People from around the world, including Ghana, immigrate to Canada every year. Because of this, Canada has become one of the most diverse and multicultural countries in the world. What’s more, Canada aims to welcome 411,000 new immigrants in 2023!
So if you’re from Ghana and would like to move to Canada, you can look forward to feeling welcomed and finding a piece of home here. Interested? Here are three of the best ways to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2023. Download our Immigration Checklists to ensure you have everything together before you begin your application.
Ghana to Canada: Let’s Go!
As more and more people are immigrating to Canada, the Canadian government has developed over 100 immigration programs and visa options. To make the search even easier, we’ve narrowed down the endless options to the top three ways you can move to Canada from Ghana.
1. Express Entry
The Express Entry system was developed to allow Canada to fill in-demand jobs in an effort to meet their labor needs and grow the economy. The Express Entry system allows successful applicants to gain permanent residency in Canada.
There are three programs that operate under Express Entry, namely:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) is designed for people who have qualifications, skills or work experience that can help contribute to the Canadian economy. If your application is successful, the FSWP allows you to gain permanent residency in Canada.
Because the Federal Skilled Worker Program is part of the Express Entry system, you can look forward to the same speedy application processing of just six months!
To be eligible to apply for the FSWP, you need to meet the following requirements.
You must have skilled work experience in one of the following positions listed in the National Occupation Classification (NOC):
- Managerial
- Professional
- Trade/technical occupation
Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is geared towards foreign trade workers who have experience in the eligible trade occupations that Canada needs to help contribute to the economy. If your application is successful, the FSWP allows you to gain permanent residency in Canada.
Do you qualify to apply? To find out, check if you meet the requirements:
- A full-time job offer from a Canadian employer for a total period of at least 1 year OR a certificate of qualification from a provincial, territorial, or federal governing body.
- Language proficiency score in French or English measured by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC). (Level 4 for writing + reading and level 5 for listening + speaking).
- At least 2 years of full-time work experience within the last 5 years.
- Ability to demonstrate that you meet the job requirements of your skilled trade.
- You must show that you have enough money for you and your family to settle in Canada unless you have a valid job offer or can legally work in Canada.
Skilled trade occupations eligible under the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized in the following major National Occupational Classification NOC groups. The groups are subdivided into different occupations, and they are all skill type B. You must prove that you have experience performing the duties of the occupational description in the NOC.
National Occupation Classification Categories
Major Group 72
- Industrial
- Electrical
- Construction
Major Group 73
- Maintenance
- Equipment Operation
Major Group 82
- Supervisors and Technicians in Natural Resources
- Agriculture
Major Group 92
- Processing and Manufacturing
- Utility Supervisors
- Central Control Operators
Minor Group 632
- Chefs and Cooks
Minor Group 633
- Butchers and Bakers
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
If you’re from Ghana and you already have some experience working and living in Canada, then this could be the pathway for you.
The Canadian Experience Class is designed for people who are applying for permanent residency in Canada, who have gained work experience in the country through a temporary work permit.
Yes, you guessed it. Because the CEC operates under the Express Entry system, successful applicants will also be able to enjoy the fast processing times of just six months.
Here are the requirements you need to meet to apply for through the Canadian Experience Class:
Work Experience
You must have one year of skilled, work experience in Canada. The work experience must be:
- a full-time position; or
- the equivalent time in a part-time position;
- legally obtained in Canada;
- from jobs defined by the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) as level 0, A or B
Education
There is no education requirement for this program. You can; however, increase your Express Entry score by:
- earning a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian secondary or tertiary school;
- completing a foreign credential;
- getting an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) showing your previous education meets Canadian standards.
Language skill
- Take an approved language test for writing, reading, listening, and speaking;
- Meet the minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs or Canadian Language Benchmark 5 for NOC B jobs
Admissibility
- You must be legally allowed to enter Canada
2. Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
Another one of the best ways to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2022.is through the Provincial Nominee Program. The PNP allows successful applicants to gain permanent residency in one of the 11 participating Canadian provinces. If you already have your heart set on a province you would like to settle in, or perhaps you have a job offer there, then this could be perfect for you.
Here are the 11 provinces you can choose to settle in:
- Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NW PNP)
- Newfoundland & Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NL PNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NS PNP)
- Ontario Provincial Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Saskatchewan Provincial Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
3. Community and Region Driven Programs
There are various programs aimed at helping to develop and support smaller communities and regions in Canada. Two, in particular, have already helped thousands of newcomers make their way to Atlantic Canada as well as various rural regions in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. These two programs are the Atlantic Immigration Program and The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
Atlantic Immigration Program
Are you dreaming of a life removed from the hustle and bustle of big city centres, yet still with the same quality of life and job opportunities? Atlantic Canada may be the destination for you! And to make it just that much easier to get there, the Canadian government has created The Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
Originally a temporary pilot program, the AIP has recently been made a permanent immigration program due to its huge success. To qualify, you will need to meet
- Have a high school certificate
- Have a valid job offer in one of the 4 Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland & Labrador, Prince Edward Island
- Meet language requirements (minimum CLB 4)
- Have enough settlement funds; and
- Have graduated from a publicly-funded learning institution in the Atlantic region (minimum 2-year program).
Rural & Northern Immigration Program
The Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot helps skilled immigrant workers get permanent residency while assisting smaller communities in Canada to fill gaps in the labour market. The following communities are participating in the pilot programs:
- North Bay, Ontario
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins, Ontario
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Brandon, Manitoba
- Altona/Rhineland, Manitoba
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Claresholm, Alberta
- Vernon, British Columbia
- West Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Rossland, Nelson), British Columbia
To qualify for the RNIP, you will need to meet the following requirements:
- have at least 1 year of relevant work experience or have graduated from a publicly-funded post-secondary institution in a participating community
- meet or exceed the minimum language requirements
- NOC 0 and A: CLB/NCLC 6
- NOC B: CLB/NCLC 5
- NOC C and D: CLB/NCLC 4
- Meet the required educational requirements
- have a Canadian high school diploma or post-secondary qualification; or
- have an educational credential assessment (ECA) of your foreign credential
- prove you have enough money to support your transition into the community
- intend to live in the community
- meet community-specific requirements
4. Occupation Driven Programs
Canada has two main sectors that are hugely in demand of skilled talent: the agricultural, care provider, and tech sectors. Each industry has various programs that help skilled workers immigrate to Canada in their area of expertise.
Agri-Food Pilot
The Agri-food Pilot was created to help boost the agricultural sector, which is in great need of skilled workers in the following areas:
- meat product manufacturing
- greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production
- animal production, excluding aquaculture
- cattle ranching and farming
- hog and pig farming
- poultry and egg production
- sheep and goat farming
- other animal production
To qualify, you’ll need to:
- have at least 1 year of non-seasonal full-time work experience in the last 3 years through a Temporary Foreign Worker Program
- have a permanent full-time job offer in a qualifying occupation
- meet the language requirements – CLB4
- have a Canadian high school diploma or an ECA if you have a foreign qualification
- enough money to settle in Canada
- have maintained your temporary resident status (if already in Canada)
Home Care Provider Pilot
The Home Care Provider Programs are a gateway to permanent residency for both home care and childcare providers. There are two separate programs to apply through:
The Homecare Support Worker Pilot helps support workers get permanent residency in Canada. There are 2,750 spots available for 2022 through this pilot.
The Homecare Child Care Provider Pilot helps childcare workers get permanent residency in Canada. The program will be open for
If you have more than 24 months of full-time work experience you could qualify to apply directly for permanent residency, and your family can join you too. To qualify you will need to meet the following requirements:
- have at least 24 months of work experience in the last 36 months
- meet the language level – CLB 5 in English or NLCL5 in French
- at least 1 year of post-secondary education (ECA is required if obtained outside Canada)
- be admissible to Canada.
If you have less than 24 months of experience you will need to apply for a work permit with your permanent residency application. If successful, you will get an employer-specific work permit and once you have at least 24 months of work experience you will qualify for permanent residence.
5. Business Immigration: Start-up Visa Program
For those looking to start a new or invest in an existing business venture in Canada, the Start-up Visa Program is ideal. You will need to meet various requirements to qualify for this program:
- Have a letter of support from a designated organisation;
- Have at least 10% voting rights;
- Have more than 50% attached to outstanding shares (with the designated organisation);
- Play an active role in the running of your business;
- Be located in Canada;
- Meet the minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 5;
- Have enough settlement money to support yourself and your family.
There are also various provincial entrepreneur programs that offer permanent residency to applicants looking to bring their business to a particular province or territory in Canada.
6. Spousal and Family Sponsorship
If you’re already living in Canada and would like your family or partner to join you, then this pathway is just for you.
The Spousal and Family Sponsorship allows you to sponsor family members to join you in Canada, provided that you meet certain criteria:
To become a sponsor in Canada, you must:
- Be a Canadian citizen OR
- Permanent resident
- At least 18 years of age
- Currently live in Canada
The program allows you to sponsor your:
- Spouse
- Common-law partner
- Conjugal partner
- Dependent child
The documents you’ll need to apply will differ depending on who you sponsor:
If you sponsor your conjugal partner or dependent child, you can apply for Family Class If you’re sponsoring your spouse or common-law partner, you can apply for either Family Class or the Spousal and Common-Law Partner Class.
Why Move to Canada from Ghana?
Job opportunities
Due to a retiring population, the Canadian government seeks to employ foreign workers to fill in-demand occupations. This is why they have created a number of immigration programs and visa options to make it easier for foreign workers to find a suitable pathway to immigrate through.
Education
The Canadian government provides free public education from kindergarten up until grade 12. Canada also offers some of the most prestigious universities and colleges in the world. You can rest assured that you’re in expert hands as Canada is the most educated country in the world.
Diversity
With people from all over the world immigrating to Canada, the country has become one of the
most diverse and multicultural countries in the world.
There are a number of different languages spoken in Canada. Apart from the country’s official languages of English and French, many other languages are spoken here such as Punjabi, Mandarin and Spanish, just to name a few.
There are also a number of areas in Toronto named after various countries, such as Chinatown, Little Italy and Little Jamaica.
So if you’re planning to move to Canada, you can look forward to meeting people from around the world and perhaps even finding a little piece of home.
FAQs
What is the easiest province to immigrate to in Canada?
The province of British Columbia has become the number one choice for people who wish to immigrate to Canada. This is due to the speedy immigration and easy documentation process of the British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BC PNP).
How much does a Canada visa cost in Ghana?
Canadian PR visa cost | ||
Fees | CAD | GHS |
Application Fees for Canada PR | 825 | 4, 070 |
Can I move to Canada without a job?
Yes, you can. Canada provides opportunities for foreign nationals to immigrate even if they haven’t secured a job yet. The popular Express Entry system allows this as well Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Now you know some of the best ways to immigrate to Canada from Ghana in 2022. When you decide to start the visa application process, increase your chances of success by allowing one of the Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) we work with to guide you every step of the way.
Move Forward With AG Group!
Take steps to secure your and your family’s future by moving to Canada! A visa to Canada is one of the most critical steps one can take for a stable and guaranteed future life in Canada and is one of the most important life-changing decisions one can make. For your and your family’s future, apply as soon as possible!
Immigrating to Canada is a lengthy and difficult process. It is natural to be confused if you are applying for a visa in Canada since it would be the first time you would have seen any such document and with 60+ visa programs it is natural to be confused which one is right for you. In order to smoothly complete your application, hire AG Group Enterprise Inc. We have been providing immigration help & advice for over a decade and have the skills and knowledge required to help you through the ordeal.
Download our Immigration Checklists and schedule an Immigration Consultation today to ensure your journey runs smoothly.
With AG group’s help, you can ensure a stable and secure future for you and your family.