Canada Makes Several Important Steps Forward in its Immigration Policies

Updated: Dec 10, 2017 | Tags: Canada Immigration, Canada eTA, Canada Visa

Introduction

Canada has announced that Romanian and Bulgarian visa requirements have been lifted, with effect from December 1, 2017. The announcement coincided with Romania’s National Day and is the outcome of intensive diplomatic and political efforts and negotiating between Canada, the EU, Romania, and Bulgaria.

The requirement for an ETA

Romanians flying to Canada or passing through a Canadian airport now need to have a Canada ETA (Electronic Travel Authorization), which they can get online. A Canada ETA is cost-effective and those who apply are normally accepted within a very short time. As early as May 1st, 2017, some Romanians and Bulgarians were able to fly to Canada with an ETA instead of a Canada visa. This applied to those who had successfully acquired a Canada visa during the course of the last decade or a valid U.S. visa (but not an immigrant visa). Romanian and Bulgarian citizens will now need an ETA to board flights to Canada, which is the same rule that applies to other citizens who are exempt from visas. In a message on the Canadian Embassy's website, Canada's authorities say that ETA applications are straightforward, inexpensive and available online as part of a process that takes just minutes to complete. The authorities in Canada recommend that ETA applications are made before flights are booked. Occasionally, applications may take a few days to process, especially when supporting documents are needed.

Full visa reciprocity between Canada and the EU

For some time, the European Commission has been in negotiations with Canada and the U.S. to set up a Canada visa waiver program. Dimitris Avramopoulos, the Migration, Home Affairs, and Citizenship Commissioner, said that the EU is prioritizing full visa reciprocity with Canada and the U.S. He said he welcomed Canada's commitment and decision to make sure full visa reciprocity was in place between Canada and all citizens of the EU by 1 December 2017. He added that this was proof that persevering with diplomatic contact and negotiating had paid off with key results. Visa reciprocity would remain a priority agenda item with the new U.S. government and the EC would continue to emphasize the importance of establishing full visa reciprocity for all its citizens.

If Romanians and Bulgarians have a valid Canadian visa, they can still travel to Canada or cross through a Canadian airport using their visa up to its expiry date. This means they don't need to fill out a new ETA application online. Those with an existing valid ETA can still use it to fly to Canada until it expires or until they renew their passport.

The history of Romanian immigration to Canada

It's interesting to note that Romanians came to Canada as immigrants around 1998. This was the second wave of immigration following the collapse of Communism in 1989. Canada immigration peaked in 2004 when around 5,600 Romanians came to find work. Since then, the annual number of Romanians immigrating to Canada has slowly diminished. Today, Canada's Romanian community comprises around 1,100 permanent residents. This number has reduced since 2006, when there were around 4,400 Romanians. Canada has around 36 million inhabitants overall.

The COIA framework will welcome immigrants as part of Canada immigration

In other news, the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement (COIA) has been set up to cooperate on maximizing immigration benefits. This will create a framework for attracting, selecting and supporting new, skilled workers to Canada. This comprehensive immigration agreement was signed on 24th November and the ceremony took place Queen’s Park. It was lead by Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, Ahmed Hussen, as well as the Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Laura Albanese.

The COIA signifies a new framework to reinforce the enduring partnership between Ontario and Canada for welcoming immigrants, settling them into the country, boosting the economy and addressing common humanitarian duties. The agreement sets out the framework for numerous areas of immigration. These include roles and responsibilities, common immigration priorities, policy, programs, attracting French-speaking immigrants, and settling newcomers and refugees.

A significant budget allocation of $91 million

Canada and Ontario announced that they were working together to assist internationally-trained newcomers when it comes to meeting the requirements for work in their area of expertise. A significant budget allocation will be available, with a total of $91 million to train newcomers during the next 36 months. $70 million of this has come from Ontario, while Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has contributed around $21 million.

These initiatives show that the Canadian and Ontario governments are committed to cooperating to maximise economic, social and cultural immigration benefits. This collaboration between the government and provincial partners is a critical part of securing the continued success the Canada immigration system, which is one of the best in the world.