What to Expect in 2023 if You Want to Work in Canada
If you plan to work in Canada for 2023, it is the perfect time to act on it! There are many PR Visa and Work Permit programs introduced by Canadian immigration this year. It will make the hiring process easier for those who want to enter and work in Canada as a foreigner.
Canada is more welcoming to immigrants this year, 2023. Beginning January 15, 2022, there will be a new ruling for coming into Canada categorized into two groups: fully vaccinated and the unvaccinated or partially vaccinated traveler. You have to educate yourself about these new measures for foreign workers.
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Canada's border and travel measures - Adjustments
On November 19, 2021, the Canadian government announced their border’s upcoming measures adjustment. It is an essential part of the country’s move to protect Canadian’s health and safety as the global pandemic due to COVID 19 is still ongoing.
For Fully Vaccinated Travelers - Canada’s expanded list of accepted vaccines for travel
The government of Canada listed accepted vaccines when entering the country and its testing and quarantine protocols that took effect on November 30, 2021. The list of accepted vaccines is as follows: Moderna, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Sinopharm, Sinovac, and COVAXIN by Bharat Biotech.
You are fully vaccinated if: you have received the full series of a vaccine or combination of vaccines accepted by the Government of Canada at least 14 days before entering Canada. A traveler’s vaccine can be received from any country and upload their proof of vaccination – in English or French into ArriveCAN (the official Government of Canada platform to provide your information when entering Canada) when traveling to Canada. Additionally, the traveler must bring his proof of vaccinations with the dates he received them.
Unvaccinated or Partially Vaccinated Travelers
Travelers who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated can only enter Canada if they meet any exceptions. It is effective January 15, 2022.
- agricultural and food processing workers;
- foreign marine crew members;
- those entering on compassionate grounds;
- new permanent residents;
- newly resettled refugees;
- children under the age of 18, who are:
✔️ currently exempt from the travel restrictions
✔️ International Students studying at a designated learning institution that has a COVID-19 readiness plan
✔️ those traveling with a parent, step-parent, tutor, or guardian who is either fully vaccinated, or a Canadian citizen, permanent resident of Canada, or person registered under the Indian Act
✔️ traveling to reunite with their family members in Canada
Immigration Plans for Those Coming to Work in Canada as a Foreigner
Canada’s current plan is to welcome 411,000 new immigrants in 2022, and 421,000 in 2023: maybe revised, though. There is a possibility that the numbers will increase due to the country’s continuously growing worker shortage throughout the country.
Express Entry 2023
In 2021, the invitations from Express Entry were only for Canadian Experience Class (CEC) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) candidates. And it will likely continue this 2023. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates were the primary source of Express Entry immigrants. But due to the pandemic, FSWP were excluded from Express Entry invitations over the last year.
IRCC’s rationale:
- Most of these CEC candidates are Canada-based, so they are less likely to face COVID-related disruptions. It is why the focus is on inviting more CEC candidates because it will best help achieve the immigration goal of 401,000 new immigrants in 2021.
- Since most FSWP candidates are abroad, IRCC has excluded them from invitations. They were less likely to land in Canada within 2021, which would not help the immigration department achieve its 401,000-newcomer target.
- To help Canadian provinces with their labor market goals, the invitation for PNP candidates should continue.
There is no clear indication as to when will IRCC resume invitations to FSWP candidates on its Express Entry plans. The only hint is that Canadian immigration wants to cut its Express Entry backlogs by more than half. It is the only time they return to its service standard of processing Express Entry applications and consider inviting FSWP candidates again. If the current pace of IRCC’s application processing continues, Express Entry backlogs will likely hit 50 percent in early 2022.
The selection process for Express Entry candidates in 2023
Canada’s budget 2021 promises improvements to the immigration process. It included the upcoming changes to Canadian immigration and immigration systems, including the Express Entry system. The immigration budget 2021 will cover the following improvements:
- improve and modernize immigration processing platform
- support newcomer women
- the improvement of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program
- fast processing of permanent residence (TR to PR pathway)
- streamline Express Entry
Additionally, foreigners planning to work in Canada must note that there will be changes to the Express Entry Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scoring. During the previous years, the Federal Skilled worker Program would only accept applications from fifty specified NOC codes that were in demand in Canada.
Summary of Canada's Immigration Levels Plan
This year, Canada plans to welcome more than 1.2 million new immigrants for the next three years. The federal department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) releases new Immigration Levels Plan every year, which it uses to guide its yearly operations:
- 2021 – targeting the arrival of 401,000 immigrants.
- 2022 – the aim is 411,000 new permanent residents (PRs).
- 2023 – an additional 421,000 immigrants is the Canadian immigration’s target for this year
If you anticipate more surprises waiting for your immigration plan to work in Canada in 2023, the best way to handle it is to be proactive; PLAN AHEAD! You may want to speak with a Canadian immigration expert about your immigration plan and seek assistance that can be your guide in making your journey successful.
