Read on to find out how to immigrate to Canada from
Kenya as I will show you the different options through which Kenyans
can move to Canada.
The easiest and fastest way to move to Canada as a Kenyan is
to decide where you want to live in Canada and then apply for a visa program
that works for you.
Why are most Kenyans so successful in moving to Canada?
- Proficiency
in the English language, and French for others
- Higher
education among most Kenyans
Following are the top five most popular ways you can come to
Canada from Kenya!
1. Get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) through Express Entry
The Express
Entry system is the most common immigration pathway used by skilled
Kenyan workers who want to live and work in Canada.
The whole premise behind the Express
Entry system is that an applicant scores their highest points possible
on the Comprehensive
Ranking System (CRS). so as to get an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for
permanent residency in Canada.
How Can You Get an ITA from Kenya?
Express Entry applicants are compared against each other
through a bi-weekly draw based on their CRS score (maximum is 1,200) determined
using personal factors applicable to them such as age, years of work
experience, English and/or French language proficiency, provincial nomination
(or not), education level, etc.
Express entry candidates are sent ITAs based on the ranks
from the bi-weekly Express Entry draw rounds. Watch the video below for some
ways to improve your score:
How Long Does it Take to Process Express Entry
Applications?
Immigrating to Canada from Kenya through the Express Entry
pathway is one of the fastest ways to move to Canada from Kenya since the
application processing time can take as little as six months from when a
candidate receives an Invitation to Apply (ITA)!
2. Through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
With a provincial nomination, Kenyan nationals
can apply for permanent residency in Canada from Kenya, and settle in the
province that has nominated them.
How Does the Provincial Nomination Program Work?
Nomination of candidates by the respective provinces in
Canada is based on its economic needs or of its territory. I would however
advise you to do your research and find provinces with the best opportunities
for jobs in your line of work, and the city in which your skills are
mostly on demand before you start your application process.
For example, the The
Atlantic Immigration Pilot is exempt from the Labor Market Impact
Assessment (LMIA). This means, employers don’t have to get an LMIA to employ
you, and you can start working in Canada while your PR application is being
processed.
To be considered for a PNP, apply directly or send an
expression of interest to the province looking for a candidate with your skills
through your Express Entry profile.
3. Study in Canada to Qualify for a Post-Graduate Work
Permit (PGWP)
Having Canadian work experience plus Canadian education is
your almost sure bet getting permanent residency in Canada from Kenya.
Although getting an education in Canada through a student
visa does not directly lead to immigration to Canada, it is a first step
towards improve your chances as Canadian permanent residence post-graduation as
it significantly increases your CRS score.
Besides, if you undertake your studies from eligible Canadian designated
learning institutions (DLIs) in Canada and study a course that is
longer than eight months you may qualify for a Post-Graduate
Work Permit that allows you to to obtain an open work permit to gain
valuable Canadian work experience after your studies.
4. Work in Canada as a Farmworker or Caregiver
If you have been working in Canada in an eligible farming or
caregiving position then you can apply to move to Canada from Kenya through
the Agri-Food
Immigration Pilot and the Home
Care Provider Pilot.
Once you have one to two years of work experience in Canada
and a permanent job offer from your employer, you’re good to immigrate to
Canada as a PR from Kenya.
5. Obtain a Job Offer from a Designated Employer through
the Atlantic
Immigration Pilot (AIP) Program
You can also apply to move to Canada from Kenya through
the Atlantic
Immigration Pilot (AIP) is an employer-driven program that you can
apply for to move to Canada from Nigeria and and settle in one of the Atlantic
provinces of Canada, i.e.: New
Brunswick, Newfoundland,
and Labrador, Nova
Scotia, and Prince
Edward Island.
With a job offer from a designated employer
in one of the provinces in Atlantic Canada, you can migrate to Canada from
Kenya.
Below is a list of designated employers below from each of
the provinces:
- Prince
Edward Island;
- Newfoundland
and Labrador;
- Nova
Scotia; and
- New
Brunswick.
How Much Does it Cost to Immigrate to Canada from Kenya?
- The
permanent resident federal processing fee: $1,325.
- Settlement
funds (if you don’t have a job offer in Canada): Minimum $12,960
as a single applicant
- Additional
costs per dependent family member (even if they don’t move to Canada with
you): $3,492
- Express
entry visa processing fee: $825 + $225 per
dependent child accompanying you to Canada
- Right
of permanent resident fee: $500 per adult applicant