Canada PR Visa For Dentists
Did you know that three-quarters of Canadians visit the dentist at least once a year, which represents almost 30 million people? Canada has only 23,000 dentists practicing in real-time, which illustrates the country needs more dentists. Add to that a population whose average age is increasing year by year, it also means many more dental chair visits for the growing population of seniors in Canada.
Canada is a scenic country as it offers snow-capped mountains and azure lakes with hot summers and snowy winters and roaring rivers running through the landscape. They can retire in Canada through the government’s world-famous free public health care system, and although the system does not cover dental care, two-thirds of the population have dental insurance.
What are the requirements to move to Canada as a Dentist?
Immigrating to Canada as a dentist is entirely possible (yes, despite the pandemic), and there are many opportunities for dental employment in Canada, given that the Immigration and Status Council Refugee Canada (IRCC) always invites skilled foreign workers. to immigrate to Canada each month.
Following are the major requirements for a dentist to move to Canada:
- Have your references assessed (you will need them for your visa application anyway) by a recognized agency;
- Depending on the province or territory you’re living, apply to the Dental Regulatory Authority (DRA);
- Then you will have the choice of taking a series of exams or completing an abbreviated qualification program at a recognized Canadian university. If you are already a practicing dentist, you will probably go with the first option;
- Make sure you prepare. For example, take a refresher course, especially if it has been several years since you learned the theory. Once you pass the entrance exams, you will be certified by the National Dental Examining Board of Canada (NDAD);
- Fix your teeth, win the best price, and give yourself and your family the life you deserve;
What is the job scenario for dentists in Canada?
You are probably now wondering how much dentists make in Canada. It depends on the province you’ll be living in and whether you’re working in an urban or rural area. A dentist earns around CAD 140,000 per year approximately. Obviously, the cost of living will be higher in the cities and the competition will be tougher for positions, so the pay will be higher. If you want a relaxed lifestyle, these areas can be good as they are surrounded by mountains and all things move a little bit slower.
The average salary for a dentist in some of the province are as follows:
- Halifax/ Nova Scotia – CAD 166,403
- Vancouver, British Columbia – CAD 167,257
- Yellowknife, NWT – CAD 91,850
How to move to Canada as a Dentist?
Various immigration programs can help a dentist move to Canada. The Express Entry program is the fastest way to get a Canadian permanent residency. Others take longer, but at the end of the day, if you have the qualifications, language skills, and pass your qualifying exams, you should have no problem getting permanent resident status in Canada.
Express Entry program for Dentist
Dentists are classified in skill type A in the NOC. This shows that you’re qualified for the federal immigration program – Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSPW) as a skilled worker. A candidate’s eligibility is determined by:
- Qualified professional experience – one year of continuous work or 1,560 hours in total;
- Language skills – your job will depend heavily on your ability to communicate effectively with patients, for this reason, you will need to pass a Canadian language proficiency level test and achieve a minimum score of 7 in all four sections; read, write, listen and speak;
- Qualifications – as we mentioned above, you will need to have your credentials assessed to show that they are equivalent to a Canadian qualification;
- Eligible – You need to be admissible for Canadian immigration, which means you must not have a criminal record, be in good health, and must possess legal status in residing country;
These factors and a few others such as family ties in Canada and work experience are used to calculate your overall ranking score on your Express Entry program profile. You will then enter a pool of applicants, and twice a month there will be a raffle where those with the highest CRS scores will receive ITAs. The way to ensure that you receive an ITA in the very next draw after submitting your application is to earn a Provincial Nomination.
Provincial Nominee Program
The Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) works closely with the Express Entry system to complement the unique workforce needs of each province, but also has its dedicated immigration streams for the most critical shortages within provinces. There are two ways you can apply for provincial nomination. The first is to create an expression of interest for a particular province in which you wish to live and work on your Express Entry profile. If the province judges that your skills match their demands, it will issue you with a Provincial Nomination, which will contribute 600 points out of the 1200 points available on your CRS, sending you to the top of the candidate pool and ensuring you are ITA. The second is to create a profile on the provincial government website of the province in which you wish to live and work and submit an expression of interest directly. If the province needs your skill-sets, you’ll get an invitation to submit your application for provincial nomination and then for Canada PR Visa. Every PNP has different requirements and they can be similar to the requirements of the Express entry program.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
Even if you’re not eligible to move to Canada or have now planned to complete your education in Canada. It may also take a while to complete your qualifying exams once you arrive in Canada, and you can look for a temporary job to keep you going until you do. For this, here is the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP). If your CRS score is too low for the Express Entry program, or if you don’t feel like waiting to be selected from the applicant pool, the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) gives immigrants a job offer to apply for permanent residency. If you have a job offer from a designated employer of the participating provinces, you’re eligible to apply under this immigration program.
The AIP was designed to address labor shortages in the four Atlantic provinces; Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island. The Atlantic regions of Canada need more health professions. So, if get a job offer, you can apply for Canada PR Visa at the same time you apply for your Canadian work permit, and as long as you meet the eligibility criteria, it is not a reason why you should not be eligible for PR status, as an aspiring dentist or dental assistant with a valid job offer.
