Provincial Nominee Programs in 2023
Since PNPs are crucial to helping Canada address specific labour market needs, in 2023 Canada is going to welcome just under 23,000 more PNP immigrants than Express Entry candidates.
Express Entry in 2023
As of the first quarter of 2023 IRCC is expected to introduce ‘targeted’ Express Entry draws which will target candidates who have specific occupational experience, language skills and/or educational backgrounds instead of giving out Invitations to Apply (ITAs) based on a candidate’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score.
Parents and Grandparents Program in 2023
According to Canada’s latest Immigration Levels Plan, in 2023, Canada will welcome more than 28,000 newcomers through Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP), combined with other immigration pathways such as the Super Visa.
International Students in 2023
As announced by IRCC, from November 15, 2022, until the end of 2023, to help Canada better deal with labour shortages, those international students who have off-campus work authorization on their study permit will be able to work over 20 hours per week off-campus.
Why Canada Needs Immigrants
The Canada’s government relies on immigrants to address various needs, including economic, demographic, and social.
Canada has one of the lowest birth rates in the world. Accordingly, without immigration, Canada will face an eminent decrease in the number of population, including the number of workforce.
On the other hand, Canada has a quite old population which means a greater number of retirees. This will result in further decrease in the total number of workforce.
To face these problems, Canada is investing in immigrants to fill the workforce gap, especially in areas such as health care, construction, agriculture, and more.
Moreover, immigrants contribute to GDP growth by starting new businesses, supporting local economies, and increasing the total workforce.
Canada focuses on accepting skilled immigrants through various residency programs, including the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSDP), the Canada Experience Class (CEC), and the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
This approach helps Canada to meet the country’s skills demands, for example in areas such as health care, IT, and so on. Moreover, this approach can boost innovation, since the skilled immigrants can bring innovative ideas and expertise to the country.
As a result of aging of the population, low birth rate, and urbanization trends, many rural areas of Canada have encountered a crucial decrease in the total number of population.
The immigration programs of Canada encourage newcomers to settle in the small towns and rural areas. This can result in revitalization of communities with declining populations. This can help balanced regional development and reduce the pressure on major cities.
In addition, Canada is a multicultural country, attracting talents from all over the world by its global identity. Admitting new immigrants will strengthen Canada’s global identity and enrich its culture.
For instance, Canada has focused on Francophone immigrants in recent years, which can enrich French culture both in Quebec and the Federal provinces of Canada.
Additionally, yearly entrance of new immigrants result in elevated need for goods and housing, which can support Canada’s local economy and real estate industry.
Why PNP will be the top Canadian immigration pathway in 2023?
The Provincial Nominee Program is the main pathway in 2023 for several reasons.
This program supports growing provincial demand and autonomy at the same time. Since each province has its own PNP tailored to its local needs.
This flexibility allows each province to accept immigrants based on the skills they need to meet their workforce shortage. This aligns with each province’s goals to support their local economy and reduce pressure on major cities.
Canada’s federal government aims at increasing the number of immigrants to reach the annual number of 500,000 by 2025. To reach this number, the Provincial Nominee Program allocations have been significantly increased.
On the other hand, PNP offers multiple streams for skilled workers, entrepreneurs, international graduates, and semi-skilled workers. This diversity provides applicants with various levels of skill and language to have a chance to apply for residency.
Moreover, many PNP streams are linked to the Express Entry, which is Canada’s main federal immigration system.
Candidates nominated by a province through a PNP stream linked to Express Entry will receive an extra 60 CRS scores. This will guarantee the reception of an application invitation. As a result, candidates find this program extra interesting.
Many PNPs offer streams for international graduates from Canadian institutions to transition from temporary to permanent residency. The federal government of Canada is interested in accepting these graduates, regarding the fact that they have already integrated in the community.
Besides, PNPs can be a good pathway to fill the jobs with higher demand. Many provinces process requests of candidates skilled in certain jobs with critical shortage faster.
How is IRCC renovating Canada Express Entry in 2023?
In 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made significant changes to the Express Entry system to improve immigration system and align it more with Canada’s needs.
In 2023 IRCC introduced Category-Based Selection. This new approach enables Canada to accept immigrants based on their skills, experience, language, and education. For instance, Canada is focusing on accepting candidates skilled in health care, construction, etc.
Category-based selection ensures that the country attracts candidates specialized in high-demanded areas. The government can align each call to the specific needs of the country, providing more flexibility and adaptability.
Also, in 2023 IRCC put more emphasis on French-speaking candidates, to enrich the Francophone culture and meet the needs for bilingual workers in various provinces.
Furthermore, the federal government of Canada has put more emphasis on Provincial Nominee Program which aligns better with each province’s needs.
Each province can have their own PNP. This helps provinces to accept immigrants based on their needs, and fill the workforce gap more efficiently. Candidates with a provincial nomination have a higher chance to receive an invitation to apply.
Additionally, the federal government of Canada implemented modifications on the Comprehensive Ranking System. They gave more weight to factors such as skills, work experience, and adaptability.
They also increased the focus on individuals with educational background or work experience within Canada. Since these candidates can integrate better to the Canadian community.
Also, IRCC temporarily paused certain draws in the first months of 2023. This was to manage the high number of applicants and to clear the backlog.
Finally, IRCC focused on economic immigration in 2023 through various ways. More focus on Provincial Nominee Program and modifications on the Comprehensive Ranking System were two major changes to target the economy in Canada’s new policies toward immigrants.
What makes studying abroad in Canada more desirable in 2023
Studying in Canada can be a major step to permanent residency. Students who graduate from a Canadian institution can apply for various PR programs, including Express Entry.
The federal government of Canada is prioritizing international students who graduate from a Canadian institute, since they already have integrated in the Canadian community.
Moreover, international students in Canada have a chance to achieve a work permit after graduation. This permit allows them to work in Canada for up to three years. This can further increase the chance of admission for permanent residency.
Canada’s institutes are more affordable, compared to other English-speaking countries such as the UK and the US. Due to the proximity to the US, graduates can seek internship and job opportunities both in Canada and the US.
In addition, Canadian institutions offer high-quality courses with international recognition.
Why choose us?
We have been helping many applicants become permanent residents for years and have a high success rate. Our clients from almost 20 different countries have experienced this with us and you can be the next successful. We know how to prepare documents and how to make your immigration process smooth and easy for you. Contact us HERE to start the process today!
If you are not a Canadian Permanent Resident yet and you are not sure what the best way for you to immigrate to Canada is, please fill out our assessment form HERE and we will get back to you with your possible options.
