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How to earn as a welder in Canada: There are currently thousands of jobs available in Canada for skilled and experienced welders in search of new job opportunities abroad. When you migrate to Canada as a welder, you can not only earn up to $69,420 but will also get permanent residence, which comes with benefits such as free public health care and schooling up until Grade 12 for you and your loved ones.
The best immigration program for you to move to Canada as a welder is the Federal Trade Worker Program, however, those who express interest in a particular province or territory and apply through a Provincial Nominee Program that has a high demand for their trade will increase their chances of receiving an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence by receiving a provincial nomination.
Although provincial nominations require a job offer and limit you to work for your designated employer and province/territory, come with the added benefit of 600 extra Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) points, which virtually guarantees to receive an Invitation to Apply.
Although the opportunities are great, the immigration system is quite complex, with numerous evaluations to pass in order to be considered eligible. There are also a lot of forms that need to be filled out and submitted according to government regulations. One mistake could cost you your visa. Which leaves you with the question: “Is it really worth taking the chance to apply on your own?”
Which Provinces Need Welders?
The main provinces need experienced welders and offer attractive job opportunities with average salary expectations of around $69,420. Compared to the average salary in the US, where the average welder earns about US$39741 (C$52297.17) making Canada a far better option for those seeking lucrative job opportunities. The following provinces and territories offer great work opportunities and salaries for immigrant welders:
| Top Paying Canadian Provinces for Welders | |
|---|---|
| Province/Territory | Annual Salary Average |
| 1. Northwest Territories | $61,913 |
| 2. Alberta | $60,382 |
| 3. British Columbia | $54,600 |
| 4. Saskatchewan | $52,000 |
| 5. Manitoba | $40,950 |
| 6. Ontario | $39,546 |
It is important to note that although the average salaries of the Northwest Territories are higher, the cost of living is much higher than that of Saskatchewan and Manitoba. You would also be more likely to find more job opportunities in provinces such as Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta, making them excellent choices to consider when you migrate to Canada.
How Do I Immigrate to Canada as a Welder?
1. The Federal Skilled Trades Program
The Federal Skilled Trades Program requires that you have at least:
- 2 years of full-time work experience;
- suitable language ability in either English or French;
- meet the job requirements of your specific trade as per your NOC (National Occupation Code), which is NOC 7237 for a welder;
- have a valid job offer for a year; or
- have a certificate of qualification from a province, territory, or federal authority.
The Federal Skilled Trades Program is one of 3 federal programs managed by the Express Entry system originally implemented to make immigration more accessible as well as speed up the application processing time to as little as 6 months.
The great characteristics of this program are that there are no education requirements and no requirement to have a job offer, however, both could improve your CRS (Comprehensive Ranking Score) and in turn, give you a better chance of getting an ITA.
2. The Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nominee Programs are aimed at semi-skilled applicants who may not necessarily qualify for the Express Entry system but have work experience and a job offer in Canada. You will, however, be restricted to working for your designated employer for the duration of your visa in that particular province only.
The great thing about PNPs is that some programs have Express Entry Streams which allows provinces or territories to select your profile from a draw pool. By receiving a provincial nominee, you will automatically earn 600 extra CRS points, which is the maximum amount of additional points that you can earn outside of your core points (based on education.
