There are various programs enabling foreign citizens to migrate to Canada from any corner of the world. This is also the case of citizens of South Africa interested in moving to Canada for employment or business purposes. They have several options through which they can choose the province they want to relocate to, or simply go for federal programs which give them the chance to move anywhere in the country.
If you want to immigrate to Canada from South Africa, our lawyers are at your service with information and assistance in entering the program you are interested in. You can rely on our immigration lawyer in Canada for guidance in preparing the necessary documents for relocation. We can also assist if you want to obtain Canadian citizenship.
Table of Contents
South African citizens immigrating to Canada
Canada has a great education system that attracts thousands of students every year and South African citizens are among them. The main advantage of moving here as a student is a chance of coming into contact with the Canadian lifestyle and even the work market as a young person and getting used to them much faster. Also, being formed in a local education facility will prepare foreign students who want to live here for long periods for the conditions to apply here.
A great aspect about immigrating to Canada from South Africa as a student is that one doesn’t even need a visa if the period of stay is less than 6 months, however, for longer stays it becomes mandatory. Our lawyers recommend applying for such a visa for several reasons. Among these:
- students deciding to prolong their stays will need to apply for this visa;
- studying in Canada for at least one year will open the door to several entrepreneurial programs offered by certain Canadian provinces (Alberta is one of those provinces).
The student visa is issued based on an acceptance letter from a Canadian faculty or university and is quite easy to obtain.
Among the main benefits of entering Canada from South Africa based on a student visa is that immigrants can work here on the campus of the schools they are enrolled in. Work visas are easier to obtain after terminating studies here, therefore the adjustment to the Canadian labor market is simpler.
Our immigration law firm in Canada can advise foreign students who want to apply for such visas.
Temporary and permanent relocation to Canada from South Africa
One of the great things about moving to Canada from South Africa or any other country is that a foreign citizen can apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit directly. The decision depends on the reason for the applicant.
Canada has special programs for both temporary residents, but also for those who plan to become Canadian citizens and for whom permanent residence is more appropriate.
The following temporary residence permits are available for those who want to relocate from South Africa to Canada:
- student visas,
- SWAP (Student Work Abroad) Programs,
- temporary work permits,
- intra-company transfer visas.
An important aspect to consider under SWAP schemes is in the case of South African citizens, only those aged between 18 and 30 can participate. The visas issued in this case have a validity of 12 months and can be renewed once. During their stay in Canada, South African nationals must also be enrolled in the courses of local educational institutions.
For those who want to move to Canada permanently, the main visas are available under specific programs. These are:
- the Express Entry Visa,
- the Provincial Nominee Programs,
- the Business Immigration Scheme,
- the Family/Spousal Sponsorship Act.
Should you decide on any of the programs above, you can rely on our Canada immigration law firm for guidance in applying for temporary or permanent residency.
Special programs for those who want to immigrate to Canada from South Africa
Foreigners who want to immigrate to Canada from South Africa have several schemes through which they can relocate here on a temporary or permanent basis. Enrolling in one of these programs depends on the education and/or work and business experience of the applicant. There are also visas that enable immigration to Canada based on family reunification, however, applicants must have relatives already living here who can sponsor them.
Returning to the programs which enable an easy process for those who want to relocate from South Africa to Canada, the following can be considered:
- the Federal Skilled Worker Scheme which enables an applicant to move anywhere in the country;
- the Canada Experience Class Scheme, which is another program created for those who move to Canada for employment reasons;
- the Provincial Express Entry Categories Scheme which enables a South African citizen to move to specific provinces in Canada;
- Business Immigration schemes which are created by each province through their local governments.
No matter the selected program, those who immigrate to Canada from South Africa must also pass the point score assessment. This can be completed directly on the internet. Detailed information on this assessment can be provided by our immigration lawyers in Canada.
Immigrate to Canada from South Africa under work programs
One of the ways through which a South African citizen can easily migrate and also integrate into the local community in Canada is through employment. Considering Canada requires a lot of workers which is why the government has enabled most of its special programs in order to bring labor force from abroad, this is also a suitable option for South African nationals.
There are two categories of work permits that can be obtained when relocating to Canada, no matter the program one enrolls in. These are the open work permit and the restricted labor visa. Based on the qualifications of the applicant, any of the two types of residence visas can be applied for.
An important thing to consider when seeking to immigrate to Canada from South Africa is that this country requires mostly highly skilled migrants which is why the most appreciated programs are the:
- the Federal Skilled Worker Scheme;
- the Provincial Express Entry Categories Scheme.
- the Canada Experience Class Scheme;
These are all gathered together under the Express Entry Program which is one of the most advanced in the world thanks to the rapidity the visa can be obtained.
Canada offers plenty of business opportunities and work possibilities and the fact that South African citizens are also English speakers will definitely help them with the scoring test when applying for a residence permit for Canada.
One of the most popular options for those who apply for a residence visa is the Quebec skilled workers immigration program which can be explained by our immigration lawyer in Canada.
How to immigrate to Canada from South Africa under the Federal Skilled Work Scheme
The Federal Skilled Work Program is one of the most employed pathways by foreign citizens. It can also be used by South African citizens who meet certain requirements. Among these, it is mandatory for them to have a high school or higher education diploma and who obtain at least 67 points at the Federal Skilled Worker Points System. English or French is also a mandatory condition to be issued an employment pass under this scheme.
Other conditions to be met refer to having at least one year of experience in a full-time position that meets the 0, A, or B job codes in the National Occupation Classification. Also, applicants must also have sufficient funds to sustain themselves and their family members until they start working and earn from their Canadian jobs.
There are various aspects to consider when choosing to apply for a work visa under any of the programs created by the government, which is why it is recommended to ask for specialized advice. Our Canadian immigration lawyers will explain in detail what every requirement of the Federal Skilled Work Program implies and will check if you meet the eligibility criteria. They can also come up with other proposals that match your immigration requests in order to increase your chances of moving here.
Relocate to Canada from South Africa as an entrepreneur
South African citizens who have experience in running a business can qualify for federal or provincial entrepreneurship programs, other than the Start-up Visa.
The main requirements to enter such programs are related to:
- the experience in conducting a business;
- the amount of money the entrepreneur is willing to invest;
- the personal net worth.
The main advantage of provincial programs is that they are created to meet the development requirements of the respective provinces which why there are numerous options suited to the goals of investors.
Among the most sought provincial entrepreneur streams are the ones created by Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. These present multiple possibilities for young entrepreneurs in which many South African citizens can enroll.
If you are interested in a specific program, do not hesitate to ask for information from our Canadian immigration law firm.
Business immigration in Canada
Canada is one of the largest economies in the world which is why it attracts many foreign investors who can enter the country under specific programs. One of the most recent ones which can also be accessed by South African citizens is the Start-up Visa. However, it should be noted that almost every province in Canada has its own specific business-related immigration schemes under which foreign nationals can start new businesses or buy existing ones.
These programs are conditioned by a specific amount of money that needs to be injected into the selected project. If you need information on the main investor visas under which you can immigrate to Canada from South Africa, our lawyers can offer detailed information based on which you can make a decision.
The point-based scoring system when moving to Canada from South Africa
The language level, the education degree, and work experience are the most relevant and offer the largest number of points when seeking to move to Canada as a South African citizen. The minimum number of points that need to be obtained is 67 out of a total of 100.
The number of points can be increased if a foreign person immigrates with family members – spouse and children. However, the qualifications of the spouse will also be taken into account, as well as the number of children the family has.
Immigration to Canada from South Africa is not complicated no matter the type of visa sought by the applicant and our lawyers are art your service for complete information on how to maximize your chances.
Documents to prepare for immigration to Canada from South Africa
The list of documents that need to be prepared by those who immigrate to Canada from South Africa depends on the type of visa requested. Apart from the passport which must have a minimum validity of 6 months at the time of the application, one must also prepare other papers such as information about the work experience, educational background, and other relevant documents according to the program enrolled in.
When immigrating to Canada with family members, their papers also need to be processed. Also, when moving to Canada under the Family Class Immigration Scheme, the relatives here must provide information about their financial status and possibility to support the South African immigrants.
The language test and the assessment completed under the point score system are also necessary.
Those who immigrate to Canada from South Africa as entrepreneurs can be asked for proof of financial standing and investment.
You don’t need to worry about the documents you need to prepare for immigration to Canada, as our lawyers can offer extensive advice and review all documents in order to ensure a successful application for a residence permit in Canada.
What is the easiest way to immigrate to Canada from South Africa?
Canada offers equal opportunities to persons from every country of the world who want to move here. This is also the case of South African citizens who can apply for immigration to Canada under any of the programs enabled by the government.
Those who are not sure about the scheme suiting them best can rely on our immigration lawyer in Canada who can review the case and make one or more proposals.
For those who are not sure if permanent residence is suitable for them, there is also the possibility of temporary residence, including through student visas.
It is a known fact that in Canada both French and English are official languages which for South African citizens can be a plus given the fact that English is widely spoken in South Africa, therefore, they can score more points when taking the language test.
The residence permit in Canada can be obtained through various means, as explained by our lawyers. We invite you to watch our video below:
Top 5 reasons to immigrate to Canada from South Africa
There are many reasons why you should choose to immigrate to Canada not only from South Africa but from any other corner of the world. Below, we decided to present the 5 most important ones:
- Canada is one of the safest countries in the world which also means economic stability a great life.
- Canada has numerous expat communities which is why it is likely to find many citizens from your own country living here.
- It was voted the best country to study in thanks to its education system – this is a good reason to apply for a student visa.
- Canada welcomes citizens from all over the world, the proof is the number of immigration programs.
- Stability and good earnings are two of the dreams that can come true when choosing to migrate to Canada.
Statistics on South Africans living in Canada
Those who want to immigrate to Canada from South Africa will benefit from the support of an important community, as according to VisaPlace.com:
- between 2001 and 2011 the South African community in Canada increased by 15.9%;
- the number of South African citizens in this period was 40,550 individuals;
- between 2006 and 2015, the number of South African permanent residents reached 11,265 persons;
- Toronto and Vancouver host the largest communities of South Africans with more than 13,000, respectively 8,000 citizens.
If you want to immigrate to Canada from South Africa and need assistance, please contact us. Do not hesitate to request details on how to apply for Canadian citizneship.
