Express Entry

Express Entry remains one of the foremost ways for how to immigrate to Canada in 2025. The flagship selection system is used to control applications for the main federal programs: Federal Skilled Worker, Canadian Experience Class and Federal Skilled Trades.

Canada plans to welcome 41,700 Federal High Skilled immigrants in 2025, according to the latest Immigration Levels Plan, rising to 47,400 in 2025 and 47,800 in 2026.

Expect to see a significant number of occupation-specific Express Entry draws, draws aimed at French-speakers, all-program and program-specific draws in 2025.

Provincial Nominee Program

The combined force of Canada’s Provincial Nominee Programs will welcome more immigrants than Express Entry to Canada in 2025, making it another important entry on the how to immigrate to Canada list.

Canada plans to welcome 55,000 newcomers through the nine provincial (and two territorial) immigration programs, with that number remaining the same for the next two years.

Canada’s Provincial Nomination Programs

Ontario Immigration 2025
Quebec Immigration
Alberta Immigration
British Columbia Immigration
Manitoba Immigration
New Brunswick Immigration
Newfoundland Immigration
Nova Scotia Immigration
Saskatchewan Immigration
Yukon Immigration
Prince Edward Island Immigration
Northwest Territories and Nunavut Immigration

Parts of the PNP also feed into Express Entry, meaning each of the provincial programs mentioned above have specific streams for the federally-operated selection system. The provinces are geared up to select immigrants specific to their economic needs. Candidates should consult target occupation lists and streams because provincial and federal priorities differ.

Self Employed Programs

Both the federal government and Quebec operate self-employed programs.

The federal Self-Employed Class is geared towards applicants who have relevant self-employment experience as well as the intention and the ability to create their own employment and make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic or athletic life of Canada.

In Quebec, self-employed applicants are primarily differentiated from skilled workers in that they create their own job by practicing a profession or engaging in a commercial activity.Northwest Territories and Nunavut Immigration

Refugee Immigration

Canada continues to prioritize welcoming refugees as part of its humanitarian effort around the world. Gazans, Ukrainians, Syrians and Afghans have all benefitted from Canada’s openness to refugees.

The federal government’s Economic Mobility Pathways Project aims to bring skilled refugees to Canada. The latest Immigration Levels Plan has room for more than 58,350 newcomers to Canada in the Refugee Class.

Spouses, Partners and Children

Canada combines spouses, partners and children in its Immigration Levels Plan, with an aim to welcome 70,000 such newcomers in 2025, making up the majority of the 94,500-strong Family Class. If you have a family member here, there are good options for how to immigrate to Canada.

The spouse and partner stream allows for applications from outside or within Canada (via the Spouse or Common-Law Partner in Canada Class). Spouses and partners can be of any sex provided they meet requirements.

Spouses and partners can qualify for a work permit while they are waiting for their applications to be processed.

Children being sponsored are generally under 22 and do not have a spouse or partner of their own. To qualify over the age of 22, they must be unable to financially support themselves because of a mental or physical condition or have depended on their parents for financial support since before the age of 22. Canada operates a separate stream for adoption from overseas.

Paths to Resettlement

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