Immigrate to Canada from India
Each year, more than 120,000 people from India become permanent residents in Canada, making it one of the countries with a very large Indian community. If you are from India and planning to move to Canada, you can explore the available immigration pathways on this page.
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Overview: Why people from India choose to immigrate to Canada
Canada is a popular destination for Indian nationals due to strong job prospects across many fields where Indian professionals are often active, such as information and communication technology (ICT), healthcare, engineering, and other science-based industries.
In addition to career opportunities, Canada is known for its political stability, safety, strong economy, high-quality healthcare system, and globally respected education system.
Today, over a million people of Indian origin live in Canada, and the community continues to expand each year. Around 120,000 Indian citizens are granted permanent residency annually, with most arriving through skilled economic immigration pathways. As Canada maintains high immigration targets, the Indian community in the country is expected to grow further.
How can you move from India to Canada?
Many Indian applicants are well-positioned to qualify for Canadian immigration programs due to strong education levels, English proficiency, and relevant work experience.
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
One of the main pathways for skilled workers is the Federal Skilled Worker Program. It is designed for individuals who have foreign work experience and do not necessarily need a Canadian job offer or prior connection to Canada.
Applicants are assessed based on their ability to contribute economically in Canada, considering factors like education, work history, language skills, and adaptability.
To qualify, candidates generally need:
- At least one year of continuous full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience within the last 10 years, in occupations classified under National Occupational Classification (NOC) (TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3
- Language ability equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 or higher in English or French across reading, writing, speaking, and listening
- A Canadian educational credential or a foreign qualification supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
Applicants must also score at least 67 points under the selection criteria and show sufficient financial resources to support settlement in Canada.
What happens if you qualify for FSWP?
FSWP is managed through Canada’s Express Entry system.
Once eligible, candidates create an Express Entry profile with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). They are then ranked using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), which considers factors like age, education, work experience, and language ability.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) conducts Express Entry draws approximately every two weeks, issuing Invitations to Apply (ITAs) to the highest-ranked candidates in the pool.
Once an application is submitted, IRCC generally aims to process Express Entry permanent residence applications within about six months, making it one of the faster immigration pathways.
The system is designed to support Canada’s annual immigration goals, with a target of welcoming over 110,000 permanent residents through Express Entry each year. Because of its structured selection process and relatively quick processing times, Express Entry is considered one of the most efficient options for skilled economic immigrants seeking permanent residence in Canada.
Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Another major route is the Provincial Nominee Program. Canada’s provinces and territories operate their own immigration streams based on local labour market needs and population goals.
Through the PNP, provinces can select skilled workers who match their economic requirements and nominate them for permanent residency.
Applicants can either apply directly to a provincial program or be selected from the Express Entry pool. If a candidate receives a nomination through an Express Entry-linked stream, they are awarded an additional 600 CRS points, which almost guarantees an invitation to apply for permanent residence.
