The number of immigrants from Latin American countries who are living in Canada as permanent residents or naturalized Canadian citizens tripled between 1996 and 2021, according to Statistics Canada (October, 2024).

In 1996, there were 176,970 people from Latin America living in Canada of which 134,215 were immigrants, but by 2021 the number of Canadian residents from Latin American countries had jumped to 580,235 of which 371,965 were immigrants.

Top Source Countries for Latin American Immigrants

Top 10 Latin American Source Countries (Overall Numbers) – According to Statistics Canada (October 2024), the top 10 source countries for the 371,965 Latin American immigrants (permanent residents and naturalized citizens) living in Canada as of 2021 were:

1. Colombia = 71,205 (19.1% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
2. Mexico = 57,820 (15.5% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
3. El Salvador = 47,450 (12.8% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
4. Peru = 26,295 (7.1% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
5. Chile = 22,015 (5.9% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
6. Brazil = 20,400 (5.5% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
7. Venezuela = 18,855 (5.1% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
8. Guatemala = 16,865 (4.5% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
9. Ecuador = 14,615 (3.9% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)
10. Cuba = 10,855 (2.9% of Latin American immigrants in Canada)

Top 10 Latin American Source Countries (Percentage of “Economic Immigrants”) – The Canadian statistics agency also revealed (October 2024) the percentage of immigrants from the “top 10” Latin America countries who are living in Canada as “economic immigrants” (i.e., skilled foreign workers and their families):

1. Brazil = 66.8% were “economic immigrants”
2. Venezuela = 57.9% were “economic immigrants”
3. Peru = 42.3% were “economic immigrants”
4. Mexico = 40.3% were “economic immigrants”
5. Chile = 36.6% were “economic immigrants”
6. Colombia = 34.5% were “economic immigrants”
7. Ecuador = 26.4% were “economic immigrants”
8. Cuba = 23.0% were “economic immigrants”
9. El Salvador = 18.2% were “economic immigrants”
10. Guatemala = 17.6% were “economic immigrants”

As these Canadian government statistics show, Canada is an increasingly attractive destination for immigrants from Latin America, including skilled foreign workers and their family members.

Why Immigrate to Canada?

There are many reasons why people from Latin America immigrate to Canada including:

• • Employment
  • Safety
  • Stability
  • Family
  • Education
  • Healthcare
  • Better Opportunities
  • Higher Quality of Life

How can skilled foreign workers from Latin America immigrate to Canada?

In order to immigrate to Canada as a skilled foreign worker, a person will generally need to:

• Satisfy the eligibility requirements for the relevant Canadian immigration program such as the:
  • • Federal Skilled Worker Program
    • Federal Skilled Trades Program
    • Provincial Nominee Program
    • Quebec Skilled Worker Program
• Demonstrate English or French language proficiency by receiving the necessary score on an approved evaluation exam
• Have good health as indicated by the results of an approved medical exam
• Do not have a criminal record or pose a security risk
• Possess enough financial resources to support oneself and family after moving to Canada
• File the applications and forms correctly with the required supporting documents
• Pay the relevant governmental fees and non-governmental fees
• Receive a Certificate of Permanent Residence (COPR) and move to Canada while it is valid

Conclusion

Canada is a popular destination for immigrants from around the world, including countries in Latin America.

Skilled immigrants with good English or French language abilities are needed in Canada, with thousands of jobs available in construction, education, engineering, healthcare, information technology, management, and other sectors of the economy.

Perhaps, you have read this article and are interested in moving to Canada from Latin America, but you don’t know if you qualify or which Canadian immigration program to apply for.

Since 2012, Canadian Visa Expert has been working with a team of authorized immigration consultants who can evaluate your eligibility to apply for permanent residency in Canada and guide you through each step of the application process if you qualify.

The first step is to receive your eligibility evaluation so you will know your best option for immigration to Canada.

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