Immigrate to Canada from Estonia – How to Apply

If you are an Estonian who wants to immigrate to Canada from Estonia, it is not surprising. However, there are a few conditions you will have to meet before you can successfully immigrate to Canada. Never mind, the conditions are not something beyond you. Just as other nationals, you need to become a permanent resident of Canada to enjoy the full benefits of living in the country. After having the permanent residence for at least five years, you can apply for your citizenship.

That is by the side, to immigrate to Canada from Estonia, you need to understand the application requirements, costs and pathways. Then, you can make your decisions whether to go or to upgrade your profile to meet the requirements first. Whatever the case may be, this comprehensive guide will help you achieve your mission. Keep reading!

Pathways to immigrate to Canada from Estonia

Technically, the ways to immigrate to Canada from Estonia is just the same as other countries. This means that it does not matter where you are applying from, you will get the same treatment as people applying from other countries get.

Also, each of the routes has its eligibility which you must meet. It will equally require that you fill out forms and apply through the IRCC (Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada). For that reason, we have compiled a few pathways to immigrate to Canada, their requirements and costs. Here they are!

1. Receiving a Permanent Job

Some programs may not need a visa to Canada but a work permit is compulsory of you must spend more than six months in the country. That means, immigrating to Canada using a work permit equally implies that you must have a job offer from a Canadian employer. Your employer must also have an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). This proves mainly that his company is approved by the Canadian government. Other requirements are more generic and they will appear on other pathways.

Also, having a work permit does not mean you will live for as long as you want in Canada. It primarily specifies that you can work for up to four years, with some extensions. without a doubt, it is temporary and do not guarantee you a permanent stay in Canada. but having a work permit and working for the duration it allows you is a way to gain work experience. With the experience, you can be considered a skilled worker and proceed to apply for your permanent residence.

2. Business Immigration

This immigration pathway is available to Estonians who have and can manage businesses. The business immigration program will offer great opportunities to Estonian citizens who try to immigrate and build a business in Canada.

You can apply for your permanent residence by migrating through a federal or provincial business immigration program. Majorly, you must plan to be self-employed or start up a business in Canada to qualify under the federal government business immigration program.

additionally, some provinces have set up their own business immigration with the same features as that of the federal government. Here, you must be interested in starting up a business in any of the provinces. To be eligible for either of them, you must have a significant investment in a company you intend to work with. Although the investment is up to the tune of $300,000, some less-populated provinces may require less.

You must prove that you have:

• a qualifying business.
• a support letter from a designated organization. A designated organization is one that offers sponsorship and support to businesses in Canada.
• enough funds to cover for your stay until you start earning from your business.

If you qualify for Canadian business immigration, you will need to submit all the required documents and completed forms during your application.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for Business Immigration Program?

If you qualify under this program, it is important you meet the specific conditions. That is, you must:

• have a qualifying business.
• have a support letter from a designated organization.
• meet the language requirements.
• have sufficient funds.

How do I apply for Canada Business Immigration Program?

The first step to immigrate to Canada from Estonia through a business immigration program is to confirm your eligibility and be sure you meet the standard. Then, you can start the application. Basically, you can do so by filling the necessary forms, and collecting the documents for your application.

Further to that, you will need to compile and validate the document file. After that, you can print and sign them. Some of the documents include:

• Copies of travel documents/passport.
• Proof of language proficiency test.
• Letter of Support from your Designated Organization.
• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificate or divorce/annulment certificate. (If appropriate)
• National IDs or family or household registry/book. (If appropriate)
• Police Certificates and Clearances.
• Photographs.
• Fee receipts.

3. Family Sponsorship

If you are living in Canada and have a spouse, common-law partner or conjugal partner living in Estonia and you would like to bring them, together with your dependents and theirs, you have the backing of the Canadian law to do so. For that reason, Canada set up a program, called Family Sponsorship where you can apply to bring your family to Canada. However, you must meet some conditions specific to this program before you can bring your family to Canada. First, you must be up to 18 years. Then, you must have a clean criminal record, are financially able to satisfy financial requirements, and other conditions.

Further to that, you must prove your marital relationship with your wife. But if you are not married or are in a conjugal or common-law partnership, you must show proof that you have lived together for a precise period. Precisely, this proof could be in form of a shared property or bills, address, and other common features.

Who can I sponsor to Canada?

These are the list of people you can sponsor to Canada:

• Spouse, common law partner or child(ren)
• Parent or grandparent
• Other relatives

What is the eligibility to become a Sponsor for my Family Members?

You can become a sponsor in Canada if you meet the following criteria. So, you must be:

• 18 years.
• a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
• continue to live in Canada after the people you sponsor become residents.
• enough financial income to provide for the people you are sponsoring.
• not receive social assistance to take care of them, except in a case of disability.
• have no criminal record.
• not have a Removal Order.

How do I apply for Family Sponsorship to Canada?

If you are sponsoring a parent or grandparent to Canada, you are to first, submit the Interest to Sponsor form. Then, you can wait to be invited to apply. Again, the next step is to apply and that must be within 60 days. However, this is not applicable to other family members.

Typically, the application for family sponsorship to Canada has two parts. That is;

• you (the sponsor) have to apply for family sponsorship for your family member
• our family member has to apply for Permanent Residence in Canada

You are to submit both applications at once. There is equally a required fees, such as application fees and biometric information fees.

Additionally, to sponsor a relative to immigrate to Canada from Estonia, on average, costs about $1,135. If you reside or intend to reside in Quebec, it will incur additional fees.

4. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP)

Another method to swiftly immigrate to Canada from Estonia is by applying via the PNP. Generally, the program is a way the Canadian government encourages its provinces to select those they think can be useful in contributing to building the economy of the specific province. As such, any of the Canadian provinces can nominate candidates that they consider as fit to move to that particular province.

These provinces are:

• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Overall, if you intend to live and work in any of them, you can apply for a nomination from your choice province. You may likewise contact the province directly or through the express of interest in the Express Entry system. At this point, if the province nominates you, you have great chances of receiving an invitation to apply (ITA) for permanent residence in Canada. However, in some provinces, you do not need to apply through the Express Entry system. All you need is to apply to the province directly after knowing their eligibility requirements.

How do I apply for the Provincial Nominee Program?

Different provinces of Canada have their specific requirements. So, before applying to immigrate to any of them, you will have to visit their official website and see their requirements. If you meet them, you can then, apply. You can find a list of all the Canadian Provinces and links to their contacts in IRCC’s PNP.

Again, if you apply to a particular province, they will assess you based on their point system. If you meet their criteria, they will send you a nomination letter. You will then, submit a paper application for permanent residence to IRCC. Instructively, you have to understand that this process does not take place as fast as the Express Entry system.

On the other hand, if you are applying through the Express Entry system, you can do that in two ways. The first method is generally by contacting the province of your choice through the Express Entry streams. If you receive nomination, you can update your Express Entry profile as proof of the nomination.

Besides, the other method is by contacting the province or territory through the Express Entry system. Thus, the province will send you a notification of interest and then, you can contact them. When that happens, you can apply to their express Entry stream. Also, they will send a nomination letter to your account for you to accept it.

In either of the two Express Entry methods, you will receive 600 points that will be added to your CRS score. With the 600 points, you will likely receive an invitation to apply in the next Express Entry draw. Then, you can apply for your permanent residence.

What are the Requirements for the PNP?

If you want to apply for a PNP, here are some of the documents you will need to provide:

• Copies of travel documents and passports.
• Confirmation of nomination from your province.
• Proof of language proficiency.
• Birth certificates.
• Marriage certificate/divorce or annulment certificate, if applicable
• Death certificate for former spouse/common-law partner, if applicable.
• National IDs or family or household registry/book.
• Police Certificates and Clearances.
• Photographs according to Canada’s photo requirements.
• PNP fee receipts.

The cost of immigrating to Canada through a PNP is usually the same as Express Entry. However, in some cases, there are some additional fees, according to the province. Also, some provinces do not charge application processing fee, but Ontario and others charge around $1,500. However, the Express Entry application fee is $2,300 for a single applicant and $4,500 for a couple.

Express Entry System

This is the fastest immigration program for you if you want to immigrate to Canada from Estonia. The Express Entry system is an electronic, point-based system that requires an easy process. It favours mostly experienced and skilled workers. Here, you have to create a profile, detailing your skills, education, age, employment history, medical record, and more. Based on that, you can earn some points through the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). With a higher score, you have better chances of receiving an invitation to apply for Canadian permanent residence.

What are the requirements for the Express Entry Program?

The Express Entry system has its peculiar requirements you must meet. These requirements determine if you will make it to the point of receiving an ITA. You can visit the Government of Canada website here to answer such questions that focus on your:

• Nationality
• Age
• Education
• Work experience
• Language skills
• Family members
• Details on a job offer in Canada, if any

You can as well check your eligibility here.

The answer you supply will be used to base your points using a CRS calculator. You must meet a minimum of 67 points out of 100 to qualify for your application for the program. Typically, when you are done answering the questions, the website will generate a code for you. Thus, you can use it to start creating your Express Entry profile.

In addition, there are three streams under the Express Entry system and they are:

• Federal Skilled Worker Program
• Federal Skilled Trades Program
• Canadian Experience Class

How do I apply for the Canada Express Entry Program?

Follow the steps below to apply for an Express Entry system

1. Gather your supporting documents

The following list includes your supporting documents. You must put them together if you have not done so.

• A valid passport of travel document
• English or French language test results
• Education Credential Assessment (ECA) Report
• Job offer letter from a Canadian employer (not compulsory)
• Police certificates as proof of having a clean criminal record
• Medical examination
• Proof of funds

2.     Submit your profile

Officially, your profile is an indication that you are ready to immigrate to Canada from Estonia. Again, this involves opening an account on the website of IRCC. You will equally enter the code you generated from the questionnaire. Next is that you will fill out your details about your supporting documents. No doubt, you have 60 days to do all this. Hence, if after 60 days and you are not ready, you will be disqualified.

At this point, you will join a pool of other applicants, waiting to be invited to apply for their permanent residence. Again, you will be ranked against other applicants based on your documents above, using the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS).

3.     Get invited to apply

Precisely, if you have more CRS points, you will receive an invitation to apply, together with other highest scorers. At this point, if you applied through a province, you will also be invited to apply to reside permanently at the province. You must likewise accept the invitation or refuse it if it did not favour your choice.

4.     Apply for permanent residence

You will receive some forms from the government of Canada to enable you apply and submit for your permanent residence. You will equally submit your supporting documents and pay the accompanying fees. Remember, each program has its fees. By and large, you will only have 60 days to finish up this process and make important changes, if any.

Additionally, the application may stay for around 6 months to give the Canadian government ample time to weigh and process your application. What’s more, if they approve or reject it, they will notify you for that. If it is positive, you can start your journey to Canada. if not, you can apply again.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fastest pathway to immigrate to Canada from Estonia?

The Express Entry system is the fastest way of immigrating to Canada. it takes approximately six months to process.

What is the age group to immigrate to Canada from Estonia?

Although there is no specific age to immigrate to Canada, most applicants are accepted between 25 and 35 years. This is because the age group is more viable and active. Just so you know, some programs do not accept applications based on any age limit.

Is it easy to immigrate to Canada from Estonia?

There is no particular answer to this question. the reason is that the pathway you choose to immigrate to Canada from Estonia will decide how long the process will take.

Do I need a job offer to immigrate to Canada from Estonia?

Not in every case. Most programs do not require a job offer. However, if you have one, it will be an advantage to you.

Conclusion

We have simplified five of the major pathways to immigrate to Canada from Estonia. Check your eligibility for each of them and make your choice.