Immigration to Canada Bulgaria

Immigration to Canada Bulgaria

Bulgaria is located on the eastern flank of the Balkans in Southeast Europe. It borders North Macedonia, Romania, Greece, Serbia, and Turkey. It also has a maritime border with the Black Sea. The total area of the country is 110,994 km2, with a population of 6,520,314 citizens. Bulgarian is the official language. The predominant ethnic group in the country is Bulgarian. Ethnic minorities are Turks and Roma.

Bulgaria is a developing country. Its market economy is part of the European Single Market and focuses on services, agriculture, machine building and mining industries. Bulgaria is a founding member of the OSCE, a member of the European Union, NATO, and the Council of Europe.

Despite the economic growth and political stability, many residents of Bulgaria decide to flee the country and apply for immigration to Canada. Today, there are above 35,000 people of Bulgarian ancestry who live in the country. They prefer to settle in Ontario, Alberta, Quebec, and British Columbia.

Study Immigration

Every year, nearly 5,000 students from Bulgaria apply to Canadian schools and this number is expected to grow. Indeed, Bulgarians tend to use their education as a competitive advantage for further immigration to Canada. First, students from Bulgaria ought to complete at least a two-year full-time study program at a Designated Learning Institution (DLI). Second, they should apply for a post-graduation work permit (PGWP). International students who comply with all requirements can obtain a PGWP for up to three years. Then, they must get at least a year of work experience.

Once students from Bulgaria complete these three steps, they can apply for immigration to Canada. International students who apply for the PNP (Provincial Nominee Program) must obtain at least a year of work experience and get a valid job offer under the Skill Type 0, A or B of the NOC (National Occupation Classification). Students from Bulgaria can also apply for immigration to Canada from Bulgaria under the CEC (Canadian Experience Class) if they get a year of work experience and have a job under the NOC Skill Type 0, NOC Skill Type A or NOC Skill Type B. To apply for CEC, they must meet CLB (Canadian Language Benchmark) Level 5 for NOC Skill Type B jobs or CLB Level 7 for Skill Type 0 and A occupations.

Work Immigration

Canada has a high demand for skilled workers from abroad. Hence, foreigners often use the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and International Mobility Program (IMP) for further immigration to Canada from Bulgaria. Once citizens of Bulgaria have one year or more of work experience, they can apply for immigration to Canada from Bulgaria under PNP or CEC.

To hire a foreign worker under the TFWP, Canadian employers must get a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). It is permission to employ a citizen of Bulgaria since there is no local professional to fill the position. When foreigners want to work in Canada under the TFWP, they must get an employer-specific work permit.

Still, employers who hire foreign workers under the IMP are exempt from obtaining an LMIA. Nevertheless, only specific categories of Bulgarians who qualify for the open work permit can be employed under the IMP. The LMIA exemption groups include open work permits for vulnerable workers, occupation-restricted open work permits for caregivers, bridging open work permit applicants, refugees, inland permanent residence applicants, spouses and common-law partners of international students and foreign workers, professional athletes, family members of foreign representatives and military workers, Canada World Youth Program participants, secondary and post-secondary co-op participants, post-graduation work permit applicants, and International Experience Canada: Working Holiday applicants.

Family Sponsorship

Residents of Bulgaria can also qualify for immigration to Canada under family sponsorship programs. The Government allows citizens and permanent residents of the country who are above 18 years old to apply for the sponsorship of their relatives. Family members who can be sponsored for immigration to Canada are spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners, children, parents, and grandparents.

Applicants must fill out the needed forms, prepare required documents, pay the obligatory processing fees, and send the application package to IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). To get approval for immigration to Canada under the sponsorship program, citizens of Bulgaria ought to give biometrics, complete a medical exam, and submit a police certificate.

Immigration to Canada under Express Entry Programs

Express Entry programs are also effective for immigration to Canada from Bulgaria. As a rule, foreigners apply for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP). To apply for the FSWP, residents of Bulgaria must meet the following criteria.

1. They ought to get at least one year of foreign work experience under the NOC Skill Type 0, A or B within the last ten years.
2. Citizens of Bulgaria need to meet at least CLB Level 7 in English or French.
3. Applicants should submit official educational transcripts from secondary or post-secondary institutions. Foreign credentials ought to have an Educational Credential Assessment.

For immigration to Canada from Bulgaria under the FSWP, residents of Bulgaria must obtain no less than 67 out of 100 points on the six aspects that include age, education, language knowledge, work experience, a job offer, and adaptability to life in the country.

Foreigners who apply for immigration to Canada under the FSTP need to meet several prerequisites.

1. Applicants must get a full-time job offer from up to two Canadian employers for at least a year. As an option, they can obtain a certificate of qualification in the skilled trade they plan to practice in the country.
2. Citizens of Bulgaria ought to have no less than two years of work experience gained under the NOC Skill Type B within the past five years.
3. They should meet the minimum required CLB Level.

Business Immigration

Residents of Bulgaria can also apply for immigration to Canada from Bulgaria under various business programs. Foreigners with entrepreneurial or management work experience may apply for the Provincial Entrepreneur Immigration Program. To settle in one of the Canadian provinces and territories, except for Quebec, applicants must meet the following requirements.

1. They ought to get no less than three years of work experience within five years.
2. Citizens of Bulgaria must buy or launch a business and create a workplace for one full-time local professional.
3. Applicants need to obtain 600,000-1,500,000 CAD of personal funds and invest 200,000-1,000,000 CAD in a local business. It depends on the policy of the chosen place to live in Canada.
4. Residents of Bulgaria should have post-secondary education and meet CLB Level 4.

The Start-Up Immigration Program is the next pathway for immigration to Canada. To qualify for it, foreigners need to get a business plan, have a support letter from an investor, get no less than 13,213 CAD of personal savings, and have CLB Level 5.

To apply for immigration to Canada under the Self-Employed Immigration Program, citizens of Bulgaria must be 20-50 years old, have two years of work experience as self-employed, get a post-secondary education, have $13,213 of personal assets, and take IELTS General.

Residents of Bulgaria often choose to settle in Quebec. Thus, they can use provincial immigration programs. Foreigners can apply for immigration to Canada under the Investor Program if they wish to invest 1,200,000 CAD in local business for five years. Also, they need to get at least 2,000,000 CAD of personal funds and have at least two years of work experience within five years.

The Self-Employed Program is for citizens of Bulgaria who want to apply for immigration to Canada and practice their profession in Quebec. To qualify for the stream, applicants need to get at least two years of work experience, have about 100,000 CAD of personal assets, and deposit 25,000-50,000 CAD. The start-up deposit depends on the region where foreigners intend to live in Quebec.

Residents of Bulgaria can also apply for immigration to Canada under the Quebec Entrepreneur Program. The first stream of the program is for applicants who have business work experience and want to start a business in the province. The second stream of the Entrepreneur Program suits foreigners who have more than 900,000 CAD of personal savings and want to buy a working business in the province.

 

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