Immigration to Canada: the new increased immigrants level for 2022-2023; the list of approved COVID-19 vaccines expanded

Immigration to Canada just got a lot easier!

VERBALISTS EDUCATION news – We keep you informed on your education journey!

24-NOV-2021 | Canada is to dramatically increase immigration to boost its economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic by welcoming more than 1.2 million newcomers over the next 3 years. Canada has been increasing its immigration levels since the late 1980s to grow its rate of population, labor force, and economic growth.

Each year, the federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases a new Immigration Levels Plan which it uses to guide its operations. In 2021, IRCC will target the arrival of 401,000 immigrants. In 2022, this will rise to 411,000 new permanent residents (PRs), while in 2023, Canada will aim to welcome an additional 421,000 immigrants.

In a bid to ensure the new arrivals spur Canada’s recovery, the majority of the newcomers will be welcomed through Canada’s Economic Class, which includes the popular and successful Express Entry system. The Express Entry System is a merit based permanent residence program which ranks candidates based on factors such as education, English or French language skills, work experience, and age. Additional factors include Canadian education or work experience, family in Canada, or a job offer. The Express Entry System is meant to attract the best and brightest applicants from around the world to fulfill Canadian labor needs. It is interesting to note that many American citizens are also exploring options to move North in order to escape the tense political climate in the U.S.

In addition to Express Entry, another pathway to permanent residence in Canada is through a study permit. Studying in Canada allows applicants, who might not otherwise be eligible for permanent residence, to gain Canadian education and work experience (through a post-graduate work permit) to strengthen their permanent residence application. The Canadian public education system and its universities offer high quality education. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021 ranked 30 Canadian institutions among the best in the world, with the University of Toronto and University of British Columbia ranking highest.

Canada expands the list of approved COVID-19 vaccines for travel

Starting November 30, the Government of Canada will be accepting Covaxin, Sinopharm, and Sinovac as approved vaccines for entry into Canada.

Along with Pfizer (Comirnaty), Moderna (Spikevax), and Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) vaccines, travellers are considered fully vaccinated if they have received at least two doses of an approved vaccine and have received their shots 14 days before travelling. Travelers are also considered fully vaccinated if they have received at least one shot of the Janssen vaccine or have a mix of at least two of the approved vaccines. Fully vaccinated travelers do not have to quarantine. 

Further to the above updates the government of Canada announced that as of January 15, 2022, international students who are 18 years and older will only be allowed to enter Canada if they are fully vaccinated with one of the approved vaccines. After this measure comes into effect, unvaccinated travelers or travelers who do not fall under an exemption will be prohibited from entering Canada. 

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PRODIREKT, a leading academic advising and student recruiting group, which owns the Verbalists Education & Language Network, has seen about a 30% increase in the 2021 study abroad assignments for Canada compared with 2019 (the pre-pandemic time). If you are looking to enter an undergraduate, diploma, or Master’s or PhD program in Canada, contact us here. PRODIREKT academic advisors will help you choose the right program, and then guide you, step-by-step, through the application process and make sure you understand the requirements of entry and help resolve any issues along the way.