Immigrate to Canada from South Africa

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How to immigrate to Canada from South Africa

With South Africans emigrating in record numbers, Canada is the surprising new destination for many South Africans. Canada allows South Africans with no connections to Canada and no job offer to apply for Permanent Residency based on a variety of other factors such as age, education, language abilities in English or French, and skilled work experience. While not everyone will be able to immigrate to Canada, there are many options available for those who are interested.

 

Available programs to immigrate to Canada

Federal Skilled Worker

Federal Skilled Worker

For those with over one year of full-time paid work experience in a skilled profession AND higher than a high school level education.

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Federal Skilled Tradesperson

Federal Skilled Tradesperson

For those with over one year of full-time paid work experience in a skilled trade and the ability to challenge a Canadian trades test.

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Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class

For those with over one year of full-time paid work experience in a skilled profession AND higher than a high school level education.

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Family sponsorship

Family sponsorship

For those married to a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident, dependent children of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident or parents/ grandparents of a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.

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Entrepreneur programs

Entrepreneur programs

For individuals looking to purchase an existing business or open a new business in Canada and have at least three years of experience owning or operating a business.

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Farming programs

Farming programs

For experienced farmers looking to purchase and operate a farm in Canada.

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Provincial programs

Provincial programs

For those individuals who meet the requirements of a specific provincial program such as work experience, a job offer, work in a specific occupation, a connection to the province or a certain score.

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Work permits

Work permits

For those looking to work in Canada. Some applicants will require a job offer while others may be exempt from requiring a job offer.

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Study permits

Study permits

For those who have been accepted into a recognized Canadian educational institution.

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What is the cost of immigrating to Canada

The actual cost of immigrating to Canada is separate from the amount of settlement funds that an applicant may require as part of their application. If you are immigrating to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker for example, you would require both settlement funds and the amounts listed below. The below amounts include government fees and all application related fees, but excludes any other third-party fees such as moving costs or airline tickets. The below are estimations and can vary.

1 Family Member
R 22,525
2 Family Members
R 45,050
3 Family Members
R 50,015
4 Family Members
R 54,980
5 Family Members
R 59,945
6 Family Members
R 64,910
7 Family Members
R 69,875

For each additional family member: R 6,000*

*These amounts are an estimate and can fluctuate.

What to sort out in South Africa before you immigrate

Quick Steps

1

Cancel local accounts and contracts such as cellphones, home insurance, gym memberships, medical insurance.

2

Make a list of any goods you will be bringing with you to Canada.

3

Arrange a moving company.

4

Arrange a place to stay on arrival.

5

Plan your financial move.

6

Arrange travel insurance for your first 90 days in Canada.

7

Obtain any required prescriptions.

8

Obtain your driving record and insurance history / statement.

What to sort out in Canada once you arrive

Quick Steps

1

Obtain your social insurance number.

2

Open a bank account.

3

Convert your driver’s license.

4

Get a cell phone.

5

Look for a job.

6

Look for permanent housing.

How to become a Canadian Citizen

To be eligible to become a Canadian citizen, you must:

Be a permanent resident.
Have lived in Canada for at least 3 out of the last 5 years.
Have filed your taxes, if and when you need to.
Pass a test on your rights, responsibilities and knowledge of Canada.
Prove your language skills.

Additional or different requirements apply under certain circumstances.

Common Questions

How to immigrate to Canada without a job offer

Unlike some foreign countries, you do not need a job offer to immigrate to Canada. There are programs available for you that allow you to apply for permanent residency in Canada without securing employment beforehand. Listen to our podcast below to learn more.

Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) Process

The simplified process of applying to immigrate to Canada is outlined below. If your application is approved you are then granted Permanent Resident status in Canada. After living in Canada for three years within a five year period as a Permanent Resident, you may qualify to apply for Canadian Citizenship.

1

Step One

Find out if you qualify – More →

2

Step Two

Pick the best program for you – More →

3

Step Three

Write your required language test – More →

4

Step Four

Gather your supporting documents

5

Step Five

Submit your profile and wait to be selected (if applying through express entry) – More →

6

Step Six

Submit your application for permanent residency.

7

Step Seven

Wait for your application to be assessed and hopefully, approved.

8

Step Eight

Obtain your immigrant visa and Confirmation of Permanent Residency document (COPR) and immigrate to Canada!

Find out more

Getting Started

Take our free assessment

Take our free assessment

Complete our free assessment here to have our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant evaluate whether you would be eligible to immigrate to Canada at this time.

Take it now →
Book a full consultation

Book a full consultation

To review your eligibility and all of your available Canadian immigration options directly with our Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant, book a full consultation right now.

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Available Canadian immigration programs

Click on one of the available Canadian immigration programs below to find out the full requirements.

Express Entry

Express Entry

The Express Entry system is a file management system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for certain immigration applications. The Express Entry system is used by anyone seeking to immigrate to Canada as a Federal Skilled Worker, Federal Skilled Tradesperson, member of the Canadian Experience Class or certain Provincial Nominee programs. If you do not meet the requirements of one of those four programs, you will not be eligible to use the Express Entry system.

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Provincial Nominee

Provincial Nominee

For those individuals who may need additional points for the Express Entry System, Provincial Nominations can add 600 points to their score. Most Provincial programs require a job offer , while some will select individuals without a job offer if their skills are in demand in that specific Province or if their Comprehensive Ranking System score is high enough.

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Canadian Experience Class

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is for those who have previously worked in Canada, on a valid work permit, in a skilled occupation for one year or longer on a full-time paid basis in the past three years and are proficient in English or French.

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Federal Skilled Trades

Federal Skilled Trades

The Federal Skilled Trades program requires applicants to either have a full-time paid job offer in their skilled trade in Canada or they need to physically travel to Canada to write a Canadian Red Seal examination before they would be eligible to apply under this program. This program also uses the Express Entry system and would require applicants to be proficient in English or French.

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Federal Skilled Worker

Federal Skilled Worker

The first, and most popular option for those looking to immigrate to Canada is the Federal Skilled Worker program which uses the Express Entry System. This program is designed for those who have at least one year of full-time paid work experience in any country in the world and can score high enough on the Federal Skilled Worker points system. The points system looks at age, completed education, language abilities in English and French, full-time paid work experience and previous work or study experience in Canada, or if you have any direct relatives living in Canada. This program does not require a job offer.

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Business Programs

Business Programs

For those who have an entrepreneurial background and are looking to start a business in Canada or purchase an existing business in Canada, there is a large variety of programs available depending on the type of business you want to open or purchase. Some programs require you to have a substantial personal net worth and invest a minimum of $200,000 or more into a business, while others have no financial requirements and focus more on your business plan and whether or not you have the finances available to support your business plan. With most of these options, you would first, be issued with a temporary work permit, and then if your business was successful, you would be able to transition to permanent residency. These programs would also be used by anyone looking to own and operate a farm in Canada.

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