Immigrate to Canada from Portugal – 5 Pathways, Requirements, Time
Join thousands of Portuguese like yourself to Immigrate to Canada from Portugal. Yes! it is absolutely easy and we’re here to show you how.
Do you know that Portuguese nationals who wish to immigrate to Canada and become permanent residents or Canadian citizens can apply to relocate to Canada as workers, students, business experts or even supported by family relations?
Now you know. and needless to say, this is your chance. You can immigrate to Canada from Portugal if you follow the simple steps we will provide for you in this article. Keep in mind that application processing times and costs, however, varies depending on which pathway you choose.
Having said that, we have carefully selected the easiest pathway you can take to land in Canada in no time. S o, drag a seat closer and get ready for your immigration hack.
Why Immigrate to Canada from Portugal?
There are thousands of reasons why you should immigrate to Canada from Portugal if you ask. To begin, Canada has consistently been referred to as one of the safest countries in the world to live in. Not only that, it is one country that people from diverse nationalities get to meet and live in harmony.
These and many more reasons are highlighted below:
 1. Good health
Good health is one thing you shouldn’t joke with and neither does the Canadian government. In Canada, all Canadian citizens and permanent residents have access to free health insurance, funded by the federal government. So, when it comes to good health, Canada has got you covered. Not only this, the country has sophisticated hospitals, health centers, pharmacies and even walk-in clinics just in case you don’t have an health coverage.
Asides from this, clean air and serene environment with lots of green life is what characterize Canada. So, you shouldn’t worry inhaling bad air or living in a polluted environment.
2. Diversity
Canada is often known as one of the most multicultural and diverse countries in the world. Whether you are black , white, yellow, orange or whatever, your nativity might be. There is zero to no racial discrimination in Canada. So, as a Portuguese national wishing to immigrate to Canada from Portugal, your chances of meeting other Portuguese is quite high.
In fact, according to 2016 census, the number of Portuguese and/or citizens of Portuguese descent residing in Canada was 440,892. Hence, you wouldn’t be alone in this journey.
3. Affordable living
Are you scared that Canada might be too expensive for you to live in? Well, that should be the least of your worries. Actually, when compared to other developed countries of the world, the cost of living in Canada is very minimal and affordable. There are clean spaces plus houses are not so packed up. There are lots of parks, beaches, hiking trails and other great places to visit. While you may need to pay for some recreational centers, there are some that are absolutely free.
4. Job opportunities
If there is one thing that Canada is known for is for its numerous job opportunities. Canada reward you for your skills. There are numerous job opportunities to be filled by skilled workers in different industries. In fact, immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker in one of the fastest way to land in the Canada and get your permanent residency. Moreover, Canada is looking for skilled immigrants from Portugal to fill the country’s numerous job vacancies. So, if you’re looking for job opportunities, this might be your sure bet. Take a chance and give it a shot.
5. Education
One outstanding reason you should immigrate to Canada from Portugal is that of education. Ten of Canadian schools has consistently been ranked among the top 100 schools in the world. Morever, the quality of education you will receive in Canada is equivalent to the one you will get in top countries like the UK, US, and China. Little wonder why Canadian schools are home to a teaming population of international students from all over the world.
Besides this, as a student in Canada, you have access to loans, bursaries, scholarships awards and many others to assist the funding of your education. So, if you wish to study in Canada from Portugal, funding your education shouldn’t be a big problem. There are numerous funding sources made available by the government or even your school, to support your education.
Requirements for migrating to Canada from Portugal
Chances are, you now know the reasons why you should immigrate to Canada from Portugal. But the key thing is, do you have the requirements to move to Canada? If you don’t, never to worry. Let’s take a look at the requirements you will need to immigrate to Canada from Portugal.
- Proof of funds
- Proof of Portugal citizenship
- Valid International passport
- Language proficiency in English or French
- Education credentials
- Work experience
- Police character certificate
- Medical examination results
Proof of funds
First things first, you must have sufficient amount of money in your bank account before you immigrate to Canada from Portugal. You might be wondering how much money you need to satisfy this requirement.
Basically, the amount of money you need to establish proof of funds vary between CAD$15,000 to CAD $20,000. That is to say, you need about €11,000 to €15,000 euros to migrate to Canada from Portugal.
Asides this, you need to show that you have enough money to take care of yourself and your family(amount varies by family size) after you land in Canada. This is very important so you don’t become a burden to the government.
International Passport
Of course, you can not go any where without your valid international passport. Ensure you have your recent international passport to begin your immigration process to Canada. If you have dual citizenship or more, you will need to provide proof of your Portugal citizenship.
Language proficiency
Another requirement you must satisfy to be eligible to immigrate to Canada from Portugal is meeting the language proficiency requirements. That is, you need to prove that you can speak either English or French language so you can communicate with the people in Canada.
Check out the table below to see how language tests are graded.
Express Entry Language Proficiency for the First Official Language
| Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level per ability | With a spouse or common-law partner  (Max. 128 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner  (Max. 136 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than CLB 4 | 0 | 0 |
| CLB 4 or 5 | 6 | 6 |
| CLB 6 | 8 | 9 |
| CLB 7 | 16 | 17 |
| CLB 8 | 22 | 23 |
| CLB 9 | 29 | 31 |
| CLB 10 or more | 32 | 34 |
Education credentials
If you want to immigrate to Canada from Portugal for work purposes, you will need to show your education credentials. Also, in addition to applying for ‘credential assessment’ since you did not school in Canada. Your credentials must take the formats of: diplomas, transcripts, and letters of recommendation from prior employment.
Express Entry Education Factors
| Level of Education | With a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 140 points) | Without a spouse or common-law partner (Max. 150 points) |
|---|---|---|
| Less than secondary school (high school) | 0 | 0 |
| Secondary diploma (high school graduation) | 28 | 30 |
| One-year degree, diploma or certificate from a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute | 84 | 90 |
| Two-year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute | 91 | 98 |
| BachelorÂ’s degree OR a three or more year program at a college, university, technical or trade school, or other institute | 112 | 120 |
| Two or more certificates, diplomas, or degrees. One of them must be for a program of 3 or more years | 119 | 128 |
| MasterÂ’s degree, OR professional degree needed to practice in a licensed profession (such as medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, optometry, chiropractic medicine, law, or pharmacy) | 126 | 135 |
| Doctoral level university degree (Ph.D) | 140 | 150 |
Work Experience
In addition to providing your educational credentials, you need to provide evidence of your work experience. You can proof this in the form of reference letters from your previous employers, pay stubs, or your job contracts.
Hence, use this table to know where your job category falls.
Express Entry Skill Transferability Factors
| With good official language proficiency (CLB 7 or higher) and a post-secondary degree | Points for CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, with one or more under CLB 9 | Points for CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities |
|---|---|---|
| Â (Max. 25 points) | (Max. 50 points) | |
| Secondary school (high school) credential or less | 0 | 0 |
| Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer | 13 | 25 |
| Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer | 25 | 50 |
| With Canadian work experience and a post-secondary degree | Points for education + 1 year of Canadian work experience | Points for education + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience |
| Â (Max. 25 points) | Â (Max. 50 points) | |
| Secondary school (high school) credential or less | 0 | 0 |
| Post-secondary program credential of one year or longer | 13 | 25 |
| Two or more post-secondary program credentials AND at least one of these credentials was issued on completion of a post-secondary program of three years or longer | 25 | 50 |
| Foreign work experience with good official language proficiency | Points for foreign work experience + CLB 7 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under CLB 9 | Points for foreign work experience + CLB 9 or more on all four first official language abilities |
| Â (Max. 25 points) | Â (Max. 50 points) | |
| No foreign work experience | 0 | 0 |
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
| Foreign work experience with Canadian work experience | Points for foreign work experience + 1 year of Canadian work experience | Points for foreign work experience + 2 years or more of Canadian work experience |
| Â (Max. 25 points) | Â (Max. 50 points) | |
| No foreign work experience | 0 | 0 |
| 1 or 2 years of foreign work experience | 13 | 25 |
| 3 years or more of foreign work experience | 25 | 50 |
| Certificate of qualification (trade occupations) with good official language proficiency | Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 5 or more on all first official language abilities, one or more under 7 | Points for certificate of qualification + CLB 7 or more on all four first official language abilities |
| Â (Max. 25 points) | Â (Max. 50 points) | |
| With a certificate of qualification | 25 | 50 |
Police Character Certificate
Asides from work experience, you may also need to provide a police certificate. What is a police certificate? A police certificate is an official document that declares if you have a criminal record in Portugal or not.
This is necessary to determined if you will be a threat to the Canadian society, although it does not necessarily mean that you will be ineligible to Immigrate to Canada from Portugal. In most cases, the decision will be made based on prevailing circumstances surrounding the case.
Medical examination results
Last but not the least is the medical examination. You and your family members must complete a medical examination as part of the application process to immigrate to Canada from Portugal. Again, keep in mind that the result of the medical examination is valid for 12 months– from the date the medical examination was completed.
Best 5 Pathways to Immigrate to Canada from Portugal
Normally, there are different pathways you can take to immigrate to Canada from Portugal. All these routes are very much approved by the Canadian government. So, you don’t have to fear when you’re recommended one.
In this article, we will focus on the top five immigration pathways to Canada.
#1. Express Entry System
Express Entry is the most common option you can use to Immigrate to Canada from Portugal if you are a skilled worker. The system is an online application system that gives skilled worker applications for permanent residency in Canada. So, to know if you are eligible, use the Express Entry Points Calculator to determine your CRS points.
For you to be considered, first build an online profile and complete the eligibility requirements for one of three programs below:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
- Canadian Experience Class
You will be assessed based on factors such as age, work experience, education, and language proficiency. Consequently, if your score is high, you will be invited to apply for permanent residence through regular draws.
Also, It takes around six (6) months to process your express entry application. After which you will be asked to pay a token for the application depending on your program. At least $850 plus additional $515 for right of permanent residency fee is what you may pay. Find out more about Canada Immigration fees here.
#2. Provincial Nominee Program
Another popular pathway to immigrate to Canada form Portugal is through Provincial nominee program.
The PNP is a program that allows Canadian provinces and territories to nominate people who want to immigrate to Canada and fulfill the province or territory’s special economic needs.
Again, the PNP is unique to each province and territory. To immigrate to Canada through the PNP, you must first apply and be nominated by the province or territory in which you wish to live. After that, you’ll need to build an Express Entry profile and wait for the province or territory to send you a notification of interest.
The time it takes to process a PNP application varies by province or territory, although it normally takes between 10 and 24 months. Bear in mind that the cost of submitting a PNP application also varies by province or territory.
To begin, Use the PNP calculator to start a free immigration assessment to choose the province of your choice.
#3. Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
Asides form the PNP, the Atlantic immigration pilot program is another pathway to immigrate to Canada from Portugal. The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program is an immigration program for skilled workers and overseas graduates interested in immigrating to Canada and settling in one of the four Atlantic provinces.
Basically, It is one of the quickest ways for Portuguese to immigrate to Canada. The processing time is six months. Interestingly, it allows for online work permit applications. Also, the program was created to help Portuguese and other foreign nationals move to Canada. However, unlike the PNP, where you can immigrate to any province, you will only be able to immigrate to Atlantic Canada provinces.
New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador are among these provinces. The Atlantic International Graduate Program, Atlantic High-skilled Program, and Atlantic Intermediate-skilled Program are the three streams that make up this program.
#4. Family Sponsorship
Do you know that if you want to immigrate to Canada from Portugal your family member who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident can sponsor you? If no, now you do!
Normally, if your family member sponsors you to immigrate to Canada, the processing time is usually around 12-24 months.
However, you will be charged for application depending on the kind of program you choose. Keep at least $850 and additional $515 for right of permanent resident.
#5. Start-up Visa Program
Last but not the least, is the start-up visa program. The Start-up Visa Program is a program for Immigrants who wants to Immigrate to Canada and start their own business. To begin, you must first get a Letter of Support from a designated organization.
Afterwards, you’ll need to create an Express Entry profile and receive a notification of interest from the organization. Keep in mind that the processing time for Start-up Visa Program applications is usually around 12-16 months.
6 Steps to Relocate to Canada from Portugal
After all said and done, here is the six steps you can take to immigrate to Canada from Portugal.
1 Step: Choose a program
2 Step: Gather your documents
3 Step: Submit your application
4 Step: Receive Invitation
5 Step: Wait for IRCC’s Decision
6 Step: Congratulations if you’re chosen
Immigrate to Canada from Burkina FasoFrequently Asked Questions
Can Portuguese citizens immigrate to Canada?
Very well. In fact, Portuguese are one of the many European countries that do not require a visa to travel to Canada. With just an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), you’re eligible to visit Canada.
Can Portuguese passport holders work in Canada?
Yes, Portuguese passport holders can work in Canada. Moreover, the International Experience Canada or IEC Canada program allows Portuguese or European Citizens to Work in Canada. Although the program only allow people within the ages of 18 and 35 years, you can be sure to get a work permit quickly without an LMIA. Also, the process is quite different from the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and much easier.
How do you get from Portugal to Canada?
Very easy. As a Portugal citizen, you are required to apply for a Canada eTA visa to enter Canada for visits upto 90 days including tourism, business, transit or medical purposes. However, Canada eTA from Portugal is not optional but mandatory. All Portuguese citizens traveling to the Canada for short stays are required to get an eTA .
What are the benefits of Portuguese passport in Canada?
With Portuguese passport, there are lots of benefits you could have. Asides from the fact that you can travel with just your eTA, you can live, work, and Study in Canada. Also, you can get free access to quality healthcare and schooling, have fantastic quality of life, get employment, enjoy low cost of living. Besides, you enjoy Portuguese citizenship for life, have Portuguese passport through marriage, as well as have Portuguese citizen by descent, and lots more.
Conclusion
In summary, you can easily immigrate to Canada from Portugal if you follow the pathways we recommend. Ensure to have the basic requirements that is needed for each program.
