Provincial Nominee Programs
Canada’s Federal Government has signed separate agreements with each of it’s provinces and northern territories regarding immigration. According to these agreements, the provinces and the territories have the right to select and nominate individuals to make them eligible to apply for immigration.
The provinces and the territories have the ability to determine the criteria for the nominee selection. However, Canada’s Federal government still has jurisdiction over processing immigration applications. Consequently, the province’s jurisdiction is limited to granting the Provincial Nominee Certificate. The Federal Government will still have jurisdiction over examining and making decisions on immigration applications. Put simply, the Provincial Nominee Certificate is a document that makes the individual eligible to apply for immigration.
Students
Most provinces qualify international students who have finished a college or university degree in their province to apply for immigration. For example, Ontario grants graduate students the right to apply for immigration, as soon as they graduate, without any additional requirements such as finding full-time work.
The student may apply to the Province immediately after graduation, and request a Provincial Nominee Certificate. After receiving the certificate, the student may apply for immigration under the Provincial Nominee Program.
As another example, the Province of Saskatchewan allows any international student who has received education in Canada for one year, and worked inside Saskatchewan for one year, the right to apply for the Provincial Nominee Certificate and consequently immigration under the Provincial Nominee Program.
Small Investors
The provinces require that the immigration candidate invest about $350,000.00 in their province. The province that asks for the highest amount of investment is Ontario, at $600,000.00.
In addition to the total investments made in the province, you must also deposit a security between $75,000 to $100,000.00 to the province.
In order for applications in this category to have a successful outcome, in addition to an immigration consultant, the applicant should be working with an accountant, an investment advisor, a lawyer with experience in domestic and international commerce law, a tax specialist, and other professionals who may apply to the applicant’s specific situation.
For further information, or to get a detailed assessment, I urge you to contact me.
Nuriye Sahin is a Canadian Immigration Consultant and a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants. She represents her clients with their temporary resident and permanent resident applications, as well as appeals to the Immigration Appeal Division. She graduated from the University of Istanbul, Faculty of Law in 1986. After working as a lawyer for 14 years as a member of the Istanbul Bar Association, she immigrated to Canada.
Did you know that there are many different ways to immigrate to Canada – that it is crucial to know which category suits you most, to maximise the chances of a positive outcome for your application?