How to Apply For a Canadian Visa from the UK
Canada is no stranger to the UK. The two countries share a sovereign, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. They work closely with many international organizations and the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (CETA) makes it easier for British workers to work in Canada. Each year, between 6,000 and 9,000 British citizens become permanent residents of Canada.
There are several reasons why so many people choose to apply for a Canadian visa in the UK. The British are taking advantage of the infinitely more space available in Canada, which means bigger houses, bigger gardens, and bigger cities that stretch out in all directions. Not to mention the great outdoors, Banff National Park, Niagara Falls to Whistler Ski Resort, you can participate in any outdoor activity you can think of.
In this blog, we share tips on how to apply for a Canadian visa in the UK, whether you want to live, study, work or visit Canada.
From a Canadian Visa to Permanent Residency
A Canadian visa allows you to enter Canada for a specific reason and for a specific period of time. For example, if you want to come to Canada to study, you will receive a student permit for the duration of your course and an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that allows you to travel to and enter Canada. You really need to be aware of renewing or getting permits before your visa or eTA expires to avoid being blacklisted in the country.
Many UK citizens live in Canada on a Canadian visa and later decide they want to make Canada a permanent home. Read below to find out how to become a Canadian permanent resident.Advertisements
How to Immigrate from the UK to Canada
The Express Entry system is a fast and popular way for British citizens to settle permanently in Canada. The system processes permanent residence applications from skilled workers for three different immigration programs, namely; Federal Skilled Worker Program, Federal Commercial Worker Program, and the Canadian Experience Classes Program.
Each of these programs has eligibility criteria known as the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) which awards points for:
- Age
- CLB Language proficiency (English and French)
- Level of Education (In and outside Canada)
- Work Experience (In and outside Canada)
- Arranged employment
- Provincial Nomination achieved
- Siblings living in Canada as permanent residents/citizens
- Your spouse’s profile (if married)
The highest scoring applicants receive invitations to apply (ITAs) for permanent residence in the Express Entry draws that take place every two weeks. Your profile in the Express Entry system will remain active for one year from the date of your request. This gives you plenty of opportunities to increase your CRS score while you wait for an ITA. You can increase your score by finding a job in Canada (50-200 points) or by improving your education level.
The UK recently created a similar points-based immigration system. However, unlike in Canada, you need a job offer to qualify and the system will prioritize qualified people, such as those with science, academia, and technology qualifications. The Canada Express Entry system welcomes skilled and intermediate workers, such as commercial workers, to apply and it is not necessary to have a job offer or a certain salary threshold.
Canadian Visa to Work in Canada from the UK
There are over 700 UK companies present in Canada and for this reason, many UK citizens have to come to Canada for business reasons and need a work visa to do so. To apply for a Canadian visa to work in Canada, you will likely need to submit the following documents with your application:
- Proof of employment or current studies
- Proof of valid job offer from a Canadian employer
- Proof of income and funds
- Biometrics
Brits who want to work in Canada can apply for one of three Canadian Visas. They are;
- Employer Specific Work Permit
- Open Work Permit
- Working Holiday Program
Most UK citizens work in Canada with an employer-specific work permit which allows them to work for an employer for a pre-approved period. This means that you will need to get a valid job offer before you can start working in Canada.
On the other hand, an open work permit allows you to work for any employer in Canada and you do not need a valid job offer to qualify for this Canadian visa. However, it is only issued to people in very specific situations. For example, if you are applying to immigrate to Canada while you are in the country, you can apply for an open work permit that allows you to continue working while you wait for the results of your application for permanent residence.
Last but not least, the Working Holiday Visa is issued exclusively to young British people between the ages of 18 and 35 who wish to work part-time in Canada while traveling in the country.
Canadian Visa to Study in Canada
Canada is a popular country for UK students as they can expect to receive a globally recognized qualification at a lower price. The average fee for an undergraduate degree in Ontario, Canada is $ 6,463 and a postgraduate degree is $ 7,056 as of 2020. Canada offers cheaper and more expensive options than the UK. Uni, depending on your study program and choice of institution.
If you want to gain a Canadian qualification, take the first step by enrolling at a designated educational institution to receive a Letter of Acceptance, which is a document required when you apply for your Canadian visa.
What is a Designated Learning Institution?
Designated educational institutions are post-secondary educational institutions authorized by provincial or territorial governments to accept expatriate students. Currently, there are approximately 1,534 DLIs in Canada. Most of these DLIs are found in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta.
