Reference

Immigrate to Canada from Ghana – Updated Guidelines

Did you know that Ghanaian citizens have over 100 Canada immigration
programs to use to immigrate to Canada from Ghana? For example you may
immigrate to Canada from Ghana as a skilled worker, as a student, or be
sponsored by a family member who is a Canadian permanent resident or
citizen.
Table of Contents hide
1 Pathways to immigrate to Canada
1.1 1. Skilled Worker path
1.2 2. Student Visa path
1.3 3. Family Sponsorship path
1.4 4. Provincial Nominee Programs
2 Step-by-step guides to immigrate to Canada
2.1 Step 1 – Where to Live in Canada
2.2 Step 2 – Which Canada immigration programs are you eligible for?
2.3 Step 3 – Pass eligibility requirements for the Canada immigration program that you
chose
2.4 Step 4 – Gather all Important Documents
2.5 Step 5 – Complete IELTS and TEF Exams
2.6 Step 6 – Get your ECA education assessment
2.7 Step 7 – Do Your Medical Examination
2.8 Step 8 – Get a Police Clearance Certificate
2.9 Step 9 – Apply for Biometrics
2.10 Step 10 – Use a Canada immigration lawyer or agent

It is the perfect time for Ghanaians to take advantage of Canada’s increasing

demand for foreign skilled workers. The government of Canada has outlined
how it will make immigration the cornerstone of Canada’s plan to get the
economy moving again and accelerate recovery from the devastating
economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. In October 2020, the
government of Canada announced dramatic increases to Canada’s
immigration levels for 2021 to 2023, to boost its economic recovery from the
coronavirus pandemic. Canada aims to welcome more than 1.2 million
newcomers between 2021 and 2023: 401,000 newcomers in 2021,
another 411,000 in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023.
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 In the Fall Economic Statement released on November 30, 2020, the
government noted that Canada’s immigration intake, the most important
source of Canada’s population and labour force growth, has been severely
disrupted by travel restrictions and application delays due to COVID-19.
See Canada to spend Millions on immigration to spark economic recovery.

Pathways to immigrate to Canada

You may pre-qualify for a Canada immigration program. Check Now FREE
Depending on your qualifications, you may be eligible to immigrate to Canada
under one or more of the following Canada immigration programs:
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 Federal Skilled Worker Program

 Federal Skilled Trades Class Program
 Quebec Skilled Worker Program
 Provincial Nominee Programs
 Canadian Experience Class
 Quebec Experience Class
 Federal Self-Employed Program

Canada also offers a number of Family Class Sponsorship programs that

allow Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their family
members and loved ones to immigrate to Canada.
Later in this post we provide you the step-by-step instructions to apply for a
Canadian immigration program of your choice. Before then, let us briefly
describe several of the ways you can immigrate to Canada.

1. Skilled Worker path

Skilled workers who choose to immigrate to Canada may apply for permanent
residency under the federal Express Entry program. The Express Entry
system allows Canada to actively recruit, assess and select skilled immigrants
under the three Federal High Skilled economic-class immigration programs:
the Federal Skilled Worker Class; the Federal Skilled Trades Class; and
the Canadian Experience Class.
In order to enter the federal Express Entry pool, candidates must first create
an Express Entry profile. A job offer is not required to enter or be selected
from the Express Entry pool. A certain number of the highest-ranked
candidates who have submitted their profiles into the pool are
issued Invitations to Apply (ITAs) for Canadian permanent residence through
regular draws which typically take place every two weeks. A candidate’s CRS
score is based on factors such as age, education, skilled work experience and
proficiency in English or French.
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Based on your personal information you will be given a Comprehensive

Ranking System (CRS) score. Your CRS is a numerical value, out of a
possible 1,200, determined by your core human capital. This is essentially
your age, work experience, educational background, ability to adapt and
language skills.
Once your profile has been completed and your CRS has been calculated,
you will be placed into a pool of Express Entry candidates ranked by their
CRS score. The Canadian government regularly draws candidates from this
pool to issue ITAs based on particular needs and shortages in the country.
Candidates with the highest CRS scores get issued ITAs first. So once your
CRS score meets the minimum cut-off point for a particular draw you will be
issued an ITA. See for example 3400 Express Entry candidates invited for
Canada PR.
Figure – Basic steps to immigrate to Canada
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2. Student Visa path
Students who have applied for and been accepted into a Designated Learning
Institution (DLI) may apply for a Canadian Student Visa to come to Canada for
the program to which they have been accepted. See Canada student via
requirements, Find Universities in Canada and Find Canada Scholarships.
NOTE: An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to apply for
certain Canada immigration programs. International Credential Evaluation
Services (ICES Canada) and World Education Services (WES) are
designated by IRCC to provide ECAs for degrees and diplomas earned
outside of Canada. See more information at ICES ECA for Canada
Immigration – Updated Guidelines and WES Canada – ECA.

3. Family Sponsorship path

If you have family members or friends that are already Canadian citizens or
permanent residents they may sponsor you to immigrate to Canada under
several family class immigration programs. such as the federal Family Class
program and the family streams of the Provincial Nominee Program available
in the province where they are resident.

4. Provincial Nominee Programs

Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are very popular among
candidates applying to immigrate to Canada. Under the PNPs, Canada’s
provincial and territorial governments are able to nominate individuals to
reside in the province/territory as permanent residents in order to meet their
economic needs.
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Once you have created your profile under the federal Express Entry system,
you may receive an invitation to apply for permanent residence through the
federal government, or you may receive an invitation to apply for a provincial
nomination.

5. Have you previously studied or worked in Canada or doing so

now?
If you previously worked/studied or you are currently working/studying in
Canada, you have a path to becoming Canadian permanent residents via
the Canadian Experience Class and Quebec Experience Class programs.
For example, you get points if you or your spouse/partner completed at least
2 academic years of full-time study (in a program at least 2 years long) at a
secondary or post-secondary school in Canada. Full-time study means at
least 15 hours of classes per week. You must have stayed in good academic
standing (as set out by the school) during that time.
You may receive additional points if your spouse or partner did at least 1 year
of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit or while authorized to work
in Canada.
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6. Do you have a high net worth or significant financial resources?

The federal and Quebec governments operate a number of business investor
and entrepreneur immigration programs that offer excellent opportunities for
obtaining Canadian permanent resident status. In addition many provinces
offer business or investment streams under their Provincial Nominee
Programs that are available. Some of the popular ones include Canada Start-
up Visa Program and Quebec Immigrant Investor Program.

7. Do you own and/or manage a business?

Your business ownership or managerial experience may enhance your
eligibility for federal and provincial governments business investor and
entrepreneur immigration programs.

Step-by-step guides to immigrate to Canada

In the following sections we have simplified for you the steps that you need to
take to immigrate to Canada, using a 10-step guide. Follow the basic steps
below to get started.

Step 1 – Where to Live in Canada

It is important to decide about the best places to live in Canada based on your
personal needs. For instance, you need to determine if you want to move to a
family friendly province known for the best education systems and daycare
programs in the country or if you want to move to a Canadian province with
best economic factors like jobs.
As described earlier in Part 4 Canadian provinces also have their own
immigration programs (PNPs) that are designed to address their own unique
human labor needs. Some provinces focus on foreign IT workers while others
focus on healthcare workers. Getting nominated under any one of these
programs increases your chances of becoming a Canadian permanent
resident. See Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP).
The province of Quebec is primarily French-speaking and offers its own
immigration program that is tailored for candidates with high French-language
proficiency. Some PNPs also target French-speaking applicants, for
example Ontario and Nova Scotia PNPs.

Step 2 – Which Canada immigration programs are you eligible

for?
There are over 100 Canada immigration programs in multiple categories and
sub-categories. Each program, category and sub-category has its own unique
requirements that you need to meet before you should think about applying.
The first step is to be clear about why you want to immigrate to Canada. Ask
yourself the following questions. Do you want to come to Canada for work, to
be reunited with your family, to study as an international student, to get
access to a better lifestyle or any combination of these?

Step 3 – Pass eligibility requirements for the Canada immigration

program that you chose
It is important that you first assess your potential to meet the eligibility
requirements for the Canada immigration program that you are interested in.
This will not only safe you time but most importantly will help you to focus on
what you need to do to pass the eligibility requirements and be invited to apply
for Canadian permanent resident.

Step 4 – Gather all Important Documents

Failure to include all of the documents required for the Canada immigration
program that you have applied to will result in rejection or delay of your
application.
Most Canadian immigration programs ask for ID, passport or birth certificate,
medical exam results that are not older than a year, IELTS and TEF exam
results that are not older than two years, biometric records, ECA (Educational
Credential Assessment) and police clearance certificate.
See also proof of acceptance, proof of identity, proof of financial support, letter
of explanation, certificat d’acceptation du Québec (CAQ) and other
documents.

Step 5 – Complete IELTS and TEF Exams

As indicated in Step 3 above, language skills in French and English are a key
requirement in virtually all Canada immigration programs. Canada needs you
to prove that you can adapt, communicate and use local languages to
communicate with your community and the people you work with.
This will also increase your overall ranking scores on the CRS points
system and the likelihood to succeed in your application to immigrate to
Canada.
See IELTS and TEF tests for Canada immigration or visa.

Step 6 – Get your ECA education assessment

Education is a highly valued factor under the Canadian immigration points
system. You must get all of your certificates, degrees, diplomas, licenses and
qualifications verified by accredited organisations to prove that they meet
Canadian standards.
See information on where and how to get your foreign educational credential
assessment (ECA) done here: WES – World Education Services, ICES –
International Credential Evaluation Service, ICAS – International Credential
Assessment Service, IQAS – International Qualifications Assessment Service.

Step 7 – Do Your Medical Examination

A complete medical examination is required for all Canada immigration
programs that involve staying in Canada for more than six months.
NOTE: A medical exam cannot be performed by any doctor. Medical exams
will only be accepted if they are completed by a doctor who belongs in
Canada approved Panel Physicians.
The panel physician doesn’t make the final decision about your medical
exam. IRCC makes that decision. If there’s a problem with your medical
exam, IRCC contact you in writing.
See complete IRCC information on Canada immigration medical examination
requirements.

Step 8 – Get a Police Clearance Certificate

To immigrate to Canada you must have a clear criminal record check. To
demonstrate this, IRCC requires that you submit a police certificate.
IRCC has published information on how and where you can get a police
clearance certificate in your country. See IRCC: How to get a police certificate
– Immigration and citizenship.

Step 9 – Apply for Biometrics

Effective July 31, 2018 Canadian immigration law requires that international
students and graduates from Europe, the Middle East and Africa must submit
their biometrics (fingerprints and a facial recognition photo) with their
applications for visitor, study, and work visa, and for permanent resident
status in Canada. Applicants from Asia, Asia Pacific and the America will be
required to provide Biometrics identification starting December 31, 2018.
For VACs open for biometrics in India during the pandemic see Visa
Applications Centres in India reopen for biometrics appointments
For complete IRCC information please go to Find a Biometrics collection point
close to you.

Step 10 – Use a Canada immigration lawyer or agent

As you can see from the above steps, the Canadian immigration system is
complicated, and frequently changing. Errors can have devastating and costly
consequences for applicants, delaying your process or even causing rejected
claims.
Please visit Find Canada Immigration Lawyers.
Also read our “dos” and “don’ts” to ensure you get ethical lawyers and agents
and avoid scammers: Avoid Immigration Fraud and Scam; and Finding a
Good Canada Immigration Lawyer.