The journey might sound too overwhelming if you are getting permanent residency of Canada, starting a new life and have kids. As a parent, childcare is usually the top priority. Everyone wants to provide their child with the best care. However, it is also essential to manage the costs and ensure that the childcare service is top quality.
So, if you have a child or are planning on having one, you are in the right place. This article lists the many childcare options in Canada. Also, it helps you understand the costs so that you can plan your budget accordingly. Moreover, it will also help you choose a service that is best suited to your needs.
Types of child care in Canada
In Canada, there are many options available for child care. A few examples of these are – daycare centres, home daycare, nannies, and preschools. Some of the services are regulated while others might be unregulated.
Regulated services are monitored, licensed, and regulated by provincial and territorial authorities. Examples of these are full-day childcare, home child care, and school-age child care.
On the other hand, unregulated child care is provided either in the caregiver’s or the child’s own home. In such cases, it is the parent’s responsibility to assess the quality of child care provided.
Moreover, you will have to manage your relationship with the caregiver. Listed below are the different kinds of child care in Canada –
Full-day child care centres
These centres are inspected regularly by government officials. Full-day child care should be licensed and meet the province’s regulations. These include group size, staff training requirements, physical space, nutrition, health and safety, and so on. Any childcare centre that is not licensed cannot operate anywhere in Canada.
Part-day programs
These programs are regulated in almost all provinces through the same licensing systems as full-day programs. However, some requirements may be different. Also, Saskatchewan, British Columbia, and Yukon allow unlicensed part-day programs. Examples of such programs are nursery schools or preschools.
School-age programs
These programs are regulated in all provinces, usually up to age 12. However, starting age and specific requirements for school-age programs vary. Some before and after-school programs, recreational and skill-building programs, as well as programs for young school-aged children during summers and school holidays are not required to be licensed
Regulated family child care (home child care)
This program is available in all provinces. It is provided to a group of children in a caregiver’s own home. In some provinces, regulated family childcare homes are inspected or monitored by a government official.
They make regular visits. Some regulations in this program include the physical environment, number of children by age, record keeping, nutrition, health and safety, and also sometimes caregiver training.
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Cost of childcare in Canada
Child care is expensive in Canada and varies by province. So, it often becomes a challenge to find affordable child care. The monthly cost can be around $179 to $1,934 CAD depending on the province.
In Quebec, Prince Edward Island, Manitoba, and Newfoundland, and Labrador half of the childcare spaces are at a provincially-set fee. Child care in Toronto is the most expensive.
Also, Markham, Mississauga, Oakville, Richmond Hill, and Vaughan, all cities in the GTA (Greater Toronto Area) follow with the highest median fees for childcare. The cities with the lowest fees for infant care are in Quebec. Winnipeg also has affordable childcare.
How to find a perfect childcare option
Listed below are the steps you should take to find childcare that best suits your situation –
- Search for Child Care Services in your city. You can find them on your city’s website or the province’s Ministry of Education website. This will provide you with a list of licensed centers in your neighborhood.
- Choose the location that best suits for based on your work location or home. Ask about their hours of operation. See if they match the days and times when you’ll need childcare
- Check the environment of the childcare. It should be welcoming, safe, and child friendly.
- Confirm that the provider is licensed, regulated, or monitored by the government. Confirm their qualifications. See if the staff is trained in providing emergency first aid.
- Lastly, ask about the fees and see if it fits your budget.
Tips for newcomers to Canada
Here are a few tips for newcomers-
Budgeting – It is important to budget your expenses. Note down all your monthly costs. This will help you better plan your finances and choose the right kind of childcare program. Also, this helps you decide if you should go for private or public care. For example, hiring a nanny may prove to be slightly more cost-effective if you have two or more kids.
Grants – The federal government offers Canada Child Benefit to families with children. This grant provides a tax-free monthly payment to all eligible families living in Canada to assist with the cost of raising children under the age of 18. You should apply for these grants.
Subsidies – All provinces provide childcare subsidies. However, the criteria, limits, and options may vary depending on the province. You should consider this. You can Reach out to your nearest newcomer settlement centre for assistance.
- Third IEC 2023 Draw Sent More Than 7,100 New Invites
International Experience Canada – IEC 2023 sent more than 7,100 invites in the third round of invitations for the week ending January 27, 2023.
More than 6,526 invites were sent under the Working Holiday category. Currently, there are 26,667 applicants from 32 countries in the Working Holiday pool.
More than 342 invitations went to the Young Professional category, while the International Co-op (internship) category received greater than 253 invites.
So far, IEC 2023 has sent around 19,000 invitations in three draws held this year. As on the January 15 IRCC processing update, the current season of IEC has a processing period of 7 weeks.
This page lists the countries that have received invites as of January 27, 2023.
1. IEC 2023 Working Holiday
Invited profiles under Working Holiday category get an open work permit allowing to work for nearly any business in Canada.
This is the category for you if you:
- have no job offer
- would like to work for more than one company in Canada
- would want to work in more than one area and make money so that you may travel
Country Invitations issued
week ending 27Candidates In Pool Available Spots Andorra 3 1 25 Australia 319 247 Unlimited Austria 18 10 50 Belgium 67 48 519 Chile 20 6,451 To Be Announced Costa Rica 5 888 61 Croatia 2 9 251 Czech Republic 38 41 796 Denmark 29 16 308 Estonia 10 7 90 France 2,636 8,589 5,063 Germany 0 1,498 To Be Announced Greece 25 14 102 Hong Kong 14 13 125 Ireland 433 338 9,292 Italy 111 93 1,405 Japan 274 5,677 244 Korea Republic 1,500 2,001 2,617 Latvia 6 3 15 Lithuania 19 26 98 Luxembourg 2 2 73 Netherlands 68 51 222 New Zealand 113 82 2,119 Norway 2 0 115 Poland 46 28 485 Portugal 59 21 1,602 San Marino 3 1 25 Slovakia 30 34 219 Slovenia 1 2 71 Spain 123 83 456 Sweden 21 9 548 United Kingdom 529 384 3,363 Total 6,526 26,667 30,359 3. Young Professionals Category
In the Young Professionals category, invited applicants get an employer-specific work visa.
For this category, applicants need to have:
- a valid job offer from Canadian employer that helps to advance professionally.
- to work for the same employer in the same place.
Country Invitations issued
week ending 27Candidates In Pool Available Spots Australia 7 5 Unlimited Austria 0 1 59 Chile 45 152 To Be Announced Costa Rica 11 15 0 Croatia 0 0 18 Czech Republic 9 7 105 Estonia 0 0 9 France 175 109 1,768 Germany 0 102 To Be Announced Greece 10 4 0 Ireland 6 6 139 Italy 10 12 172 Latvia 0 0 7 Lithuania 10 1 14 Luxembourg 0 0 10 Netherlands 8 6 143 Norway 0 0 13 Poland 3 2 99 Portugal 3 0 194 Slovakia 18 3 20 Slovenia 0 0 15 Spain 3 8 129 Sweden 0 0 95 Switzerland 17 10 166 Taiwan 7 7 32 Total 342 450 3,207 3. International Co-op (Internship)
An employer-specific work visa is issued in the International Co-op (Internship) category. This category is for you, if you
- are a post-secondary student with a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada;
- will complete this work placement or internship to finish your studies; and
- will work for the same company in the same area throughout your stay in Canada.
Country Invitations issued
week ending 27Candidates In Pool Available Spots Australia 0 0 Unlimited Austria 0 0 19 Chile 2 1 To Be Announced Costa Rica 0 0 5 Croatia 0 0 5 Czech Republic 0 0 5 Estonia 0 0 5 France 249 182 3,411 Germany To Be Announced 41 To Be Announced Greece 0 0 10 Ireland 0 1 47 Italy 0 2 48 Latvia 0 0 2 Lithuania 0 0 5 Luxembourg 0 0 9 Norway 0 0 5 Poland 0 0 3 Portugal 0 0 50 Slovakia 0 0 5 Slovenia 0 0 5 Spain 0 0 49 Sweden 0 0 20 Switzerland 2 2 48 Taiwan 0 3 9 Total 253 232 3,765
- Know Canada Weekly Earnings In All The Provinces
On January 26, 2023 – Statistics Canada released latest data for average weekly earnings in Canada. They also released the industry-wise and province-wise weekly earnings data.
Overall average weekly earnings in Canada increased by 4.2% to $1,180.21.
The job openings fell in six provinces, with Newfoundland and Labrador losing the most (-35.3% to 5,500), followed by Manitoba (-26.5% to 20,600), and New Brunswick (-21.8% to 11,500).
Ontario, Quebec, and Alberta had lower proportionate drops, while the number of job openings in the remaining provinces remained stable.
Below listed are the industry-wise and province-wise weekly earnings in Canada and all the provinces.
Industry-Wise Weekly Earnings in Canada
Industry Average Weekly Earning Mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction 2362.28 Utilities 2068.42 Professional, scientific and technical services 1634.13 Management of companies and enterprises 1570.68 Information and cultural industries 1567.12 Finance and insurance 1556.47 Public administration 1527.13 Construction 1468.27 Wholesale trade 1413.46 Forestry, logging and support 1376.38 Real estate and rental and leasing 1300.33 Manufacturing 1261.16 Transportation and warehousing 1248.94 Educational services 1171.70 Health care and social assistance 1033.25 Other services (excluding public administration) 993.70 Administrative and support, waste management and remediation services 967.36 Arts, entertainment and recreation 713.90 Retail trade 700.82 Accommodation and food services 469.85 Province-Wise Weekly Earnings in Canada
Province Average Weekly Earnings Nunavut 1579.90 Northwest Territories 1579.40 Yukon 1352.38 Alberta 1277.78 Ontario 1203.64 Newfoundland and Labrador 1178.30 British Columbia 1177.45 Saskatchewan 1149.77 Quebec 1124.11 New Brunswick 1076.99 Manitoba 1076.52 Nova Scotia 1031.80 Prince Edward Island 994.16 Which Canadian province has the highest weekly earnings?
Alberta has the average weekly earnings of $1,277.78 followed by Ontario at $1,203.64, Newfoundland and Labrador at $1,178.30, and British Columbia at $1,177.45.
How much is the weekly earnings in Canada?
Canada has the average weekly earnings of $1,180.21 as per latest data by Statistics Canada released on January 26, 2023.
How much is the weekly earnings in Ontario and British Columbia?
Ontario has the weekly earnings of $1,203.64, while British Columbia has average weekly earnings at $1,177.45
How much is the weekly earnings in Quebec?
Quebec has an average weekly earnings of $1,124.11
Source: Statistics Canada
- Here Are Most Common Canada Immigration Options In 2023
Canada is undoubtedly one of the most popular destinations for people who want to move countries. And, righteously so.
There are so many benefits of living in Canada, including a better lifestyle and education.
So, if you are someone who wants to move to Canada, but are not sure how to, you are in the right place.
Canada plans to welcome 465,000 new immigrants in 2023. Due to its labor shortage, Canada relies heavily on immigration.
Also, in 2021 and 2022, Canada already set a new annual permanent resident record. And, it aims to break the records again in the next couple of years.
Each person has their own unique profile. So, based on that you should choose the way that best suits you.
There is no one simple way to move to Canada. However, since the immigration targets are higher now, it is the best time to state your immigration journey.
This article lists all the ways you can move to Canada in 2023.
Express Entry (EE)
Express Entry(EE) is the fastest and most popular way to move to Canada. This program lets skilled foreign nationals live and work in Canada.
If you apply under this program, you can get permanent residence in Canada as soon as six months.
Moreover, by 2025, Canada plans to invite half a million newcomers. Most of these immigrants will be through one of the three streams of Express Entry:
- Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP)
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP)
- The Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
Also, with the recent launch of the new NOCs (2021), 16 new occupations now qualify for Express Entry through the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Examples of a few occupations are- truck drivers, nurses, teachers,s and so on.
To apply under EE you must first be eligible under one of Canada’s above three federal streams. After which, you need to create an online profile.
This profile is scored by Canada’s Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). You get an invitation to apply if you are among the highest-ranking candidates in the Express Entry pool.
Meeting the CRS cut-offs can be a little difficult. However, just by being in the pool of candidates, you could be nominated for permanent residence by a province.
The cost of immigrating through Express Entry is typically about $2,300 CAD for a single applicant. If you are moving as a couple, it could be around $4,500 CAD.
Provincial Nominee Programs in Canada
Another common way of moving to Canada is through a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP).
Canada aims to welcome 117,500 new immigrations through PNPs by 2025. Each province and territory has many nominee programs.
So, the only economic stream bigger than Express Entry in 2023 is the combined force of Canada’s PNPs.
All programs have their own unique eligibility criteria. For instance, some programs need you to have a connection to the province to apply for nomination.
Furthermore, you might need a job offer from a Canadian employer in order to qualify. In some programs, however, overseas candidates are invited if they are able to meet the needs of the province’s labor market.
Listed below are the PNP programs for each province-
- Alberta Advantage Immigrant Program (AAIP)
- British Columbia Provincial Nominee Program (BCPNP)
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP)
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP)
- Nova Scotia Provincial Nominee Program (NSPNP)
- Northwest Territories Nominee Program (NTNP)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
- Prince Edward Island Provincial Nominee Program (PEI PNP)
- Quebec Skilled Workers Program (QSWP)
- Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP)
- Yukon Nominee Program (YNP)
Each PNP has its own processing time. Once you receive a nomination, you need to apply to the federal government for Canadian permanent residence.
Parts of the PNP also fall under the Express Entry. So, each of the provincial programs mentioned above has specific streams for the federally-operated selection system.
The cost of applying through a PNP is usually the same as Express Entry. However, there might be some additional fees, depending on the province.
Certain provinces don’t charge a fee to process PNP applications But some like, Ontario, can charge up to $1,500 CAD.
Business Immigration
If you own a business or know how to manage a business, you can move here through a federal or provincial business immigration program.
Canada plans to welcome 3,500 newcomers through business programs in 2023. These programs usually require a high investment.
The amount depends on the program you are interested in. listed below are the three common ways you can move to Canada through a business –
1. Start-up visa: One of the most popular routes to Canada for business-minded individuals is the Start-Up Visa. To apply for this, you need to have a qualifying business or a business idea.
Then, applicants need a designated angel investor group, venture capital fund, or business incubator to support this.
Lastly, applicants must prove their language ability to live in Canada. Under this visa, you can move to Canada on a work permit.
During this period you can establish your business here. After which, you can apply for permanent residence.
However, you need to be actively involved in the management of the business within Canada.
2. Provincial Business Programs: Most provinces in Canada have their own entrepreneur programs. These programs fall under the respective Provincial Nominee Programs.
You can check the requirements of these programs and apply under the Provincial Business Program.
3. Self-Employed Programs: You can also move here through the Self-Employed Programs. The federal Self-Employed program is for people who have some prior self-employment experience.
Moreover, you should want to and be able to make some contribution to the cultural, artistic, or athletic life of Canada. Quebec also has a self-employed program.
As part of this program, applicants create their own jobs by practicing a profession or pursuing a commercial activity.
Family Sponsorship
Canada’s immigration policy emphasizes family reunification. Families in Canada are able to sponsor their relatives to come to Canada.
So, if you have a qualifying family member who is a PR or citizen of Canada, this might be the easiest way for you to move to Canada.
The cost of sponsoring a relative is around $1,135 CAD. However, if the sponsor lives in Quebec, additional charges might apply.
There are many programs that help PRs and citizens to bring their families here. The two major categories under this program are-
Spouses, Partners, and Children: Canada combines spouses, partners, and children in its Immigration Levels Plan. And aims to welcome 78,000 such newcomers in 2023.
In the spouse and partner stream, you can sponsor your partner from outside or within Canada. This is through the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class.
Moreover, while you wait for your application to be processed, you might qualify for a work permit. The applications take about 12 months to process from start to finish.
For a child to be sponsored, they have to generally be under 22. Also, they should not have a partner or spouse of their own.
Children over the age of 22, must prove that they cannot support themselves financially because of a mental or physical condition.
Or, that they have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22.
Parents and Grandparents: Sponsoring parents and grandparents in Canada operate on a lottery system. A sponsor can declare their interest in a pool.
These applications are drawn at random and issued an invitation to apply. This steams has drawn controversy in the past.
This is because it is mostly oversubscribed. This pool has not opened for new sponsors since 2020.
However, three batches of sponsors have been invited to apply since then. IRCC might move to open a new window for the submission of interest to sponsor forms in 2023 soon.
Alternatively, PGP prospective applicants can apply for Super visa to bring parents and grandparents to Canada.
- New IRCC Temporary Policy For Spousal Open Work Permit Eligibility
Starting on January 30, 2023 – The IRCC will temporarily extend open work permit eligibility to spouses and dependent children of most work permit holders at all skill levels.
As announced, phase 1 of this new temporary policy will now come in effect beginning January 30.
Phase Effective Date Phase 1 – allows family members of employees who come to Canada to apply for an open work visa through the high-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or the International Mobility Program. January 30, 2023 Phase 2 – Following consultations, the legislation will be expanded to include family members of employees from the low-wage stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. To be decided Phase 3 – Consultation with agricultural partners and stakeholders will be conducted to examine the practical viability of expanding the measure to cover family members of agricultural employees. To be decided Before this temporary policy, spouses were only eligible for a spousal open work permit, if the principal applicant worked in a high-skill occupation, defined under TEER 0, 1, 2, or 3.
However, now spouses will be eligible for open work permit if the principal applicant is working in any occupation under TEER 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5.
IRCC shared eligibility and ineligibility under this new spousal open work permit temporary policy as mentioned below.
Who is eligible?
Spouse, common-law partner, or dependent child of a work permit holder is eligible, if the work permit holder in Canada:
- works in a job of any TEER (Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities) category (0 to 5), or
- have an open work permit such as PGWP (post-graduation work permit holder) at all skill levels, or
- are permanent resident applicant under economic class currently holding a valid work permit
Who is not eligible at this time?
Spouses and dependents of work permit holders in TEER 4 or 5 jobs are not eligible at this time, if the work permit holders are currently working:
- under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program’s (SAWP) low-wage stream; and
- the Temporary Foreign Worker Program’s Agricultural Stream
Children qualify as dependants if they are:
- unmarried or don’t have a common-law partner, and
- less than 22 years of age
Children aged more than 22 years can also qualify as dependants only if they are:
- unable to support themselves financially because of a physical or mental condition, and
- rely on their parents for financially since before they were 22
- Here Are New Updated IRCC Processing Times As Of January 25
IRCC processing tool was updated in 2022 to provide accurate information on average processing times.
This article enlists newly updated IRCC processing times as of January 25, 2023 and comparison with last week’s processing times.
These processing times are provided to offer Canada immigration/visa applicants an estimate of how long their applications may take to process.
In addition, prospective candidates wishing to apply for Canadian immigration/visa can get a sense of what to expect before filing their application.
These processing times are to ensure that Canada immigration/visa applicants get a faint idea of their applications’ processing.
These processing times are meant to give new weekly processing time based on data collected over the past 6 months.
Additionally, the processing time begins when IRCC receives the application and ends when the immigration officer reaches a decision on the application.
IRCC Processing Times for Citizenship & PR cards
Application Type Current Processing Time Change From Last Week Citizenship grant 24 months No Change Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) 15 months No Change Resumption of citizenship 34 months No Change Renunciation of Citizenship 15 months No Change Search of citizenship records 16 months No Change New PR card 180 days + 9 days PR card renewals 74 days – 3 days IRCC Processing Time for Family Sponsorship
Application Type Current Processing Time Change From Last Week Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada 17 months No Change Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada 13 months No Change Parents or Grandparents PR 38 months No Change According to the most recent official IRCC data, the Canadian immigration backlog stood at 918,300.
Furthermore, 1.055 million applications were still being handled in accordance with IRCC service standards. In total, IRCC was processing around 1.97 million applications as of December 31, 2022.
Processing time for Canadian Passport
Application Type Current Processing Time Change From Last Week In-Canada New Passport (Regular application submitted in person at Service Canada Centre – Passport services) 10 business days No Change In-Canada New Passport (Regular application submitted by mail to Service Canada Centre) 20 business days No Change In-Canda Urgent pick-up By the end of next business day No Change In-Canada Express pick-up 2-9 business days No Change Regular passport application mailed from outside Canada 20 business days No Change Processing time for Economic Class
Application Type Current Processing Time Change From Last Week Canadian Experience Class (CEC) 20 months No Change Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) 30 months No Change Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) 63 months No Change Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry 12 months No Change Non-Express Entry PNP 21 months No Change Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW) 19 months No Change Quebec Business Class 66 months No Change Federal Self-Employed 41 months No Change Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP) 15 months No Change Start-Up Visa 32 months No Change Processing Time for Temporary Residence Application
Application Type Current Processing Time Change From Last Week Visitor visa outside Canada Varies by country
India: 122 Days
Nigeria: 403 Days
United States: 42 Days
Pakistan: 327 Days
Philippines: 92 Days
UAE: 241 Days
Bangladesh: 226 Days
Sri Lanka: 188 Days
United Kingdom: 222 Days– 8 Days for India
+ 56 Days for Nigeria
+ 2 Day for United States
No Change for Pakistan
– 4 Days for Philippines
– 4 Days for UAE
+ 1 Day for Bangladesh
– 2 Days for Sri Lanka
+ 1 Day for UKVisitor visa inside Canada Online: 17 days
Paper-Based: 43 days– 4 Days for online
+ 2 Days for paper-basedParents or Grandparents Super Visa Varies by country
India: 127 Days
Nigeria: 364 Days
United States: 215 Days
Pakistan: 292 Days
Philippines: 155 Days
UAE: 238 Days
Bangladesh: 206 Days
Sri Lanka: 233 Days
United Kingdom: 155 Days– 5 Days for India
+ 136 Days for Nigeria
No Change for United States
+ 15 Days for Pakistan
+ 9 Day for Philippines
+ 2 Days for UAE
+ 4 Days for Bangladesh
+ 5 Days for Sri Lanka
– 2 Days for UKVisitor Extension (Visitor Record) Online: 205 days
Paper-Based: 96 days– 1 Day (Online)
– 44 Days for Paper-BasedStudy Permit Outside Canada 9 Weeks No Change Study Permit Inside Canada 5 Weeks + 1 Week Study Permit Extension Online: 164 Days
Paper-Based: 158 Days– 1 Day (Online)
+ 13 Days (Paper-Based)Work Permit Outside Canada* Varies by country
India: 8 Weeks
Nigeria: 34 Weeks
United States: 10 Weeks
Pakistan: 71 Weeks
Philippines: 11 Weeks
UAE: 48 Weeks
Bangladesh: 31 Weeks
Sri Lanka: 26 Weeks
United Kingdom: 7 WeeksNo Change for India
+ 2 Weeks for Nigeria
+ 2 Weeks for United States
+ 2 Weeks for Pakistan
No Change for Philippines
+ 8 Weeks for UAE
No Change for Bangladesh
– 2 Weeks for Sri Lanka
No Change for UKWork Permit Inside Canada Online: 167 Days
Paper-Based: 60 Days– 2 Days (Online)
– 1 Day (paper-based)International Experience Canada (Current Season) 7 Weeks No Change Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP) 25 Days + 3 Days Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) 5 minutes No Change *Applications for critical occupations are being prioritized. If you are not applying for a job in a critical occupation, your processing time may be longer than shown above.
Source: IRCC
- Canada Immigration Backlog Drops To 918,300
Finally, the Canada immigration backlog drops below 1 million. As per new updated IRCC data, overall backlog has now reduced to 918,300.
Additionally, 1.055 million applications are still being processed within IRCC service standards. This number has increased from 1.02 million since November 30 data.
The backlog has been continuously reducing since September 30, 2022 as follows:
Date Backlog Total Applications
Under ProcessingDecember 31, 2022 918,300 1,973,800 November 30, 2022 1,086,200 2,111,400 October 31, 2022 1,202,790 2,239,700 September 30, 2022 1,322,500 2,610,700 Overall, there were 1.97 million applications that were being processed at IRCC. This data has been updated by IRCC today and is true as of December 31, 2022.
IRCC minister confirmed that backlog data is different from service standard data.
For example, if spousal sponsorship specifies a processing period of 12 months, an application that is being processed within 12 months is “NOT” a backlog. Rather, it will be classified as standard processing.
However, if it surpasses the 12-month service requirement, it is referred to as a backlog.
It should be noted that IRCC’s goal is to complete 80% of applications within service standards. Click here to view the category-wise IRCC service standards.
Application Type Overall Processing Inventory Backlog Within Service Standards Citizenship 301,000 85,000 216,000 Permanent Residence 620,800 361,300 259,500 Temporary Residence 1,052,000 472,000 580,000 Total 1,973,800 918,300 1,055,500 Below are the category-wise Canada Immigration backlog projections by IRCC
1. Federal High Skilled Backlog
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 89% Feb 22 92% Mar 22 98% Apr 22 99% May 22 100% Jun 22 100% Jul 22 99% Aug 22 90% 86% Sep 22 68% 72% Oct 22 45% 59% Nov 22 31% 46% Dec 22 22% 20% Jan 23 – 20% Feb 23 – 20% Mar 23 – 20% 2. Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry) Backlog
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 56% Feb 22 55% Mar 22 54% Apr 22 51% May 22 47% Jun 22 45% Jul 22 43% Aug 22 42% 39% Sep 22 40% 35% Oct 22 42% 31% Nov 22 42% 28% Dec 22 41% 20% Jan 23 – 40% Feb 23 – 39% Mar 23 – 38% 3. Spouses, Partners and children applications Backlog
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 34% Feb 22 32% Mar 22 30% Apr 22 29% May 22 27% Jun 22 27% Jul 22 26% Aug 22 25% 24% Sep 22 25% 23% Oct 22 24% 22% Nov 22 24% 20% Dec 22 24% 19% Jan 23 – 24% Feb 23 – 24% Mar 23 – 24% 4. Citizenship Backlog
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 46% Feb 22 45% Mar 22 42% Apr 22 40% May 22 39% Jun 22 37% Jul 22 34% Aug 22 31% 31% Sep 22 31% 30% Oct 22 28% 29% Nov 22 27% 27% Dec 22 28% 26% Jan 23 – 26% Feb 23 – 25% Mar 23 – 24% 5. Study Permits Backlog
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 42% Feb 22 34% Mar 22 27% Apr 22 32% May 22 31% Jun 22 30% Jul 22 31% Aug 22 38% 39% Sep 22 31% 42% Oct 22 26% 33% Nov 22 27% 31% Dec 22 33% 33% Jan 23 – 36% Feb 23 – 33% Mar 23 – 23% 6. Work Permits Backlog
**As per IRCC, approximately 73% of work permits applications are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 48% Feb 22 51% Mar 22 29% Apr 22 23% May 22 26% Jun 22 28% Jul 22 28% Aug 22 34% 29% Sep 22 27% 35% Oct 22 23% 49% Nov 22 28% 55% Dec 22 26% 60% Jan 23 – 58% Feb 23 – 47% Mar 23 – 30% 7. Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Visitor Visa Backlog
**As per IRCC, approximately 20% of temporary resident visa or visitor visa applications are from the Canada-Ukraine authorization for emergency travel.
Month Backlog (Actual) Backlog (Projected) Jan 22 70% Feb 22 74% Mar 22 55% Apr 22 55% May 22 56% Jun 22 71% Jul 22 67% Aug 22 71% 68% Sep 22 74% 71% Oct 22 74% 70% Nov 22 70% 67% Dec 22 70% 66% Jan 23 – 77% Feb 23 – 76% Mar 23 – 73% Source: IRCC official website
- Police Clearance Certificate (PCC) for Canada Immigration
Most immigration and visa programs for Canada require a police clearance certificate commonly known as PCC or just police certificate.
A PCC is a simple statement that you need to get from the police. It states if you have a criminal record/charges against you or not.
The purpose of this certificate is to assure that you are not a security risk to Canada. IRCC needs to know that you have not been involved in any criminal activity.
However, if you have a criminal record, IRCC will assess your admissibility on the basis of this certificate.
If the immigration officer feels that you with your past criminal activity pose a danger to Canada, they may deny your entry.
PCC can usually take around a month or more depending upon your country of birth/citizenship/long stay.
So, it is always advisable to apply it proactively to avoid unnecessary delays in processing.
This article lists everything you need to know about getting a police certificate.
When do you need a PCC for Canada immigration?
Most immigration programs in Canada require you to provide a police clearance certificate. Furthermore, you may also need a PCC for Canadian Citizenship.
If you are applying for a PR through any category (Express Entry, International Experience Candidate, or Provincial Nominee Programs) you need this certificate.
Every person aged 18 or over needs to prove that they are not criminally inadmissible. Furthermore, Any family member applying with the primary applicant also needs a certificate.
Also, spousal sponsorship also needs a police certificate.
So, anybody planning to come to Canada permanently or for a long period of time needs this certificate.
What should the police certificate include?
Each country has a different police verification certificate. However, your certificate must include-
- Logo of the authority
- Date of issue
- A clear subject line that shows it is a police clearance certificate, judicial record extract, good conduct certificate, or similar
- Statement attesting lack of criminal record or list of offences
- Seal/sign of the official authority.
If your police certification is in another language, you must also provide an official/certified translation of the document and an affidavit with your application.
Where to get your police certificate from?
You need to get the certificate from the country of current residence (if outside Canada) and from each country you have resided in for more than 6 months since your 18th birthday.
The process of getting this differs from country to country. Click here to know “How to get a police certificate” depending upon your country of citizenship.
In some countries, this certificate is also called a judicial record extract or even a good conduct certificate.
So, it is important to ensure that the police certificate you are getting is accepted by CIC.
Also, if you’re unable to get a police certificate from your country, you’re responsible to show why you can’t get one.
To prove that you can’t get a police certificate, you must:
- show proof that you requested a police certificate from the correct authorities and
- write a letter explaining all the efforts you have taken to get one
- IEC 2023: Second Draw of The Year Sent 7,118 New Invites
International Experience Canada – IEC 2023: IEC 2023 sent 7,118 in the second round of invitation for the week ending January 20, 2023.
6,370 invitations were sent under the Working Holiday category of IEC. There are currently 22,114 candidates in Working Holiday pool from 32 countries.
398 invites went to Young Professional category and 350 to international Co-op (internship) category.
Last week, the first round of invitation of IEC 2023 sent whopping 11,490 invitations. IEC current season has a processing time of 7 weeks as of January 18 IRCC processing update.
This article enlist the Countries with invitations issued as of January 20, 2023.
1. IEC 2023 Working Holiday
The type of work permit you get for Working Holiday is an open work permit.
This lets you work for almost any employer in Canada.
This category is for you if you:
- don’t have a job offer
- want to work for more than one employer in Canada
- want to work in more than one location
- like to earn some money so that you can travel
Country Invitations Issued This Week (Jan 16 – 20) Total Invitations (IEC 2023) Candidates In Pool Available Spots Andorra 0 1 1 25 Australia 415 1,470 214 Unlimited Austria 11 76 12 50 Belgium 89 327 45 519 Chile N/A N/A 5,955 To Be Announced Costa Rica 5 28 805 61 Croatia 16 38 0 251 Czech Republic 89 326 29 796 Denmark 25 60 19 308 Estonia 13 31 5 90 France 1,621 2,804 9,764 5,063 Germany N/A N/A 1,283 To Be Announced Greece 38 120 12 102 Hong Kong 34 122 11 125 Ireland 639 1,955 281 9,292 Italy 162 542 59 1,405 Japan 386 1,136 189 5,677 Korea Republic 1,200 2,220 2,755 2,617 Latvia 6 42 5 15 Lithuania 129 129 12 98 Luxembourg 1 10 1 73 Netherlands 81 323 42 222 New Zealand 170 547 76 2,119 Norway 8 24 2 115 Poland 48 235 27 485 Portugal 82 222 43 1,602 San Marino 0 0 2 25 Slovakia 160 160 24 219 Slovenia 4 17 1 71 Spain 190 517 82 456 Sweden 23 58 14 548 United Kingdom 725 2,604 344 3,363 Total 6,370 16,144 22,114 35,792 2. IEC 2023 Young Professionals
The type of work permit you get in the Young Professionals category is an employer-specific work permit.
This category is for you if
- you have a job offer in Canada that contributes to your professional development
- you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
Country Invitations Issued This Week (Jan 16 – 20) Total Invitations (IEC 2023) Candidates In Pool Available Spots Australia 10 22 7 Unlimited Austria 0 2 0 59 Chile N/A N/A 133 To Be Announced Costa Rica 52 82 9 0 Croatia 2 3 0 18 Czech Republic 17 63 9 105 Estonia 1 2 0 9 France 208 723 116 1,768 Germany N/A N/A 91 To Be Announced Greece 16 52 8 0 Ireland 7 27 5 139 Italy 16 69 9 172 Latvia 0 2 0 7 Lithuania N/A 9 1 14 Luxembourg 0 0 0 10 Netherlands 14 48 6 143 Norway 1 2 0 13 Poland 4 19 3 99 Portugal 1 10 1 194 Slovakia N/A 16 2 20 Slovenia 0 0 0 15 Spain 5 40 3 129 Sweden 2 10 0 95 Switzerland 8 48 14 166 Taiwan 9 39 4 32 Total 398 1,288 421 3,207 3. IEC – International Co-op (Internship)
The type of work permit you get in the International Co-op (Internship) category is an employer-specific work permit.
This category is for you if
- you’re a student registered at a post-secondary institution
- you have a job offer for a work placement or internship in Canada
- you need to do this work placement or internship to complete your studies
- you’ll work for the same employer in the same location during your stay in Canada
Country Invitations Issued This Week (Jan 16 – 20) Total Invitations (IEC 2023) Candidates In Pool Available Spots Australia 0 0 0 Unlimited Austria 1 1 0 19 Chile N/A N/A 1 To Be Announced Costa Rica 0 0 0 5 Croatia 0 0 0 5 Czech Republic 0 0 0 5 Estonia 0 0 0 5 France 343 1,155 166 3,411 Germany N/A 36 To Be Announced Greece 0 0 0 10 Ireland 2 4 0 47 Italy 0 2 0 48 Latvia 0 0 0 2 Lithuania 0 0 0 5 Luxembourg 1 3 0 9 Norway 0 0 0 5 Poland 0 2 0 3 Portugal 0 0 0 50 Slovakia 0 0 0 5 Slovenia 0 0 0 5 Spain 0 2 0 49 Sweden 0 0 0 20 Switzerland 2 5 2 48 Taiwan 1 2 0 9 Total 350 1176 205 3,765 Source: IRCC
- IRCC Doubles PR Quota For Out-Of-Status Construction Workers In GTA
Today, IRCC announced doubling the Permanent Residency (PR) quota, for the out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport and Peter Fonseca, Member of Parliament for Mississauga East-Cooksville made this announcement today, on the behalf of IRCC Minister Sean Fraser.
Out-Of-Status Construction Workers pilot program was initially announced in 2019 with allocation of PR spots to 500 out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Today, IRCC extended and expanded, doubling its scope to 1,000 out-of-status construction workers in the GTA.
GTA for this pilot program consists of City of Toronto and the regions of Durham, Halton, Peel, York. This pilot is currently open until January 2, 2024.
Eligibility For Out-Of Status Construction Workers Pilot Program?
Applicants with significant work experience in construction occupations in the GTA, family members in Canada, and a referral letter from the CLC.
Furthermore, they have no reason for being inadmissible other than overstaying their visa and working without authorization.
You can apply for permanent residency under this governmental policy, if you:
- have entered Canada as a temporary resident but currently have no status
- live in Canada and have been here for at least 5 years
- have worked a minimum of 4,680 hours in these 5 years (1 full-time job OR 1 or more part-time jobs OR a combination of full-time and part-time work)
- have family in Canada (mother, father, brother, sister, grandmother, grandfather, grandchild, aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, or cousin)
- be referred by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC)
- be otherwise admissible to Canada
List of Eligible Occupations For Out-Of Status Construction Workers Pilot Program
- NOC 72010 – Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations
- NOC 72011 – Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
- NOC 72012 – Contractors and supervisors, pipefitting trades
- NOC 72013 – Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
- NOC 72014 – Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
- NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
- NOC 72101 – Tool and die makers
- NOC 72102 – Sheet metal workers
- NOC 72103 – Boilermakers
- NOC 72104 – Structural metal and platework fabricators and fitters
- NOC 72105 – Ironworkers
- NOC 72106 – Welders and related machine operators
- NOC 72200 – Electricians (except industrial and power system)
- NOC 72201 – Industrial electricians
- NOC 72202 – Power system electricians
- NOC 72203 – Electrical power line and cable workers
- NOC 72204 – Telecommunications line and cable workers
- NOC 72205 – Telecommunications installation and repair workers
- NOC 72300 – Plumbers
- NOC 72301 – Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
- NOC 72302 – Gas fitters
- NOC 72310 – Carpenters
- NOC 72311 – Cabinetmakers
- NOC 72320 – Bricklayers
- NOC 72321 – Insulators
- NOC 72020 – Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
- NOC 72021 – Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
- NOC 72022 – Supervisors, printing and related occupations
- NOC 72023 – Supervisors, railway transport operations
- NOC 72024 – Supervisors, motor transport and other ground transit operators
- NOC 72400 – Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
- NOC 72401 – Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
- NOC 72402 – Heating, refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
- NOC 72403 – Railway carmen/women
- NOC 72404 – Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
- NOC 72405 – Machine fitters
- NOC 72406 – Elevator constructors and mechanics
- NOC 72410 – Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics and mechanical repairers
- NOC 72411 – Auto body collision, refinishing and glass technicians and damage repair estimators
- NOC 72420 – Oil and solid fuel heating mechanics
- NOC 72421 – Appliance servicers and repairers
- NOC 72422 – Electrical mechanics
- NOC 72423 – Motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle and other related mechanics
- NOC 72429 – Other small engine and small equipment repairers
- NOC 72500 – Crane operators
- NOC 72501 – Water well drillers
- NOC 72999 – Other technical trades and related occupations
- NOC 73100 – Concrete finishers
- NOC 73101 – Tilesetters
- NOC 73102 – Plasterers, drywall installers and finishers and lathers
- NOC 73110 – Roofers and shinglers
- NOC 73111 – Glaziers
- NOC 73112 – Painters and decorators (except interior decorators)
- NOC 73113 – Floor covering installers
- NOC 73200 – Residential and commercial installers and servicers
- NOC 73310 – Railway and yard locomotive engineers
- NOC 73311 – Railway conductors and brakemen/women
- NOC 73400 – Heavy equipment operators
- NOC 73401 – Printing press operators
- NOC 73402 – Drillers and blasters – surface mining, quarrying and construction
- NOC 75110 – Construction trades helpers and labourers
- Express Entry Draw Sent 5,500 New Invites For PR-January 18
Today, second Express Entry Draw of 2023 again invited 5,500 profiles to apply for permanent residency (PR).
Applicants having a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 490 or above received the invitations.
Initial cut off score mentioned on the official website of IRCC was 507 which was incorrect.
IRCC has also updated the correct CRS cut off score on their official website as of now.
So, the CRS cut off score has reduced by only 17 points to 490 as compared to Express Entry draw on January 11, 2023.
Furthermore, number of invites remained same as in the previous draw. This draw came in as a surprise because Express Entry draws are usually held bi-weekly.
This is also one of the reason for drastic drop in CRS cut off score.
Below are the details of today’s All Program Express Entry draw.
- Number of invitations issued: 5,500
- Rank required to be invited to apply: 5,500 or above
- Date and time of round: January 18, 2023 16:13:57 UTC
- CRS score of lowest-ranked candidate invited: 490
- Tie-breaking rule: November 24, 2022 21:14:59 UTC
If more than one candidate has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time they submitted their Express Entry profiles.
All program Express Entry draws include all the the Express Entry profiles under Canadian Experience Class (CEC), Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), and Federal Skilled Trades (FSTP).
Additionally, it also consider profiles under any of the aforementioned categories having a provincial nomination.
Next Express Entry draw cut off is also projected to be around 485 as per CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of January 18, 2023 listed below.
CRS score distribution of candidates in the Express Entry pool as of January 18, 2023
Latest processing time for Express Entry as of January 18
As of January 18, Express Entry processing times increased for all the three categories as listed below:
- Canadian Experience Class – 20 months
- Federal Skilled Worker Program – 30 months
- Federal Skilled Trades Program – 63 months
- Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry – 12 months
Full History of Canada Express Entry Draws since January 2022
Date Immigration program Invitations issued CRS Score Cut-Off January 11, 2023 No Program Specified 5,500 507 November 23, 2022 No Program Specified 4,750 491 November 9, 2022 No Program Specified 4,750 494 October 26, 2022 No Program Specified 4,750 496 October 12, 2022 No Program Specified 4,250 500 September 28, 2022 No Program Specified 3,750 504 September 14, 2022 No Program Specified 3,250 510 August 31, 2022 No Program Specified 2,750 516 August 17, 2022 No Program Specified 2,250 525 August 3, 2022 No Program Specified 2,000 533 July 20, 2022 No Program Specified 1,750 542 July 6, 2022 No Program Specified 1,500 557 June 22, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 636 752 June 8, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 932 796 May 25, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 590 741 May 11, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 545 753 April 27, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 829 772 April 13, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 787 782 March 30, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 919 785 March 16, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 924 754 March 2, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 1,047 761 February 16, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 1,082 710 February 2, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 1,070 674 January 19, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 1,036 745 January 5, 2022 Provincial Nominee Program 392 808 What is Express Entry System?
Express Entry system is the fastest way to get Canadian Permanent Residency (PR). It has processing time of 6 months after submission of documents following the ITA.
The Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), a points-based methodology, is used by Express Entry to rate applicant profiles. The highest-scoring applicants are given an Invitation to Apply (ITA), after which they can submit an application for permanent residence.
The Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) all use Express Entry as their application management system (FSTP).
Candidates for the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) who are in the Express Entry pool are already qualified for at least one of these programmes.
