How to Move From the Philippines to Canada in 2026

Filipinos move to Canada through a program, not a single visa. The main routes are Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class), a Provincial Nominee Program, study followed by a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and family sponsorship. The caregiver pilots are closed to new applications. Economic routes need a language test, and most applicants need a police certificate.

Compare the routes in the Pathway Explorer

Last verified: November 2026

600
CRS points an enhanced provincial nomination adds
697 to 805
Cut-offs of the 2026 rounds for nominated candidates, through October 26, 2026
$15,263
Federal Skilled Worker settlement funds for one person
CLB 7
Federal Skilled Worker language minimum, in all four abilities

The settlement funds table took effect July 7, 2025 and changes each year. The Proof of Funds guide shows every family size.

Which programs can Filipinos use to move to Canada?

In IRCC's 2025 Annual Report to Parliament on Immigration, the Philippines ranks second, after India, as a country of citizenship for new economic and family-class permanent residents admitted in 2024. The routes are the same ones open to applicants of every citizenship. There is no single application: you choose a program that fits your work experience, education, language ability and family situation.

Federal Skilled Worker Program: Counts skilled work experience gained in Canada or abroad, so it suits people who have not worked in Canada. It generally needs CLB 7 in all four abilities, at least 67 out of 100 on the points grid, and settlement funds.
Canadian Experience Class: For people who already have skilled Canadian work experience, often gained on a work permit. The language minimum is CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3, and there is no proof of funds requirement.
Provincial Nominee Program: Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs one to select workers who match its local labour needs.

Express Entry is an online system that manages applications for three federal economic programs. You create a profile, receive a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score, and IRCC invites the highest-ranked candidates in rounds held throughout the year. The Express Entry guide explains how the system and draws work.

Where does a provincial nomination fit?

Many PNP streams target specific occupations. Some are aligned with Express Entry (called enhanced streams) and some are not (base streams), and the eligibility rules differ widely from one province to another.

If you have an Express Entry profile and receive an enhanced provincial nomination, it adds 600 points to your score, and nominated candidates are invited in their own rounds. In 2026, those rounds cut off between 697 and 805, through the round of October 26, 2026. Base streams can lead to permanent residence through a separate application outside Express Entry.

Provinces open and close streams frequently and set their own work-experience, language and sometimes job-offer requirements. Quebec selects its own skilled workers outside Express Entry, and you apply to Quebec before you apply for permanent residence.

The rule

An enhanced provincial nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry CRS score.

IRCC, canada.caVerify on canada.ca

Is the caregiver pathway open to Filipino applicants?

No. The earlier Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot closed to new applications on June 17, 2024, and were replaced by the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots. IRCC's caregivers page, last updated January 27, 2026, lists the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots as Closed, alongside every other caregiver program on that page.

IRCC says the pilots are closed while it focuses on processing the applications it already has, and it has not published a reopening date.

While the pilots are closed, some caregivers and home-support workers may still find options through an employer-supported work permit, a Provincial Nominee Program stream whose occupation list includes their job, or Express Entry on the strength of their overall profile. Each has its own requirements, and an officer decides eligibility. The Caregiver Immigration guide tracks the history.

What documents do Filipino applicants need?

Police certificate: A National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance from the Philippines, in its paper version: IRCC does not accept the digital one. You also need one from any country where you lived for 6 months in a row or longer since age 18 (for Express Entry, within the last 10 years).
Language test: IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General or PTE Core for English, and TEF Canada or TCF Canada for French. The minimum score depends on the program. For Express Entry, results must be less than 2 years old when you complete your profile and when you submit your application.
Educational Credential Assessment (ECA): To use a diploma or degree earned outside Canada for points, you need an ECA report from an IRCC-designated organization, such as World Education Services. For Express Entry, it must be less than 5 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply.
Proof of funds: Some programs, including the Federal Skilled Worker Program, require settlement funds based on family size: the table effective July 7, 2025 starts at $15,263 for one person. The Canadian Experience Class and candidates with a valid job offer and authorized work in Canada are generally exempt.
Biometrics: Most applicants give fingerprints and a photo at a Visa Application Centre or another designated collection point.
Medical exam: Many applicants complete an immigration medical exam with an IRCC-approved panel physician.

Can you study first, or be sponsored by family?

Studying in Canada is a common stepping stone. Graduation from an eligible program opens the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), an open work permit that allows work for almost any employer, and that Canadian work experience is what the Canadian Experience Class and many Provincial Nominee Programs count.

PGWP eligibility rules have tightened in recent years: if your study permit was applied for on or after November 1, 2024, a program other than a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree must be in an eligible field of study.

A Canadian citizen or permanent resident who is at least 18 can sponsor certain relatives, such as a spouse, common-law partner or dependent children. Parents and grandparents are sponsored through a separate program, and IRCC has paused new parent and grandparent sponsorships.

The sponsor takes on a legally binding undertaking to financially support the person they sponsor for a set period. In most cases there is no income requirement to sponsor a spouse, partner or dependent child (IRPR s.133(4) sets one case), but both the sponsor and the applicant must meet eligibility rules and pass admissibility checks.

Which free tool checks your own case?

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What do people ask?

What is the easiest way to move from the Philippines to Canada?

No single route is easiest; the right one depends on your work experience, education, language scores and family. The common paths are Express Entry (Federal Skilled Worker or Canadian Experience Class), a Provincial Nominee Program, studying and then a Post-Graduation Work Permit, and family sponsorship. Caregiver pilots are closed for now. Our Pathway Explorer compares the published criteria for each route side by side.

Is the caregiver program open for Filipino applicants right now?

No. The earlier caregiver pilots were replaced by the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, and IRCC's caregivers page lists those pilots as Closed while it processes existing applications. Every other caregiver program on that page is closed too. IRCC has not published a reopening date, so check the live status and any intake dates on the IRCC caregivers page before you prepare anything. Our Caregiver Immigration guide tracks the history.

What language test do I need and what score?

You need an approved test: IELTS General Training, CELPIP or PTE Core for English, or TEF or TCF for French. The Federal Skilled Worker Program generally needs Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities. The Canadian Experience Class needs CLB 7 for NOC TEER 0 or 1 jobs and CLB 5 for TEER 2 or 3. Confirm the minimum for your program. Our Language Converter turns test scores into CLB levels.

Do I need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)?

Yes, if you want Express Entry points for education completed outside Canada. The ECA report comes from an IRCC-designated organization, such as World Education Services, and confirms your credential is comparable to a Canadian one. It must be less than 5 years old when you complete your profile and when you apply. Check which organization and report type fit your situation on canada.ca. Our CRS Calculator shows how education points change your score.

How much money do I need to show as proof of funds?

It depends on the program and your family size. For the Federal Skilled Worker Program, the settlement funds table effective July 7, 2025 starts at $15,263 for one person and rises with each family member. The Canadian Experience Class, and candidates with a valid job offer and authorization to work in Canada, are generally exempt. The table changes each year. Our Proof of Funds guide shows every family size.

What police certificate do Filipino applicants usually need?

You usually need a police clearance from the Philippines: the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance, in its paper version, since IRCC does not accept the digital one. You also need a certificate from any other country where you lived for 6 months in a row or longer since age 18 (for Express Entry, within the last 10 years). Requirements differ by application, so follow IRCC's instructions for each country. An officer reviews the certificates as part of the admissibility check. Our Police Certificate guide explains how the requests work.

Can I move to Canada through a Provincial Nominee Program?

Yes, if you fit one of a province's streams. Every province and territory except Quebec and Nunavut runs a PNP for its own labour needs. An enhanced provincial nomination adds 600 points to your Express Entry CRS score, and in 2026 the rounds for nominated candidates cut off between 697 and 805, through the round of October 26, 2026. Streams open and close often. Our PNP Draws page tracks recent provincial rounds.

Do Filipinos need a visa to visit Canada?

Yes. Philippine citizens generally need a visitor visa in a valid passport to visit Canada. Those flying in may apply for an eTA instead if they held a Canadian visitor visa in the last 10 years or hold a valid US nonimmigrant visa (IRPR s.7.01). A visitor visa is for a temporary stay only and is not a path to permanent residence on its own; moving to Canada still needs one of the programs above. Officers decide each visitor application on its own merits. Our Visa Check tool shows the entry document for each nationality and links to IRCC's application page.

Part of:Immigrating permanently

Official sources

This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.