A few years ago we were in the same shoes you are now. And we know how important it is to split this big task into small steps and follow them correctly. 

You can hire a professional to help you out, but keep in mind, they won’t prepare or fill your documents for you. They will only tell you what to do, suggest what type of immigration plan to choose, what documents to get, and what applications to fill out, and then they will submit the documents on your behalf.

Using a lawyer or an immigration consultant doesn't guarantee you a successful outcome and you pay big bucks which you better save up for immigration. 

1. Find out if you're eligible

To find out if you are eligible for immigration go to canada.ca, choose your language, immigration and citizenship, then immigrate, you can see all the different types of visas available. One of the most popular ones is Express Entry, which can give you Permanent Resident status. You can start the application either from your home country or from Canada.

If you study or work in Canada and want to get your PR, the plan is the same— you also go through the Express Entry visa process.

If we go to How Express Entry Works, we can see that there's a questionnaire that helps you find out if you are eligible. You will need to answer some questions about your nationality, age etc. 

Express Entry is based on the Comprehensive Ranking System. You'll be collecting points based on each criterion. The more points you collect, the bigger your chance is to be invited by Canada to become its permanent resident. If the result of this questionnaire tells you you're eligible, you can go ahead and use the CRS calculator to see how many points you have. 

After each round Canada releases information about the number of people who received an invitation to apply. They also reveal the lowest score. You can use this information to measure your chances and decide how you can improve your score if needed.

If you're not eligible for Express Entry or you can't get enough points, do not despair, there is a number of other options for you. You can check every program available to find what's most suitable for you. Thus, every province in Canada has their own immigration program and requirements so you could be the right candidate for them, and they'll give you additional points to be invited through Express Entry.

2. Get your documents ready, start saving up and learn English/French

Once you've chosen the type of visa, let's keep using Express Entry as an example here, you can find information about what's required. Next, you will need to write down your steps not to miss anything. First of all, you will need to gather a truckload of documents. Depending on your case, you might need more documents than others, for example, if you have a big family. 

Read through all that's required and start making up a to-do list. Every document takes time to request and receive— it depends on the country and their levels of bureaucracy. If your documents aren’t in English, you’ll need to have them translated. And also, keep in mind that some documents have an expiration date (e.g. police certificates and medical exams). 

We suggest writing documents down in the order of WHEN to start working on them. As a result, a police certificate and medical exam will be the last documents to get whereas the Educational Credential Assessment Report would be the first to start working on.

In the meantime, as you do your research and preparation, you should be learning English or French and get prepared for your language test. There's a possibility that you would have to take the test several times if your score isn't high enough at first.

3. Be Patient

Preparing your documents might take a lot of time. On average it can take up to 4-5 months but if you need to take a language exam several times it might take longer, sometimes even a year or more to gather everything you need.  In the meantime, keep coming back to canada.ca website every month or so to refresh your memory and to check if they've changed anything. 

Make sure your documents follow their requirements. Gathering information and preparing your documents might be the longest step in the whole process, so be patient. 

It's not a bad idea to join forums or chat rooms where you can talk to other people who are planning to move to Canada. It can help you keep your spirits up and exchange information and tips about immigration. But once again, keep in mind that the only true source of information is canada.ca. 

4. Create your profile

Once you have gathered everything you need and checked and double-checked everything, it's time to create your profile!

Some people create their profiles first, then start collecting documents. But keep in mind, if you're invited to apply, you'll only have 90 days to get all the documents to attach to your final application. So choose your path and time wisely.

Follow the instructions, fill in your information, and submit your profile.

5. Learn the Language and Save Up

After you submit your profile, keep it up to date, collect additional documents if needed, keep practising English or French and saving up. You'll need your money cushion when you land in Canada.

It takes time to find your first job, so obviously the more money you have, the more confident you'll feel. This will prevent you from making rushed decisions.

6. Invitation to apply

After submitting your profile, If you have enough points, you'll receive an invitation to apply for your PR visa, congratulations! Follow the instructions carefully and it's time to do your medical exam and fingerprints. 

You'll have to prove that all the info on your profile is correct since they chose you based on your profile. You'll have to attach scanned copies of all the documents you prepared because you’ll need to prove the number of points you claim to have.

7. Passport request

It could take time for them to review your documents and check everything. In case of a successful outcome, you'll receive a request to send your passport to have your visa stamped. Congratulations! This is your last step in this quest. But your journey only begins here.

Now you need to finish all your business, spend some quality time with friends and family, start packing your bags, look for a place to stay, start looking for jobs and get a plane ticket. 

Now you have a clearer image of what needs to be done to move to Canada. We hope it can help you feel more confident to make that first step toward your new life. Feel free to share your immigration experience and the program you chose for it! We are excited to hear about your personal immigration journey and the challenges you have experienced during this time. Sending you kind regards and all the luck.