The current trend is that the whole world is migrating to new lands for a better job, career prospects and to improve their standard of living. If you plan to relocate, you may have many countries on your bucket list. Also, specific criteria you look for choosing the apt destination. Canada remains one of the favourite places for people to migrate upon. But have you ever compared Canada to other popular destinations?
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In this article, we shall discuss the most popular and better options between two countries - Canada Vs Australia, which will be the wisest choice. Let's check out some immigration programs both countries offer to attract more people worldwide.
You will be aware of two widely known immigration programs: the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program of Canada and the Skilled Independent program (subclass 189) of Australia.
These programs aim to attract new skilled and qualified immigrants. The attractive part is that both programs don't require applicants to have a job offer, work experience, or relation with that country. The two immigration programs remain the apt choice for qualified, skilled professionals from around the world. And they help you to acquire PR status. With PR status, visa holders can enter/exit the country as they wish. Gradually the visa holders lead to get citizenship. Another similarity is that both these programs select applicants using points-based systems. Here are the compared lists below:
Canada's Federal Skilled Worker program requires candidates to have at least one year of full-time, skilled work experience. Canada states professional work experience as any job included in the National Occupational Classification (NOC)TEER level 0, 1, 2 or 3.
Likewise, Australia's Skilled Independent program requires candidates to prove they have the skills and qualifications to work in any one of the eligible occupations.
Australian Immigration has a Skilled Independent Occupations List indicating the program's eligible occupations. To qualify, a candidate must consult the proper Assessing Authority (included on the list) and receive proof that they are eligible to work in Australia. If an occupation is not specified on the list or an applicant has not consulted with the Assessing Authority, then they become ineligible to apply for this program.
Both programs utilize points-assessment grids to determine the qualifications of applicants for Immigration. The grids assess points for age, language proficiency, work experience, education, and other unique factors. To be eligible in Canada, you must score at least 67 points out of 100. In comparison, Australia's program requires a minimum of 60 points out of 135.
| Factor | Australia (Max Points) | Canada (Max Points) |
| Age | 30 | 12 |
| Language Proficiency | 20 | 28 |
| Work experience | 15 | 15 |
| In-country work experience | 20 | 10 |
| Education | 25 | 25 |
| Other factors | 20 | 10 |
| Passing score | 60 | 67 |
Go through the above table and check your scores. You can submit your interest in the program if you meet the minimum points requirement. However, please bear in mind that meeting the minimum points requirement for both countries does not guarantee Immigration. Always remember that meeting the minimum points is only the initial step in the application procedure for immigration.
Canada's Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program falls under the Express Entry immigration system, which electronically manages immigration applications. Candidates who meet the 67 points through the Express Entry system can create an Express Entry profile through the immigration web portal. The Express Entry profile clear indication that the candidate is interested in Canadian Immigration, and it acts as an Expression of Interest (EOI).
After creating the Express Entry profile, based on the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS), candidates will be given a score. As mentioned above, the CRS is a scoring system of 1200 points, utterly different from the eligibility points grid. The validity of the Express Entry profile is up to 12 months. If the profile remains inactive for up to 12 months, the candidate has to start the whole process again and resubmit.
The Canadian government initiates an Express Entry draw every two weeks, inviting the candidates with the highest CRS scores in the pool to submit official applications for PR. If an applicant is successful, they receive PR status for themselves and all accompanying family members stated in the application.
The procedure for the Australian Skilled Independent Visa program is much similar to Canada's Express Entry system. First, candidates with a minimum of 60 points must submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with the help of Australia's online system - SkillSelect. Unlike Canada, Australia has no secondary points system and only uses its eligibility grid to rank candidates.
Australian immigration issues invitations twice per month on average. Candidates with the highest-ranking EOIs will get an invitation to apply. If multiple candidates get the same rank, the priority will be for the candidate who applied earlier. The validity for SkillSelect EOIs is up to 2 years. If an EOI is not invited within two years, it will expire.
The Australian Independent Skills program analyses occupation ceilings each year. Each eligible occupation has a maximum quota; if that quota is filled, no other professionals will be invited until next year.
After receiving an invitation, an applicant gets 60 days to apply for Australian PR. If the applicant is successful, they receive PR status for themselves and accompanying family members (including spouse and children) as mentioned in the application.
When we compare both processing time and immigration cost, Canada has an advantage over Australia. Canada's Federal Skilled Worker program amounts to a total fee of CAD 1,365 for each adult applicant and an additional CAD 230 per child. Applicants to Express Entry programs should be aware of these facts and prepared for various other costs during the immigration process.
Australia's Independent Skills program costs CAD 3800 for the principal applicant, an additional CAD 2330 for a spouse and CAD 960 per child. Like Canadian Immigration charges, Australian applicants should also expect various other costs for documentation etc.
Canada's Express Entry system works fast and aims to process 80% of all applications within six months of receipt. Australia's Independent Skills program boasts that 75% of applications are processed within eight months of receipt. Considering various factors, processing times can vary for both countries, so checking the current processing time is highly recommended.
As mentioned earlier, both programs are ideal for high-skilled professionals and don't require a connection to Canada or Australia. If a worker has a link to the country, completed studies in Canada or has a job offer from Australia, then they have many additional options.
For instance, Canada maintains the Canadian Experience Class program within Express Entry, which prioritizes foreign workers with a minimum of one-year work experience in Canada. Canada also has a host of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which often select candidates having regional connections.
Australia also has several immigration programs for skilled workers with connections/links to the country. Many Visas are available to those with an employer nomination, those from specific regions, and those with special skills.
We have covered all the basic immigration programs that are popular in Canada and Australia. Now, it's you to pick your favourite destination. If you want to settle in the Land of Koalas or the Land of Maple Leaf- the choice is yours. Act wisely and migrate to build a robust career in your dreamland.
Feel free to contact us for your queries.
Read To Know: How to Settle and obtain PR status in Canada
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