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This year has seen a large number of Nigerians relocating abroad permanently. The ‘japa’ phenomenon has gripped the entire nation; you’d hardly find anyone who is not nursing the idea to relocate permanently abroad.
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So many nations are offering Nigerians permanent residence. This is so especially for young married Nigerians who are professionals. So if you are a health practitioner, or a computer expert or any professional at that, you are a prime candidate for permanent residence.
Canada is one country that has opened its borders to immigrants and is actively recruiting them. Canada is using this to buster her civil service and to boost population. How can you apply for permanent residence, what region of Canada is best for you, these and many more are questions that would be answered. There are a lot of ways to relocate to Canada, a few of them include:
This is when you gain admission into a Canadian university with or without Scholarship, upon the completion of your studies, you could stay back by getting a job, you can get permanent residence through that means
This route is majorly for skilled foreign workers and international students who graduated from a Canadian institution. They must be willing to live in any of Canada’s four Atlantic Provinces. Employees use this program to get qualified candidates for jobs when there are no local qualified candidates.
Our focus here is the express entry route. This is more like a system than a route, it is the system used to manage Canada’s immigration application. The programs managed by this system include:
This is for those who already have Canadian work experience. The work experience must have been gained in the three years preceding the year of application
This is for workers and skilled Professionals with foreign work experience that is Nigerians with work experience from Nigeria
For workers who have experience and qualifications in a skilled trade.
If you are qualified under any of the above 3, you can apply for permanent residence through the express entry system.
The express entry is like a pool, you apply by filling out the forms and application, points are awarded for certain qualifications, the Canadian government them invites the top ranking candidates at interval. You’d get almost all the information you need at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada.html
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Step 1: Find out if you are eligible
This program is for skilled Professionals. Check for the eligibility of your profession on the National Occupation Classification (NOC). You can check if your profession is eligible at https://noc.esdc.gc.ca/?GoCTemplateCulture=en-CA. Another way to check for your eligibility is to answer a few questionnaire at https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/come-canada-tool-immigration-express-entry.html.
At the end of the questionnaire, you’d be advised on which of the programs, under the express entry system best suits you. If you’ve confirmed your eligibility, you can create your express entry profile here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/account.html.
If you are qualified for any of the programs, you can also apply for a Provincial Nomination Program (PNP). Each province in Canada has a target of professionals they need, if you end up being nominated, it would boost your point in the express entry pool, increasing your chances of being invited to apply for Permanent Residence (PR). You can apply for PNP through https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/provincial-nominees/application-process/express-entry.html
If your PNP application is successful and you are nominated, you’d need to update it on your account in the express entry pool.
If you have confirmed your eligibility, you can check your score on the express entry pool via the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). This system is used to rank your express entry profile you can check your score via https://ircc.canada.ca/english/immigrate/skilled/crs-tool.asp.
Step 2: Prepare your documents
There are specific documents that would be required for you. It’s important to start preparing these documents as early as possible for some of them may take weeks to get and you only have 60 days to complete your application once you’ve been invited to apply. A lot of these documents would also cost money to get.
The popular one used is IELTS and this test is valid for two years. This test evaluates your reading, speaking, writing and listening skills. Please note that the higher your score in this test the greater your points in the express entry pool, consequently your chances of being Invited also increases.
You need to take extra steps here if you do not have a Canadian or foreign education and you wish to get points for your Nigerian education. You need an educational credential assessment report. This is used to verify that your degree is valid and is equal to a Canadian one. There are bodies designated by the Canadian government. A popular one used is west.org. There are different bodies for some professions, if you are a Pharmacist your evaluation would be done by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, basically if you are in a regulated profession, your evaluation would be done by the regulatory body of your profession in Canada.
If you have one
It is important that there are no inexplicable gaps between your jobs. You’d need reference letters from your previous employers to show this
Upon getting an invitation to apply, you’d need the following documents
This is to show that you have no criminal record. You’d also need this for everyone traveling with you as dependent assuming they are above 18 years of age
Follow this link to learn more about the tests required https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/medical-exams.html
You need to show that you have enough and are able to support yourself over a specific period pending the time you would get a job. You need to show the source of your funds, showing that it wasn’t gotten by ill means. Find more details here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html
Generally you’d be required to present a document to support every piece of information provided. Please note that no document should be forged, immigration officials are known to be super diligent in confirming and tracking the source of every document. Get more details about the required documents here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents.html
Step 3: complete your express entry profile
Log into your account and confirm that all necessary documents have been uploaded then submit. Then comes the waiting period, the waiting period could be as low as 6 months and it could extend to 2 years. Within this time you’d have to recreate your profile. Your profile automatically expires if you are not invited after 12 months.
Step 4: Apply for permanent residence upon receiving your invitation to Apply.
Your invitation to apply is valid for 60 days only, so begin the process immediately, fill out the online form, scan and upload all required documents, pay all necessary fees, then submit your complete application
Go for your biometrics. Find out where here https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/apply-permanent-residence/submit.html#biometric-process-pr
After you apply, you’d be given updates via your account. If your application is approved, you’d get a mail informing you and you have to confirm it.
You can now go ahead and book your flight. Check the IRCC website for any other Information needed https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html&ved=2ahUKEwiQ59WBxZD8AhUf7rsIHYyyBk0QFnoECCAQAQ&usg=AOvVaw267nwsn1Ad884JmqkA89vG