You don’t have any work experience yet and want to move to Canada. “Can I immigrate to Canada without work experience?” or “Can I apply for PR without work experience?” is a question you might be wondering about. Many people think that if you don’t have any work experience, you can’t move to Canada. This isn’t always the case, though.
Numerous immigration and visa programs are available in Canada. Many do not demand employment experience from applicants to allow them to remain in Canada. If you fulfill the requirements, many of these programs allow you to become a permanent resident of Canada. If you have never worked before and want to move to Canada, these are some of the most popular routes:
Provincial Nominee Programs
Provincial initiatives are managed independently by each province or territory and are designed to meet their unique requirements. These initiatives were designed to allow the provinces to hire new immigrants as needed. A province nomination can raise an applicant’s Comprehensive Ranking method (CRS) score by 600 points for those using the Express Entry method.
There are multiple programs in each province, and the prerequisites for each program vary. Some might need a job offer, while some don’t. Alternatively, they might consider candidates who are multilingual in French and English, have ties to the province, have worked or studied there in the past, or have professional experience in a field that is in high demand. Here are some of the PNPs available
Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program
The Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) is for prospective immigrants without prior job experience. If you meet the other qualifying conditions, such as educational credentials and language ability, you can apply for PR without work experience through the SINP’s International Skilled Worker Category.
Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Another PNP in Canada that does not always require work experience is the Quebec Skilled Worker Program (QSWP). It’s a points-based system; while work experience counts toward your total score, you can still be eligible without it if you have other strong points.
Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP)
For people lacking work experience, alternative immigration opportunities are available through the Nova Scotia Nominee Program (NSNP). The NSNP has various streams, and while some require work experience, others—such as the Nova Scotia Demand: Express Entry stream—do not if you hold a highly sought-after job.
The Post Graduate Work Permit Program
The Post Graduate Work Permit Program (PGWPP) offers a work permit to recent graduates of Designated Learning Institutions (DLIs) in Canada. This permits individuals to remain and work in Canada until they accrue enough work experience to obtain permanent residence or to extend their work visa. A post-secondary learning institution granted permission by a federal, provincial, or local body to accept international students is known as a Canadian DLI.
Eligibility
For you to be granted a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP), you must have met the following conditions:
You must have finished your professional, academic, or vocational training at a DLI in Canada; have attended classes full-time; possess an official letter and transcript from your DLI attesting to the completion of the prerequisites for your qualification;
You must have completed a minimum of eight months and a maximum of three years of study in Canada.
The validity period of your PGWP aligns with the duration of your qualification program. PGWP applicants must submit their applications no later than 180 days after obtaining official transcripts or other written verification from their DLI attesting to completing their coursework. Once you have your guarantee, the Government of Canada website is ideal for applying for a PGWP. The website provides a comprehensive overview of each country’s criteria. The application requirements vary based on where you are using the application.
How Can This Give You A Permanent Residency?
After receiving your PGWP, you can live and work in Canada for a sufficient amount of time to be eligible for the Canada Experience Class (CEC), one of the immigration streams offered by Canada’s Express Entry program. However, according to the CEC, you must dwell in Canada for at least a year to obtain permanent residence.
International Experience Canada
The International Experience Canada (IEC) program is the second most common route for unemployed individuals to relocate to Canada. The Working Holiday category offered by International Experience Canada (IEC) does not require a job offer and permits candidates to work for any business, anywhere in Canada, for a set amount of time. The duration of a permit might range from six months to two years.
This program is intended for younger candidates, usually between 18 and 35, from particular countries with which Canada has agreements. After working in Canada for a full year, applicants may then be qualified to apply for permanent residency through the Canadian Experience Class. The Canadian Experience Class does not require a job offer. Still, it does require applicants to have worked in a qualified occupation for at least a year straight, full-time (or an equivalent amount in part-time) in Canada within the previous three years, paid employment.
The Working Holiday Visa
Should you want to travel and work in Canada, applying for a Canada Working Holiday Visa through International Experience Canada (IEC) is your best option for obtaining a visa. This visa scheme allows young individuals visiting Canada to work while they’re there and earn money. It’s mostly for people searching for seasonal or contract work in Canada, such as summer camp guides, fruit pickers, and ski instructors.
What Does It Allow?
With a working holiday visa, you can obtain a temporary open-work permit that lets you work for any Canadian company. If you have the money, you can travel across Canada and change jobs whenever you like. However, some conditions must be met in order to obtain a Canada Working Holiday Visa.
Due to the work permit’s openness and the lack of work experience requirement for a Canada Working Holiday Visa, numerous requirements must be met. One of the most crucial requirements is that just 35 nations globally offer Working Holiday Visas. Consequently, you can apply for a Canada Working Holiday Visa if you are a citizen of one of the nations on the list. Some include Australia, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, France, and Hong Kong.
However, you can still apply for a Canada Working Holiday Visa if your country isn’t on the list. But you must apply through reputable agencies like Stepwest, SWAP Working Holidays, or GO International. You can only obtain a working holiday visa once in several countries. Others let you double dip, but only in separate streams. You will only be granted a Canada Working Holiday Visa if your nation permits it, even if you receive several Invitations To Apply (ITAs) for the IEC. So before you apply, ensure you understand your country’s situation.
Other requirements you will need include:
- A valid passport
- Age ranging from 25-30
- Health insurance
- 2,500 CAD to cover your initial expenses
- Police clearance certificate
- No dependent
- Sufficient funds to cover your flight ticket.
Family Sponsorship
An excellent option is still available if you do not want to travel to Canada to study and work there. Without prior work experience, foreign nationals with a family member, guardian, spouse, common-law partner, or conjugal partner may immigrate to Canada through the Canada Family Sponsorship program. The primary goal of this program’s design was to maintain the unity of immigrant families. Only a few prerequisites are required for someone to be able to sponsor you.
The sponsor must be;
- A permanent resident of Canada
- Over 18 years old
- Living in Canada
- Able to sponsor you financially
However, certain people are blocked from becoming sponsors if they:
- Obtain social aid, except disabilities
- sponsored another person within three years of obtaining permanent residence status in Canada.
- Have previously missed payments on a performance bond or immigration loan; not paying child support or alimony, if applicable;
- have obtained a criminal conviction
- were less than five years ago when they were sponsored and granted permanent residency in Canada.
- are in a reformatory, jail, or prison
- Have filed for bankruptcy or have a removal order in place.
How Long Can Anyone Sponsor You?
Your age, bond with the sponsor, and the province you live in all play a role. Ensure you are aware of the regulations of the province you intend to immigrate to when you come to Canada, as Quebec has slightly different laws from the rest of the country.
Conclusion
Although work experience is not required to enter Canada temporarily, it is usually necessary to obtain some in order to immigrate permanently. Canada values potential immigrants who can boost the economy by entering the nation. Thus, getting some work experience that can boost the economy and increase your chances of getting a PR is important.
References
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/study-canada/work/after-graduation/about.html
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/work-canada/iec.html