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Your Guide to Sri Lankan Immigration Documents

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Given the current economic woes of Sri Lanka and the limitless opportunities in Canada, there has never been a better time to immigrate from the small Asian island country to the vast North American one.

But what documents and evidence do you need to successfully immigrate from Sri Lanka to Canada? This article will answer this question.

Sri Lanka to Canada Immigration Pathways

The most popular Sri Lanka to Canada pathway is Express Entry. The pathway facilitates the immigration of skilled workers to Canada to settle as permanent residents.

There are three immigration programs managed through Express Entry:

  • Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP). A program for Sri Lankan skilled workers with requisite education and experience.
  • Federal Skilled Trade Program (FSTP). A program for Sri Lankans experienced in a skilled trade.
  • Canadian Experience Class (CEC). A program for Sri Lankans who have Canadian work experience.

For the Express Entry, you may be required to show evidence of a variety of different documents. Here we’ll take a look at what you may need.

Your Guide to Sri Lankan Immigration Documents

Documents for Sri Lanka to Canada Immigration

As a Sri Lankan, the documents you need to process your Express Entry Canada immigration include:

Identity Documents

No matter the immigration program you target, you need documents to prove your identity. The most important identity document for Canadian immigration is a valid international passport.

For your passport to be valid for the Express Entry programs, it should not expire within 6 months of submitting your application. Thus, if the expiration date of your passport is less than 6 months, you should renew it.

Language Test Result

You need to take an approved language test to show that you are proficient in at least one of the two official languages of Canada (English or French).

The language tests accepted are:

English Language French Language
The CELPIP (Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program) General test TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) General Training option TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

Your Guide to Sri Lankan Immigration Documents

In the language tests, you’ll be assessed on the four abilities – speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

You need proficiency in only one language. However, proficiency in the second language (backed by a test result) gives you additional points and makes your profile stronger.

Education Certificate

The Express Entry programs target skilled workers with the requisite training and experience to contribute to the Canadian economy. An education certificate satisfies the training requirement.

Thus, you need at least a high school certificate. The minimum requirements for the FSWP and CEC programs include an educational certificate.

While a high school certificate is a bare minimum, the higher your education, the more points you’ll get. In fact, for any realistic chance of success, you need a college degree. An education certificate is not a requirement for the FSTP. However, having an education will earn you extra points to boost your profile.

Also, if your education was completed outside Canada, you need an educational credential assessment (ECA) report. An ECA verifies that your foreign degree is valid and up to Canadian standards. You should get the ECA from a professional body designated by the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada).

Proof of Work Experience

You must have documents proving that you have relevant work experience. The minimum requirement is one year of work experience for CEC and FSWP, and two years of work experience for the FSTP.

However, the more years of work experience you have, the more points you’ll get to boost your profile.

A document accepted as proof of work experience is a reference or experience letter from your employer. It must be printed on the company’s letterhead and must include relevant information about the job (e.g. job title, duties performed, dates held, etc.).

However, if you are self-employed, proof of work experience documentation will include articles of incorporation, evidence of self-employment income, and documentation from third parties indicating services provided along with payment details.

Offer of Employment from a Canadian Employer

You need an offer of employment from a Canadian employer to prove that you have secured Canadian employment.

Securing Canadian employment is only a requirement for the FSTP if you do not have a certificate of qualification in a skilled trade. However, even if Canadian employment is not a requirement, securing a job will earn your additional points and boost your profile.

Canadian immigration puts a premium on already securing a job in the country. It shows that you can actually contribute to the economy and that you will settle quickly in the country.

Your Guide to Sri Lankan Immigration Documents

Proof of Funds

You need documents showing that you have enough funds to take care of yourself and your dependents when you move to Canada. The amount of money required depends on the size of your family.

To prove that you have settlement funds, you need to provide an official letter from a financial institution listing all your current bank and investment accounts, including outstanding debts like credit card debts and loans.

Medical Examination Report

You need an immigration medical examination. This assessment is to show that your health will not be a danger to Canadian public health or put too much demand on health services.

Police Certificate

You need to provide a police clearance report that proves that you do not have a criminal record, and do not pose a security risk to Canada.

Marriage (or Divorce) Certificate

If you list your marital status as “married,” you’ll need to provide a marriage certificate to validate your claim. The marriage must be valid under the laws of Sri Lanka and Canada.

In the same vein, if you list your status as “divorced,” you’ll need to provide a legal certificate of divorce.

Proof of Relationship to a Relative in Canada

Having a relative in Canada helps you settle faster. For this reason, Canadian immigration gives additional points (for adaptability) to applicants that have a family member in Canada.

Thus, if you state that you or your accompanying partner has a family member in Canada who is a permanent resident or citizen, you need to provide evidence of this claim. The documents you need to show are:

  • The Canadian relative citizenship document or permanent resident card.
  • A residential lease, mortgage documents, utility bills, etc. to show that the relative currently resides in Canada.
  • Proof of the relationship with the individual, e.g., birth certificate, an official document naming you as a relative, etc.

For those thinking what is a birth certificate in Sri Lanka then it’s a legal document you need to have. If you can’t find your own, then you need to contact the Divisional Secretariat in the area where the birth occurred and pay a minimum of LKR 550.

If you were wondering how many copies of documents are required for a Sri Lanka visa application, then it’s best to print at least two copies. However, much of the information required above can be sent electronically.

Your Guide to Sri Lankan Immigration Documents

Final Thoughts

Express entry is a possible way to immigrate to Canada from Sri Lanka. However, you may experience different problems choosing between programs or lacking the points needed to immigrate.

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