How to Move to Canada from Indonesia

Indonesians can now immigrate to Canada easily as Canada planned to welcome more than 400,000 immigrants in 2021 and over 1.2 million immigrants by 2023.

This means new immigrants are welcome to immigrate to Canada within this time. In addition, Canada has different immigration programs that immigrants from Indonesia can qualify for.

If your dream is to work and live in Canada, you have a great chance of getting a visa through any of these programs. This guide will help with the relevant information you need.

Types of Work Visa in Canada

Getting a work permit is one of the most important aspects of working in Canada as an Indonesian. It is equally important that you know the type of visa suitable for you if you plan to work in Canada.

You need two types of visas to work in Canada: an open work permit and an employer-specific work permit.

Check Out The Different Work Visas and Requirements

Open Work Visa

An open work permit allows you to work in Canada without a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This means you can work anywhere in Canada, even in positions intended for Canadian citizens.

This document proves that a Canadian citizen or permanent resident is not willing or able to work in a specific position in Canada. This will then allow the employer to hire a foreign worker.

Can I apply for an Open Work Permit?

You can apply for an open work permit on rare occasions. Instead of the open work permit, there is a program known as International Mobility Program, which is common among employers in Canada. This is a simpler and easier program.

The program allows Canadian employers to hire workers with temporary work permits without an LMIA. However, the employer must use the Employer Portal before using this program.

One of the programs under the International Mobility Program is Post-Graduation Work Permit.

Post-Graduation Work Permit

The Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP) program is for fresh graduates from Canadian universities and colleges. It allows a student who graduated from a Designated Learning Institution (DLI) to obtain an open work visa.

This allows the student to work wherever they want and for whoever they want in Canada. This type of visa is valid for up to three years, depending on the length of the study program.

Requirements to apply for a PGWP:

To qualify for this program, the candidate must meet the following requirements:

Complete a study program (degree, diploma, or certificate) at a DLI for at least eight months;
Been a full-time student in Canada for each semester; and
Graduated from a public post-secondary school (college, trade/technical school/university; or
Graduated from a Canadian private school that provides degrees under provincial law (as long as it leads to a degree as authorized by the province).
You will need to send your application within 180 days after getting your final marks and will need the following support documents:
An official letter from your DLI confirming that you have completed your study program;
An official transcript or copy from your institution’s website;
Give your biometrics if you have not already done so;
Medical exams results;
Police clearance certificate.

If you want to study in Canada, there are many affordable schools. In addition, studying in Canada can lead to an open work permit, which could lead to you getting permanent residency in Canada.

Employer-Specific Work Visa

The employer-specific work visa is more accessible than the open work permit by a foreigner who wants to work in Canada. This visa is also known as a closed work permit. This is because this visa will only permit you to do certain jobs under specific conditions, as the work permit states.

You are not eligible to work for any job or hold any position apart from the one stated on your work permit. You will only be able to work for one employer in a specific position.

The restrictions you will face with an employer-specific visa may include:

Name of the employer you can work for

How long can you work for this employer
The location where you can work (if applicable)

Knowing how to apply for a Canadian work visa from Indonesia is essential as there are many ways to do so through different programs. Such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program is a program initiated by the Canadian government which allows Canadian employers to temporarily hire foreigners to fill positions where there is a labor shortage of foreign workers.

Examples of streams where you can apply for a work visa through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program are:

Global Talent Stream
Caregivers
Agricultural Stream
Global Talent Stream

Global Talent Stream

The Global Talent Stream (GTS) is a service the Canadian government introduced to help Canadian employers to employ foreign workers to add to the workforce in Canada. The GTS can be processed within two weeks, making it very easy for immigrants.

Categories of GTS

There are two streams of the Global Talent Stream. They are:

Category A

This stream is for designated partners. Employers only employ workers with unique and special talents.

Eligibilities for Category A are as follows:

You need to have a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
You must have a job in Canada
Applicants must prove that they will leave Canada after their work permit expires
Applicants need to prove that they can finance your stay and your family’s stay in Canada and that they have enough funds to go back to your home country
Have a clean criminal record
Prove that you are not a threat to the national security of Canada
Be in good health

Category B

This is for employers who need to fill positions for in-demand jobs in Canada.

Occupations on the list include:

Web designers and developers – NOC 2175
Software engineers and designers – NOC 2173
Computer and information systems managers – NOC 0213
Information systems testing technicians – NOC 2283

You could qualify for an employer-specific work visa if you have work experience in any occupations listed on the Global Talent Occupations List.

Cost of a Canadian Work Visa for those moving to Canada from Indonesia

See Work Visa Fees

Permit/Visa Fee in CAD

Study permit (including extensions) $150

Work permit (including extensions) $155

Work permit (including extensions) – per group (3 or more performing artists) $ 465

Openwork permit holder $ 100

Becoming a Canadian Permanent Resident via a Work Visa

You can also become a permanent resident in Canada using a work visa. An individual will do this because while working, you will get enough work experience needed for Canada’s permanent residence.

You can achieve this using the Canadian Experience Class in the Express Entry system.

How to Immigrate from Indonesia to Canada

The following are steps to migrate to Canada from Indonesia. They include:

Step 1 – Choose a Province or Territory

Moving to Canada from Indonesia requires certain factors which must be considered. One of the first factors is to choose the residence where you wish to live. Finding the right place to live in Canada is as important as finding the right job.

Every province in Canada has a unique economy, job markets, cultures, climates, and lifestyles, which must be considered before you choose where to live.

Each province also prepares its unique visa programs according to its special markets.

For instance, British Columbia created the Tech Pilot Program under one Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) to invite people from 29 occupations in high demand in the IT sector.

Step 2 – Find the Right Visa Program for You

After deciding on the right province to live in, the next thing is to find the best visa program suitable for your special situation. First, make sure that you have a clear immigration goal.

Some of the more popular visa options are listed below:

Study Visas;
Canadian Experience Class;
Federal Skilled Worker Program;
Federal Skilled Trades Program;
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs);
Family Sponsorship

Please note that the requirements for these programs vary depending on the province and where you are applying.

Step 3 – Understand the Basic Visa Requirements

Every program you choose has its own visa requirements, which must be met if you want to move to Canada from Indonesia.

Most immigration programs will need you to have specific NOC (National Occupational Classification) level jobs to apply for. Levels are divided into 0, A, B, C, D, and E. Additionally, you can locate your NOC job level and unique occupation code on the IRCC website.

Please, note that most visa programs are for NOC 0, A, and B level jobs, though other programs like the British Columbia Entry Level and Semi-Skilled Programs focus on NOC level C or D jobs.

If you apply under specific visa programs, like the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), only work experience gained while working in Canada counts.

Work experience gained as a student, unpaid volunteer, or when training as an intern does not count in other programs.

Lastly, you will need to prove your proficiency in either English or French, depending on the province or territories of your choice.

This can be proved using either General IELTS (International English Language Testing System) for English or the TEF (Test devaluation Francais) for French.

Step 4 – Gather Important Documents

Before you migrate to Canada from Indonesia, you will need certain documents to become eligible.

Here is an essential list of documents you will most likely need to immigrate from Indonesia to Canada.

Legal forms of ID like your passport or birth certificates, marriage certificates, etc.;
Medical exam results from an approved medical professional;
Language exam results for either IELTS or TEF exams;
Complete biometric records through the IRCC;
Complete Surat Keterangan Kelakuan Baik; and an
ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)

Step 5 – Pass Your IELTS or TEF Exams

You must also be able to pass your language proficiency test, including General exam options for TEF and IELTS. French and English are the languages of tuition in Canadian schools. You will need to take exams for these tests.

These language exams are valid for two years from the day you receive your test result. However, IRCC prefers that you apply with your results one year before they expire.

If you are moving to Canada from Indonesia, the fees for the IELTS exam can cost around RP2,900,000. Besides, it may go up to RP3,650,000, depending on the company you use.

TEF exam fees are generally more expensive and can cost RP4,067,448 to RP4,648,512, so make sure you budget appropriately.

Your language test will be in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.

Step 6 – Apply for a Medical Exam

The next step to take while moving to Canada from Indonesia is to apply for a medical test.

To be admissible into Canada from Indonesia, you must be medically fit. And to do this, you will need a medical report proving that your health status is good.

You can carry out your medical exam through a regulated medical exam. There are exceptional doctors for this, so you cannot just go to any doctor.

The doctor must be on the Canadian Panel of Physicians. For your information, a list of doctors in the list of CPP with their locations and contact is below:

Doctor Name City Name Contact Information

A.A. I. Triari Laksmi Bali (62-361) 761 263

Ni Gusti Ayu Putri Sadyarini Bali (62-361) 761 263

Luiz Yasha Lumanau Surabaya (62-31) 599 3211

Erlynda Taufik Tangerang Selatan (6221) 745 5500

Nathalia Wusis Tangerang Selatan (6221) 745 5500

Rahayu Wibisono Tangerang Selatan (6221) 745 5500

Step 7 – Apply for a Burat Keterangan Kelakuan Baik

Applying to move to Canada from Indonesia, you will also need a police certificate known as a Burat Keterangan Kelakuan Baik. Without this, you will not be admissible into Canada.

For your Burat Katerangan Kelajuan Baik, you must bring the following documents:

A valid ID;
A Family Card;
Your Birth Certificate;
A letter from your community head to prove you live in the area;
Set of four recent photos that are 4 by 6 cm large; and
An application fee

Your Burat Keterangan Kelakuan Baik can be applied at your local police station.

Step 8 – Apply for Biometrics

You will also need your biometrics to move to Canada from Indonesia Biometrics makes it easier for immigration officers to know when you move in and out of Canada’s borders. Your biometrics is done through facial and fingerprint recognition.

Your biometrics is not needed immediately after you start your application. However, before you send your biometrics, you will need to get an email from the Immigration Office demanding that you apply for biometrics in your application.

Step 9 – Apply for your ECA

When moving to Canada from Indonesia, the last step is to get your Education Credentials Assessment from a designated institution.

To prove that your academic qualification is the same standard as Canadian institutions, you must get an ECA.

This is necessary if you have a trade certificate, diploma, Master’s degree, or Ph.D. from an institution outside of Canada.

Designated institutions for ECA in Canada include:

WES, CES, ICAS, IQAS, etc.

How to Move to Canada from Indonesia