
  • Tailored visa plan signed by our RCICs
  • Complete administration services
  • Application optimization and submission
  • Expert guidance throughout the entire process

If you want to reach your Canadian dream we are the professionals who can help make it happen.

FAQs

Which City has the Largest Community of People From Trinidad and Tobago?

Toronto has the largest population of people from Trinidad and Tobago

Is it Better to Immigrate to a Large City or a Small Town?

The general standard of living and quality of life is constant across Canada. In lieu of this fact it doesn’t really matter where you choose to live in Canada besides your personal discretion and why you chose to immigrate.

Are There any Festivals That Celebrate the Culture of Trinidad and Tobago?

Yes. There’s a significant number of Caribbean cultural festivals celebrated in most of Canada’s major cities.