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Special Programs To Assist Afghan Nationals in Immigration to Canada
Canada has announced the resettlement of up to 20,000 vulnerable Afghan nationals to Canada. This will be done through
- a special immigration program for Afghan citizens including family members, who have previously assisted the Canadian government
- a special humanitarian program focused on resettling Afghan nationals who are outside of Afghanistan and who cannot stay in another country where they currently reside, including people such as
- women leaders
- human rights advocates
- LGBTQIA individuals
- journalists and people who assisted Canadian journalists
- immediate family members of the above individuals
- extended family members of previously resettled interpreters who assisted the Government of Canada
You don’t need to currently be in Afghanistan or go to Afghanistan if you are in another location to be eligible or to have your application processed.
If you’re outside of Afghanistan and need urgent protection, contact the nearest office of the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Reach Immigration Canada
For questions about the immigration program for Afghans who assisted the Government of Canada, contact us at [email protected].
Contact IRCC at [email protected] for questions about
- the humanitarian program to resettle Afghans outside of Afghanistan or
- reuniting Afghan nationals with their families in Canada.
Special measures for Afghans in Canada
Special measures are also being put in place for Afghans currently in Canada. Find out more about how we’re prioritizing processing for family reunification and Afghan temporary residents currently in Canada.
How to sponsor an Afghan refugee
People in Canada can help Afghan refugees by sponsoring them to come to Canada. There are different ways you can sponsor a refugee:
- by working with a Sponsorship Agreement Holder (SAH) as a constituent group
- as a Group of Five
As a group, you can sponsor a
- specific refugee or refugee family
- refugee referred by a visa office abroad
Find out more about how to become a Group of Five or find an SAH.
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents: If you need a travel document urgently
If you’re a Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Afghanistan and you need a travel document urgently, email us at [email protected].
Afghan citizens enjoy coming to Canada as visitors to visit family and friends, or as tourists To come to Canada as a visitor, nationals of Afghanistan need to apply for a Temporary Resident Visa.
If you have previously applied for a visitor visa which was refused, learn more here.
To qualify for a visa, the applicant must:
- Be in good health
- Have a valid passport or other travel document
- Have no criminal convictions
- Have no immigration-related convictions
- Demonstrate ties to home country (i.e., a job, home, financial assets, or family) that are incentives for the applicant to return home at the end of the permitted stay
- Have sufficient funds for the stay (The amount of money needed varies based on how long one stays and whether accommodations are a hotel, friends, or relatives).
There are 2 categories of documents that need to be provided 1) Application Forms and 2) Supporting Documents.
- Application Forms that need to be completed are:
- Application for Temporary Resident Visa (IMM5257)
- Family Information form (IMM5707)
- Statutory Declaration of Common-Law Union (IMM5409) if applicable
- Use of a Representative (IMM5476) if applicable
- Authority to Release Personal Information to a Designated Individual (IMM5475) if applicable
2. Supporting Documents that need to be provided are:
- A photocopy of the information page of a travel document and any stamps from previous travel
- Poof of financial means to pay for your trip and return home
- Photocopy of marriage certificate/license if applicable
- Purpose of travel
- Photocopy of documents pertaining to current immigration status
The applicant may also need a medical exam and letter of invitation from someone who lives in Canada.
Once the fees are paid and the application is submitted, the applicant will receive a letter from the Visa Office or the VAC (Letter of Instruction) confirming the need for biometric data to be provided and directives on where to go. This letter must be presented when going to the Biometrics appointment. Locations where Biometric data can be provided is listed at the following site: https://www.cic.gc.ca/englis/information/where-to-give-Biometrics.asp
* Additional 3rd party fees that applicants may need to pay include educational credential assessments or language testing. Based on the specific circumstances, the instruction guide will outline what fees are required from the applicant.
Things to Keep in Mind!
! All foreign nationals must be admissible to Canada. In other words, applicants from Afghanistan must be considered healthy and safe to immigrate, especially while the covid-19 pandemic is still happening.
! Not being truthful on an application, by withholding pertinent information or answering dishonestly is called “misrepresentation” and can result in not only a refusal of the application and but also possibly barring him/her from applying for resident status (inadmissible) for up to 5 years – you must declare any previous refusals for visas or immigration applications, including being denied entry to another country such as the USA.
Permanent Residency in Canada from Afghanistan
The “Express Entry” online system for immigrating to Canada processes applications as quickly as six months. The applicant creates a Profile to apply for Permanent Residence (PR) status and completes the sections, resulting in points being awarded to each category of the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The goal of the point system is to forecast the likeliness of the applicant succeeding in their life in Canada if they were to be granted permanent resident status. Factors taken into consideration for the evaluation are: the applicant’s previous work experience, training, knowledge, and what they have to offer socially and economically. The Government of Canada extends an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent resident status to candidates scoring the highest number of total points.
Afghan citizens who want to immigrate to Canada may want to consider the following Express Entry programs:
-
Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class
-
Federal Skilled Trades (FST) Class
-
Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
-
Provincial Nomination Program (PNP)
-
Family Class
The Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) Class allows Afghan nationals with training and experience in designated professions to apply for permanent residency in Canada. CRS Points are earned depending on skilled work experience, English/French language abilities, education, proof of funds, admissibility, and other factors (including age, existence of a job offer, and adaptability). Depending on the applicant’s ranking, an ITA to apply for permanent residency will — or will not — be sent to them by the government. ITAs are sent to those with the highest scores.
Afghan citizens applying through this stream must provide evidence of their skilled work experience, as outlined by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system, in one of the following job groups:
- Managerial job (Skill Type “0”) – in areas such as factories, offices, or resorts.
- Professional job (Skill Level “A”) – such as architects, accountants, lawyers, teachers, medical workers.
- Technical job and skilled trades (Skill Level “B”) – such as chefs, plumbers, electricians.
The following process outline is only for applicants seeking to reside in provinces outside of Québec, as that province has its own selection process for skilled workers.
Skilled Work
Afghan citizens, applying for this stream must demonstrate that, they previously gained experience and performed the duties outlined in the lead statement of the NOC description, including all essential duties and most of the main duties for the job (with the same NOC code) that they are seeking to work in upon immigrating to Canada. The previous professional experience must have been paid work (not internships or volunteer service) and gained within the last 10 years, for at least one continuous year of employment.
Note: Both full-time and part-time employment periods qualify, based on the hours earned. Student work experience may also count so long as the work was paid, was continuous and meets other requirements of the program.
Language
Afghan citizens applying for this stream must take an approved English and/or French language test for reading, writing, listening, and speaking and earn a minimum score of 7 of the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) in all four areas. Note: Results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test results and must be valid on the day of application for permanent residence.
Education
Afghan citizens with credentials from countries other than Canada, must provide the following for the FSW stream of the Express Entry system:
- From a recognized institution, provide a diploma, degree, or trade apprenticeship certificate proving the completion of study/training
AND
2. From a designated organization, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) for immigration purposes to show the education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
Note: If the applicant has completed studies at a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution then a certificate, diploma, or degree must be provided.
Proof of Funds
To settle in Canada, when seeking to immigrate to Canada through certain programs in the Express Entry system, Afghan applicants must show that they have sufficient funds for not only themselves but also for any family joining them. (For individuals who are already legally working in Canada or have a valid job offer from a Canada-based employer, this requirement is waived).
Admissibility
Any foreign national applying to immigrate to Canada must be admissible to Canada. In other words, the national of Afghanistan must be healthy and safe to immigrate. The most common reason applicants are found to be inadmissible to Canada is DUI (drunk-driving). Anyone with a criminal conviction must have been approved for criminal rehabilitation to be granted PR status in Canada.
Other reasons for which applicants may be denied admission to Canada may be:
- Security reasons (i.e., espionage, violence, terrorism, war crimes, previous convictions of crimes)
- Medical reasons (i.e., health conditions that are a risk to the public or cause excessive demand on health/social services)
- Misrepresentation (i.e., providing false information or withholding information related to government decisions)
- Having an inadmissible family member.
Note: Applicants from Afghanistan who are seeking to immigrate to Canada through the CEC stream of the Express Entry process are not required to show they have enough money for themselves and their family if joining them because this requirement is waived for individuals who are currently able to legally work in Canada or have a valid job offer from a Canada-based employer.
Afghan citizens seeking to immigrate to Canada through the Federal Skilled Trades (FST) stream of the Express Entry online system, must demonstrate that for the trades work they seek to do in Canada:
- They have previously performed all the duties that are outlined in the lead statement of the NOC description of the skilled trade, including all essential duties and most of the main duties
- The prior skilled trade experience was gained in a paid role with the same NOC code as the job that the applicant is seeking to work in upon immigrating to Canada
- The skilled trade experience was gained after qualifying to independently practice the trade
- The skilled trade experience was gained within the last 5 years before applying
- The skilled trade experience was at least 2 years of full-time work (or an equal amount of part-time work experience)
Language
Afghan citizens applying through the FST stream, must take an approved English and/or French language test. The tests assess listening, speaking, reading, and writing abilities according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB).
- For listening and speaking a minimum level 5 is required
- For reading and writing a minimum of level 4 is required
The results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test results and must be valid on the day of application for permanent residence.
Education
There is no education requirement for the FST immigration stream, however if an applicant from Afghanistan wants to improve their CRS ranking in the Express Entry pool, they can do so by having past education included in the points by doing either of the following:
- Points can be earned for a certificate, diploma, or degree from a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution if the applicant has had prior education in Canada.
OR
- If the applicant has had prior education abroad, points can be earned by having an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) completed by a designated organization, showing that the education earned outside of Canada is equal to either a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
Provincial/Territorial Trades Assessment
Afghan citizens applying to the FST immigration stream will need to have the province/territory where they wish to live assess their experience by the governing body that regulates that trade in the given province/territory. Below is the list of links to websites for each province’s/territory’s specific details about Certificates of Qualification for the trades, as well as outlines of how these certificates can be earned. Based on the outcome of this assessment the Canadian employer might later need to provide the applicant worker with specific experience or training to bridge the gap.
The Canadian Centre for International Credentials provides a comprehensive summary of who regulates the trades for cases where a trade is not found under a provincial/territorial body: https://www.cicic.ca/935/find_an_occupational_profile.canada?search=&cat=1&tp=7.
Proof of Funds
Afghan citizens applying to the FST to settle in Canada, must prove that they have sufficient funds for themselves (and any family member joining them).
More information about financial requirements for the FST process can be found at: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/documents/proof-funds.html
Admissibility
When applying for the FST stream, foreign nationals must be admissible to Canada, considered healthy and safe to immigrate. The most common reason foreign nationals are found to be inadmissible to Canada is DUI (drunk-driving). If applicants have a criminal conviction, he/she must have been approved for criminal rehabilitation to be granted PR in Canada.
Other reasons for which Afghan citizens may be denied admission to Canada could be:
- Security reasons (i.e., espionage, violence, terrorism, war crimes, previous convictions of crimes)
- Medical reasons (i.e., health conditions that are a risk to the public or cause excessive demand on health/social services)
- Misrepresentation (i.e., providing false information or withholding information related to government decisions)
- Having a family member who is inadmissible
Note: Applicants from Afghanistan, seeking to immigrate to Canada through the Canadian Experience Class stream of the Express Entry process, are exempt from having to demonstrate having enough money for themselves (and their family if joining them), to settle in Canada. This requirement is waived for individuals who can legally work in Canada at present or have a valid job offer from a Canada-based employer.
For applicants of Afghanistan who have worked in Canada, the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) stream of the Express Entry process evaluates skilled work performed while employed in Canada. Other areas that the CRS assigns points for are: English/French language abilities, education, admissibility, and other factors (including age, existence of a job offer, and adaptability). The Government of Canada then extends ITAs to the top-ranking applicants in the pool.
Skilled Work Experience
Afghan citizensy wishing to apply for permanent residency in Canada through the CEC stream must provide proof that they have done skilled work in Canada in at least one of the following roles, as outlined by the National Occupation Classification (NOC) system:
- Managerial job (Skill Type “0”) – in areas such as factories, offices, or resorts.
- Professional job (Skill Level “A”) – such as architects, accountants, lawyers, teachers, medical workers.
- Technical job and skilled trades (Skill Level “B”) – such as chefs, plumbers, electricians.
Applicants must show that, while legally working in their occupation in Canada, they performed the duties outlined in the lead statement of the NOC description for which they are applying to work in Canada, including all essential duties and most of the main duties.
Note: This experience must have been completed in the last 3 years before applying and total 1 year full-time (or equal amount in part-time)!
Note: The CEC stream does not accept Canadian work experience that the Afghan national gained while studying, through self-employment or during a co-op term towards the minimum experience requirements
Language
Applicants from Afghanistan must complete an approved English and/or French language test to determine whether they meet the minimum communication requirements for the profession or trade intended to work in upon immigrating to Canada, by evaluating Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) levels for reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The Level 7 (in all 4 areas of testing) is the minimum requirement for NOC 0 or A jobs and Level 5 (in all 4 areas) for NOC B jobs. Test results are valid for 2 years after the date of the test results and must be valid on the day of application for permanent residence.
Education
For the CEC stream there is no education requirement. However, any applicant of Afghanistan who wishes to improve their ranking in the Express Entry pool can have additional CRS points assigned to their past education. This can be done in one of two ways:
- If the Afghan national’s past education was obtained in Canada, points can be earned for completion of a certificate, diploma, or degree at a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
OR
- If the Afghan citizen’s last education was obtained abroad, points can be earned by having an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) completed by a designated organization, to show that the education is equal to completion at either a Canadian secondary or post-secondary institution.
Note: Nationals of Afghanistan, applying to immigrate to Canada through the CEC stream of the Express Entry process, are not required to prove sufficient funds for themselves and any family joining them to settle in Canada as this requirement is waived for individuals who can legally work in Canada or have a valid job offer from a Canada-based employer at the time of applying.
Allowing provinces and territories to select their own immigration candidates based on their own economic needs, the Federal Government allocates an immigration quota to each province and territory. The Provincial Nominee Program gives applicants an opportunity to apply through the province rather than through a federal program (such as the FSW, FST or CEC).
There are 12 provinces/territories offering their own, independent, immigration programs and streams. The criteria and eligibility requirements vary for each, depending on their economic needs and the industries in which they need to fill shortages. Each province/territory offers anywhere from 3-8 immigration streams.
While there are over 50 PNP streams, they can be broken down into the following categories.
International Student Streams – This category of streams allows nationals from Afghanistan, who have recently graduated from a Canadian college/university, to apply to permanently reside in the province. Please note that most International Student Streams candidates require a job offer post-graduation.
Express Entry Streams – This category of streams is for applicants from Afghanistan who have already created an Express Entry Profile. The applicant must approach the province or territory where they wish to immigrate to, expressing their interest. If the province or territory approves the application, the application will be allocated an additional 600 CRS points, improving the overall ranking significantly. Based on the score compared to other applicants, the province or territory then sends the top-scoring applicants an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for PR status, nominating them to be a “Candidate” of their Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
Semi-Skilled Streams – This category of streams allows for the province or territory to bring foreign nationals to Canada who are semi-skilled in occupations that fall under NOC Levels C and D. While Level C jobs usually require completion of high school and job-specific training (i.e., industrial butchers, long-haul truck drivers, and food/beverage servers), Level D jobs usually provide on-the-job training (i.e., fruit pickers, cleaning staff, oil field workers). This helps the province fill shortages in semi-skilled occupations.
Entrepreneur/Business Streams – This category of streams is for entrepreneurs or investors from Afghanistan looking to create a new business or invest into one of Canada’s provincial or territorial businesses. The eligibility criteria require:
- A minimum net worth
- A minimum investment
- Creation of a minimum amount of full-time Canadian jobs
The amounts for each criterion vary according to the province or territory being applied to.
After the Afghan citizen has been nominated by the province or territory, they become “Candidates” and can apply for permanent residency with IRCC. This application must be submitted online or by paper depending on the immigration stream.
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP)
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) falls under the Express Entry stream. Once the Afghanapplicant has created a Profile in the Express Entry online system, he/she needs to contact the province of Ontario to express interest in immigrating. The Government of Ontario will assess the application based on the skills, education, and work experience of the applicant to determine how they could contribute to the province. If it is determined that this applicant from Afghanistan meets all the criteria and that immigration to Ontario would be beneficial to the province, an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residency will be sent, nominating him/her as a nominee of the OINP. To apply for the OINP the applicant must submit an online copy.
Websites, with instructions on how to apply for provincial or territorial programs (PNPs) can be found here:
- Ontario (OINP)
Note: For each province/territory to reach their specific immigration targets (i.e., students, skilled workers, business investors, etc.), each has their own streams and, accordingly, their own requirements.
Candidates from Afghanistan, who are sent an ITA for the OINP must apply for Permanent Resident status online. However, other provinces/territories may require paper copies.
Paper Based Process
If a paper based copy permanent residence application is required by the province or territory nominating the Afghan citizen, then the application goes via a non-Express Entry stream.
The application process for permanent residence, for provinces or territories requiring paper based applications, is as follows:
- Complete and submit the paper application package for permanent residence (which included an Instruction Guide and all necessary government forms), available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/application-package-provincial-nominees.html
- Complete and submit the Medical Exam, available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/medical-exams.html
- Complete and submit a Police Character/Clearance Certificate, available here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/medical-police/police-certificates/how/afghanistan.html
- Pay application fees (including processing fees for oneself and any relative coming with the applicant, Right of Permanent Residence fee, biometric fees, and applicable third-party fees)* at https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/pay.asp
- Submit the application with Proof of Payment for all required fees to the location indicated in the Instruction Guide.
Once the fees are paid and the application is submitted, the applicant will receive a letter (Letter of Instruction) confirming the need for biometric data to be provided and directives on where to go. This letter must be presented when going to the Biometrics appointment. Locations where Biometric data can be provided is listed at the following site: https://www.cic.gc.ca/englis/information/where-to-give-Biometrics.asp
* Additional 3rd party fees that applicants may need to pay include educational credential assessments or language testing. The instruction guide will outline what fees apply to the applicant, based on their specific circumstances.
Online Process
If the Afghan citizen is interested in applying for permanent residency by obtaining a nomination from a province or territory that offers the PNP via the Express Entry process, he/she has two options for applying:
- The Afghan citizen can contact the province/territory and then apply for a nomination through the Express Entry stream. If the province/territory provides a nomination, an Express Entry online profile needs to be created (or existing profiles updated) to show a nomination has been made.
OR
- The Afghan citizen creates an Express Entry profile as part of the application for permanent residency and shows provinces/territories he/she is seeking to reside there and that a nomination is sought. When a province/territory sends a “Notification of Interest” the applicant can contact that province/territory and applies to the Express Entry stream to await a nomination to the account.
Note: For either process, applicants must pass a Medical Exam and provide a Police Character/Clearance Certificate, which both need to be submitted as part of the application.
Things to Keep in Mind!
! Québec does not have a PNP. Information about their immigration streams can be found at: http://www.immigration-Québec.gouv.qc.ca/en/
! Paper-based, non-Express Entry applications have longer processing times than Express Entry online applications.
! Whichever process Afghan nationals apply through, they must meet the eligibility requirement(s) of the province/territory that they are applying to reside in.
! Regardless of which process Afghan nationals apply through, if they receive an ITA they must submit an electronic application for permanent residency.
! All foreign nationals must be admissible to Canada. In other words, applicants from Afghanistan must be considered healthy and safe to immigrate.
! Not being truthful on an application, by withholding pertinent information or answering dishonestly is called “misrepresentation” and can result in not only a refusal of the application and but also possibly barring him/her from applying for resident status (inadmissible) for up to 5 years.
