As a UK citizen, you may travel to Canada for up to six months without a visa or with an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). However, you must get a visa to live in the country for more than six months.
Canada has several immigration and visa programs for UK citizens. Some Canadian Immigration pathways offer straightforward routes to permanent residency (PR) and, eventually, citizenship. The appropriate visa option for you will depend on your immigration needs and personal circumstances.
This article discusses the immigration options for UK citizens migrating to Canada.
Permanent Residency Options for UK Citizens Migrating to Canada
The pathways to permanent residency in Canada are the Express Entry, Provincial Nominee program and Family sponsorship programs. After spending five years in Canada with a PR status, you can apply for citizenship.
Express Entry
Express Entry is the most popular Canadian immigration program for skilled workers. It ranks applicants using a point-based system based on age, work experience, English/French language skills, and finances.
Individuals who apply for the Express Entry system will be ranked alongside other applicants. During a bi-weekly draw, those with the highest point will receive an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.
Three visa options exist on the Express Entry program, and they include;
1) Federal Skilled Worker
The Federal Skilled Worker program is available to UK citizens with at least one year of paid, continuous, foreign full-time work experience or equivalent to one year of part-time work experience under the National Occupation Code (NOC) TEER 0,1, 2, or 3. You don’t need a job offer from Canada to apply for this visa, making it a highly preferred option.
2) Federal Skilled Tradesperson
The visa option is available to UK applicants with at least two years of experience in a skilled trade in the five years leading to their application.
Unlike the Federal Skilled Worker program, you must have a job offer from a Canadian employer or a certificate of qualification from a Canadian province, territory, or federal authority to be eligible. Applicants must also meet the National Occupational Classification (NOC) requirements for their specific job type.
3) Canadian Experience Class
The Canadian Experience Class is available for UK citizens with at least one year of skilled work experience in Canada during the three years before their application. These jobs must be under NOC codes 0, A, or B. Applicants for this visa type intending to live in Quebec must apply instead for the Quebec Experience Program.
Provincial Nominees Programs (PNP)
The Provincial Nominee program allows Canadian provinces to nominate suitable immigrants who can contribute to their development. There are two ways to enter the PNP: the Express Entry and non-Express Entry streams.
Candidates in the Express Entry pool who are nominated by Canadian provinces will earn 600 points added to their ranking system. With the non-Express Entry option, individuals who receive a provincial nomination can apply directly for the PNP.
Family Visas
If you have a family member with Citizenship or PR status in Canada, they can sponsor you for a Family visa. UK citizens eligible for this visa include spouses, common-law partners, children, parents and grandparents.
Temporary Immigration Options for UK Citizens Migrating to Canada
Unlike the permanent residency options, temporary visas grant you the right to stay in Canada for a specific period, after which you must return to your home country. The length of time you can reside as a temporary resident in Canada will depend on your visa type.
Note that you can switch from a temporary residence visa to permanent residency if you are eligible. For instance, you can get skilled employment and obtain PR after graduating with a Study visa.
Here are the temporary Canadian visa options for UK citizens.
Work Permits
A Canadian Work permit grants you the right to work in Canada. Canadian Work permits are divided into open and employer-specific.
Open Employment Permits
Open Work permits don’t require you to have a job offer in Canada. However, they’re restricted to certain applicants. They include;
- Spouses or common-law partners of temporary foreign workers in TEER 0 or 1 occupation, or TEER 2 and 3 if it’s a job considered a priority by the Canadian government
- Spouses or common-law partners of students enrolled in a full-time program at an eligible DUI
- UK students who graduated from a Canadian DLI
- Protected persons, refugees and their family members
- Applicants on permanent residency who applied through the Inland Spousal Sponsorship process
Examples of Open Work Permits include;
- Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP)
- In-Canada Spousal Sponsorship
- Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)
- Working Holiday Visa (International Experience Canada)
- Spouse Accompanying International Student or Visa
Employer-Specific Permits
Most employer-specific work permits require a job offer from a Canadian employer. They also require the employer to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This indicates that the employer has advertised the job on the Canadian job market and couldn’t find a worker to fill the role.
However, certain jobs may be exempt from the LMIA, such as those on the International Mobility Program (IMP). Employer-specific Canadian work permits include;
- Facilitated LMIA (Quebec)
- Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
- Global Talent Stream
- Intra-Company Transfer
- International Mobility Program
International Experience Program
UK citizens can apply for the International Experience Canada Program. It allows applicants between the ages of 18 and 35 to gain work experience in Canada for up to two years. The program includes the Working Holiday, Young Professionals, and International Co-op routes.
Study Permits
Applicants enrolled at a Canadian designated Learning Institution (DLI) can apply for a Study permit. This allows them to live in the country for the duration of their program if they abide by the immigration conditions.
International students can apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit (PGWP) upon completing their studies to work in Canada for up to three years, depending on their program of study.
Wrapping Up These UK to Canada Visa Options
Canada has several immigration pathways for UK citizens who are willing to migrate to the country. You should evaluate your options carefully and choose the right one for your situation.
Express Entry, Provincial Nominee, and Family sponsorship are the most viable options if you intend to migrate to Canada in the long term. Other immigration options like Work or Study permits allow you to reside in the country temporarily.
Before applying for a Canadian visa, it’s advisable to discuss it with an immigration lawyer. They’ll advise you on the proper visa to obtain and guide you through the application process to increase your chances of success.
What say you?
Thoughts on these UK to Canada Visa Options?
Let’s hear it!
Cover Photo by Nghia Trinh
