Very few Western countries are actively looking for immigrants and encouraging the movement of people with its possibilities. If you’re a Kuwaiti citizen and you’re interested in a move to Canada, you’ll have to deal with a couple of important requirements.
The following guide contains all of the essential information that you need to know when applying for a visa and fulfilling all of the other immigration requirements. It will help you speed up the process and provide details about entities you can contact to get additional assistance.
Canada Immigration Process for Kuwaiti Citizens
Kuwaiti citizens can apply to go to Canada in several ways. There’s a short-term visit possibility, a chance to visit Canada and study in the country, work, immigration and family sponsorship programmes.
As already mentioned, Canada is known because it relies on immigrants and workers from other countries to fuel its economy. Thus, everybody is given fair treatment and there’s a fair chance of getting approved for either a short-term visit or long-term stay.
The Canadian government has designed a points system that is used to determine whether applicants will be allowed to enter the country under the Skilled Worker Act. Through this system, people who have a certain level of education or certain skills may be free to travel to Canada, regardless of the profession that they currently practice in Kuwait.
All applicants have to obtain at least 67 points out of 100 for the application to be approved. Points are handed out on the basis of the following criteria:
- Education: it can provide a maximum of 25 points. People that have PhD, master’s degrees or at least 17 years of being a full-time student will be given the maximum number of points. The minimum is five points and it is awarded to individuals that have completed their high school education.
- Language proficiency: the maximum number of points is 24. Most points are handed to the individuals that have excellent English or French proficiency and that can prove their knowledge via the provision of a language certificate. Written and oral tests are scheduled to test the language proficiency of candidates, as well.
- Age: this criterion produces a maximum of 10 points. The maximum is awarded to individuals aged 21 to 49.
- Experience: the maximum for this factor is 21 points. Experience refers to having at least four years of experience in an approved occupation. Applicants that have a fewer number of years will lose two points from their experience for each single missing year. One year of experience grants the minimum possible of 15 points.
- Arranged employment: people that have already arranged to start working prior to entering Canada can earn up to 10 points. The Canadian Skills Development and Human Resources department should confirm the legitimacy of the position.
- Adaptability: while this may seem like a vague criterion, it is not. Up to 10 additional points will be awarded in the case of family in Canada or a spouse that has relevant education or previous work experience.
Types of Visas and Visa Requirements
There are several visa options for Kuwaiti citizens who want to immigrate to Canada. Needless to say, the requirements for each one are specific and may differ from the ones already mentioned as a part of the Skilled Workers Act.
Tourist Visa
To come to Canada as a tourist, you’ll need to apply for a visitor visa. It’s possible to apply both online and in person (the second option is required whenever biometric data will have to be submitted).
Kuwaiti citizens are eligible to apply for a tourist visa. It will grant them a right to stay in the country for a period that doesn’t exceed six months. People who come to Canada on a tourist visa cannot work in the country.
When it comes to tourist visas, there are two main varieties to choose among – single and multiple entry visas. A single entry visa, as its name indicates, enables you to enter Canada a single time. If you leave Canada (excluding travel to the US), you’ll not be eligible to enter the country again within the six-month period. The multiple-entry visa allows you to exit and enter Canada again several times.
Parent/Grandparent Visa
This type of visa is known as a super-visa because it enables eligible parents and grandparents to stay with family in Canada for a period of up to two years. This is a multi-entry visa, meaning that for the period of its validity, the person is free to enter Canada and leave the country numerous times.
All of the individuals applying for the visa will need to pass an interview with a visa officer at an embassy in Kuwait and complete a medical exam prior to entering Canada.
Business Visa
Apart from requiring a visa, individuals who plan to find employment in Canada will also need a work permit most of the time. Here’s a form that you can use to determine whether a work permit will be a needed part of your application. Your area of specialisation is the determining factor.
Keep in mind that entering Canada as a businessman and as a worker are two separate entities.
Businesspeople enter the country to do business under an agreement like the North America Free Trade Agreement, the General Agreement on Trade and Services and other free trade agreements. Business visitors are free from having to obtain a work permit.
Business people and entrepreneurs can complete the application process online.
Work permits are available for both temporary and permanent workers. More information about the requirements and the application procedure can be found on the Government of Canada website.
Immigration Programmes
The final option that you can try to enter Canada legally is an immigration programme. You can test your eligibility here. By filling out the program, you will get more information about the federal economic immigration programmes that you’re eligible to.
Individuals from Kuwait who have no relatives in Canada and who want to move permanently to the country in order to find work there are typically eligible to the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the Federal Skilled Trades Program and the Canadian Experience Class.
Once again, the Government of Canada website features quizzes and brief questionnaires that will help you determine your eligibility and figure out what documents will be required to complete the immigration application process.
Keep in mind that as a part of the application process, you may be required to complete a language proficiency test, you’ll have to provide proof of education and you will have to familiarize yourself with Canada’s National Occupational Classification System. More information about the process in its entirety is available here.
Quebec Immigration Overview
Quebec has the authority to select skilled workers that will settle in the province. A set of specific criteria will once again be used to determine the eligibility of applicants.
All Kuwaiti citizens who complete the process successfully will receive a Certificat de selection du Québec that is issued by the government of Quebec. Keep in mind that Quebec is a predominantly French-speaking province, which will have to be factored in your immigration decision.
The Official Site of the Government of Quebec dedicated to immigration provides a lot of useful information about the application possibilities, the selection process and the things you can do to increase your chances of success.
The first step of the process is completing the Preliminary Evaluation for Immigration online. PEI is a tool that gives you some idea about your chances. Entrepreneurs and people who are coming to Quebec in order to start a business are free from having to complete the PEI. The same applies to individuals who are interested in long-term stay through an investor programme.
PEI will ask questions about your background, age, education and professional experience. In essence, it is like the point system and it assesses eligibility on the basis of the positive contribution that you’re going to have on the Quebec economy.
Once you have completed the PEI, you can fill out the official immigration application online. The application can be submitted online and once you fulfill this step, you can also submit an application for permanent residence. The second application will have to be submitted to the Government of Canada.
Living and Working in Canada
There are a few essentials that you’ll have to get used to when moving to Canada. There are significant political, economic and cultural differences. While Canada’s government does its best to welcome immigrants and skilled workers, you will need some time to get used to your new surroundings.
Canada has a largely decentralised structure and each province runs many independent activities and regulations. These are usually coordinated on a national level, especially when it comes to serious matters like healthcare and education.
Quebec forms a distinct society with its own government and as you’ve already found out – its own immigration and worker requirements.
If you haven’t found employment prior to your move, you will have to apply shortly after moving to Canada. Keep in mind that certain types of education and past professional credentials are well-respected. These could make it much easier for you to find work.
People that have UK qualifications are usually capable of finding a relevant job within a short period of time. These credentials will be sufficient to score a first interview, during which you will have to prove that you are skilled and qualified enough. Keep in mind that in Canada, potential employers cannot ask candidates for personal information. You shouldn’t be judged on your nationality, age, religion or ethnic background. Such information isn’t to be included in your CV, either.
The key to finding a good job is doing your research and applying to relevant job ads. Trade publications and other specialised media could provide a lot of information about the respective sector, the employment outlook and the things you’ll have to do in order to be considered an attractive candidate.
Apart from having many jobs that immigrants can choose among after entering the country, Canada also has a stable investment climate. If you’re a business person or an entrepreneur, Canada could be the right place for the establishment of your corporate activities.
When it comes to running a business, there are four main options to choose among – buying an existing corporate entity, setting up a branch office of an international company, getting into a joint venture or starting your own business. Self-employment possibilities are also available. Having a talk with a skilled attorney will give you a better idea about the possibilities and the procedures that need to be completed for the establishment of a business in Canada.
One final thing to remember is that whether you’re trying to get employment or you want to start a business, your foreign qualifications will have to be accredited in Canada. For some professions, you may have to acquire additional accreditation in the country. A few of the industries that will necessitate additional accreditation regardless of your academic background include social work, teaching nursing and physiotherapy. More information about professional credentials and the accreditation process is available at the Foreign Credentials Referral Office website.
Locations of Canadian Embassies and Consulates in Kuwait
During the application process, you will have to visit the Canadian embassy at least a few times. Whether you need to have an interview or you have questions, the national representatives there will guide you through the process and help you finalise the application successfully.
Here’s the contact information that you can use to ask your questions directly:
Embassy of Canada in Kuwait
- Address: Da’iya, Block 4, Al-Mutawakkel st., villa 24, Kuwait City
- Telephone: (965) 2256-30-25
- Email: kwait@international.gc.ca
Hours of operation: Sunday to Thursday – 8am to 10pm and 1:30pm to 4pm, consular section – Sunday to Thursday from 8am to 1pm
The embassy is the only Canadian representation in Kuwait.
When it comes to a Kuwaiti embassy in Canada, should you need any assistance during your stay in the country, here’s the contact information:
Embassy of Kuwait in Canada
- Address: 333 Sussex Drive, Ottawa ON K1N 1J9
- Telephone: (1) 613-780-9999
- Email: info@embassyofkuwait.ca