Belgian nationals do not require a visa in order to visit Canada for tourism purposes, much like many other nationalities. However, you must submit an application for an Electronic Travel Authorization before leaving. Things change when it comes to permanent immigration which is available through various channels and more than 100 programs.
If you have decided to immigrate to Canada from Belgium, our lawyers will help you.
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Options for relocation to Canada from Belgium
As a Belgian citizen, you can apply for a residence permit for Canada through several means. These usually include:
- employment;
- entrepreneurship;
- family reunion.
No matter the way you choose to move to Canada from Belgium, our immigration lawyer in Canada is at your disposal with a customized approach.
Immigrate to Canada from Belgium through employment
If you are a citizen of Belgium, you have a good chance of getting a job in Canada. It is common knowledge that immigrants from Belgium provide a wealth of expertise to the Canadian economy. The Belgian school system is well-reputed; thus its citizens have a good chance of finding employment in Canada.
For skilled worker immigration from Belgium to Canada, one must work in a profession included on the NOC List, which is quite extensive and can be provided by our local specialists.
The steps to complete in order to move to Canada from Belgium through employment implies:
- having a profession that is in demand and on the NOC List;
- filling out a Qualification Assessment;
- taking a language exam in English or French (from this point of view, Belgian citizens are advantaged by their French language knowledge);
- drafting a Canadian resume;
- submitting a profile for the Express Entry Stream;
- applying for the jobs matching one’s profile.
The entire process can be supervised by our Canadian immigration lawyers who can also help you draft the necessary documents for a successful application.
The Express Entry Program for Canada and how to move here from Belgium
With more than 80% of applications being processed in less than 6 months, Express Entry has established itself as a fast path to Canadian immigration. The entire procedure can be completed online, and it is simple to keep track of the application’s progress.
- Belgian citizens are invited to apply through one of four programs using the Express Entry system, which are:
- the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW) for people with more than a year of experience in a skilled job;
- the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for foreign workers seeking Canadian permanent residency who have obtained legal work experience in Canada;
- the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST) which is intended for people who have a skilled trades qualification.
Each program’s eligibility requirements are different, and it is possible to qualify for more than one.From the time you submit the application, it takes approximately 4-6 months to obtain a Canadian residence permit.
If you consider you meet the requirements to relocate to Canada from Belgium and need support, do not hesitate to get in touch with our immigration law firm. We can also help you apply for Canadian citizenship once you meet the conditions.
Do Belgian citizens move to Canada?
According to data gathered for several years, it appears that there is a great interest in immigration to Canada from Belgium. For example:
- the number of Belgian citizens moving to Canada registers an 11.66% annual growth;
- this growth is the equivalent of approximately 15,000 applications per year.
If you want to move to Canada from Belgium and need support, contact us. Our specialists will help you through the application procedure.
