Immigrate to Canada as a Secretary – Full guide
If you have been wondering if you could immigrate to Canada as a secretary? The answer is a resounding YES!Â
As one of the world’s largest economies, Canada needs workers to maintain its standards, thereby providing employment opportunities for qualified workers around the world who want to move to Canada.Â
So, as a qualified secretary, you can start a new life as a worker and resident in Canada. Do not be alarmed, we are here to show you how.Â
In this article, you will learn about what secretaries do, the requirements for them to work in Canada, the pathways they can use to immigrate to Canada, and the necessary steps they can take to immigrate to Canada as a secretary.Â
Secretary Job Definition
Administrative assistants perform a variety of administrative duties in support of managerial and professional employers.Â
They are employed throughout the private and public sectors. The NOC code for administrative assistant of which a secretary is a part of is 1241.
Main duties of a Secretary
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Prepare, key in, edit and proofread correspondence, invoices, presentations, brochures, publications, reports, and related material from machine dictation and handwritten copy.Â
- Open and distribute incoming regular and electronic mail and other material and coordinate the flow of information internally and with other departments and organizations.Â
- Schedule and confirm appointments and meetings of the employer.Â
- Order office supplies and maintain inventory.Â
- Answer telephone and electronic inquiries and relay telephone calls and messages.Â
- Establishment and maintenance of manual and computerized information filing systems.Â
- Define and set up government procedures.Â
- Say hello to your visitors, identify the nature of your business, and introduce them to your employer or the right person.Â
- Preparation and preparation of meeting minutes.Â
- Plan and book your trip.Â
- You can edit data, statistics, and other information to support your research activities.Â
- Can supervise and train office staff on current software procedures and usage.Â
- Meetings can be held by you.
Examples of jobs under Secretary
- administrative assistant
- administrative assistant – office
- administrative secretary
- appointment secretary
- church secretary
- contracts secretary
- executive secretary (except legal and medical)
- finance secretary
- human resources secretary
- loans and grants administrative assistant
- office administrative assistant
- personal secretary
- private secretary
- recording secretary
- sales secretary
- school secretary
- secretary (except legal and medical)
- secretary-clerk
- taxation service secretary
- technical secretary
Requirements to work in Canada as a Secretary
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a one- or two-year college or other programs for administrative assistants or secretaries
- or
- Previous clerical experience is required.
Inclusion under Secretary
- secretary-clerk
Exclusions of jobs under Secretary
- Court reporters, medical transcriptionists, and related occupationsÂ
- Executive assistantsÂ
- Legal administrative assistantsÂ
- Medical administrative assistantsÂ
- Office managersÂ
Requirements to Immigrate to Canada as a Secretary
Various requirements must be met to immigrate to Canada as a secretary. We will be listing some of them here.
General Requirements
The following are the general requirements to work in Canada, therefore to immigrate to Canada as a secretary, you must meet the following requirements. They are:
- Language requirements
- Age requirements
- Education requirements
- Arranged employment/job offer
- Adaptability
- Work experience
1. Language requirements
All Canadian immigrants need to learn English. Without it, you wouldn’t be able to work in Canada. Therefore, as a Canadian secretary, you need to show that you are fluent in English.
To get this, you can take an internationally recognized exam. Some of them include IELTS, TOEFL, and Duolingo.
2. Age requirements
The age required to work in Canada is between 18 and 65 years. Therefore, you must be at least between the ages of 18 and 65 before moving to Canada as a secretary.
3. Education requirements
You must have completed secondary or higher education before you can move to Canada. However, certain professions require college or university education.Â
Therefore, to be accepted in Canada as a secretary, you must consider the job-specific education requirements for your work.
4. Arranged employment/job offer
Arranging or being offered a job in Canada simplifies your immigration procedures. But before you can get a job, you must meet the requirements of the job.
5. Adaptability
Another requirement for immigrating to Canada as a secretary is the need to demonstrate adaptability in Canada.Â
To do this, you need to provide medical evidence that you can adapt to Canadian weather and work culture.
6. Work experience
Your work experience will greatly help you to move to Canada as a secretary.Â
So, if you are dreaming of moving to Canada, you can take advantage of your work experience.
Specific requirements
There are some specific requirements you must meet if you want to immigrate to Canada as a secretary. The specific requirements include:
- Completion of secondary school is usually required.
- Completion of a one- or two-year college or other programs for administrative assistants or secretaries
- or
- Previous clerical experience is required.
Pathways to immigrate to Canada as a Secretary
There are many programs to use to immigrate to Canada as a secretary. They include:
- Express entry
- Provincial Nominee Programs
- In-Demand occupations
1. Express entry
This is one of the easiest ways to move to Canada as a secretary. Therefore, you can choose one of these express entry programs.Â
However, before deciding on a program, you must meet the requirements to participate in it. Express Entry has three programs. They are:
- Canada experience class
- A federal skilled worker program
- Federal skilled trades program
2. Provincial Nominee Program
Except for the Express Entry System, you can still go through the state nominee program. This program can be held in any state of Canada.Â
Therefore, if you want to live in a particular state, you need to enroll in a program sponsored by that state. However, before you can use a particular program, you must meet the requirements of that program.
3. In-demand jobs
In-demand jobs in Canada are where employers encourage foreign workers to fill vacant seats. Therefore, if you meet the requirements for such a job, you can apply for a position as a paid job.
Steps to Immigrate to Canada as a Secretary
Before immigrating to Canada as a secretary, you must follow these steps below:
Step 1. Open an express entry account
This is the first step towards moving to Canada as a secretary. You need to open an account with IRCC.Â
This is known as the Express Entry Profile. Without this account, you will not be able to receive the latest information from IRCC. Therefore, you need an express entry profile.
Step 2. Choose a program
The second step after creating the profile is to select the program you want to use. This is very important as the program you choose will determine if you will succeed.Â
Investigate all the requirements before choosing a program. The programs include :
- Canada Experience Class
- Federal skilled trade program
- A federal skilled worker program
- Provincial Nominee programs
- Quebec Experience Class
- Quebec skilled worker program
Step 3. Find a job in Canada
If it is possible, get yourself a job. This job will help you to immigrate to Canada easily. Finding a job is another way of making sure that your immigration process works out smoothly.
Step 4. Receive an invitation to apply
The next step is to receive an invitation from IRCC to apply. However, this depends on the score of the overall ranking system over there. If you do not receive the invitation, it means that you are not eligible.
Step 5. Submit your application with supporting documents
Once you receive an invitation to apply, then you have limited time to send a reply. Therefore, you need to make sure that your application and support documentation is ready.Â
This is because it only takes 60 days to submit this application. You will also have to pay an application fee of CAD150.
Step 6. Get your work permit
The next step after applying is a response from the IRCC within 28 days.Â
However, this answer does not mean that you will get a work permit immediately. This is because you cannot get a permit until you arrive in Canada.
Step 7: Welcome to Canada
Finally, the last step is arriving in Canada. This is the stage where you get your work permit.Â
Therefore, do not forget to collect your work permit from the immigration officer at the Canadian port of entry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it possible for me to work as a secretary in Canada?
Yes, you certainly can! Secretaries are eligible to move to Canada under code 1241 on the Canadian NOC List.
What is the NOC code for a secretary in Canada?
The NOC code for secretary in Canada is 1241.
Do I need a work permit?
A work permit is required for temporary residents who wish to work while in Canada.Â
Permanent residents and citizens do not need a work permit as their status allows them to work. Students who want to work off-campus need a work permit.
What is Permanent Residency?
Permanent residence is a Canadian immigrant status, and immigrants can live and work in Canada for as long as they wish.
Permanent residents are free to move around the state, study without permission, and be left abroad with a PR card in Canada.
Conclusion
We hope that the information about immigrants to Canada will help you as a secretary. We also hope that your trip to Canada will not be complicated anytime soon.
Many secretaries have emigrated to Canada in recent years, but at both national and local levels, secretaries are still in great demand throughout Canada.