Kenyans in Canada: A Guide to Moving to & Living in Canada as a Kenyan

Have you decided to explore extensive opportunities by moving from Kenya to Canada? Or is your lifelong dream of studying there slowly manifesting itself?

Immigrating to Canada can be challenging, so it’s no surprise that many people are confused about the steps to take. 

The visa and work permit application process can be frustrating, especially if you encounter long waiting times. 

Some applicants are often forced to enlist immigration lawyers to help them navigate the complexities of the process and increase their chances of success.

However, if you’ve found this article, you’re on the right track because it’s a comprehensive guide to moving and living in Canada as a Kenyan. 

We’ll cover everything you need to know before immigrating, including the best practices for making life easier and settling into a thriving community when you get there. 

A foreign country can feel lonely, especially when you’re making new friends. But this article addresses ways to communicate with your family in Kenya and give you a sense of belonging even from miles away. 

The Best Ways to Immigrate to Canada From Kenya 

Canada is one of the best countries to immigrate to because of the numerous scholarship and employment opportunities it offers. 

It’s no wonder many Kenyans dream of living there. If you’re wondering how to realize your dream of becoming a Canadian citizen, there are several ways to go about it. 

Here’s a detailed breakdown of each. Be sure to check your eligibility before starting your applications. 

Express Entry 

If you’re a skilled worker looking for a fast-track immigration process to Canada, you might be eligible for the Express Entry program. 

Through this system, the Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) selects and recruits skilled workers into Canada. 

Generally, interested applicants create a profile on the IRCC website, and the organization gives them CRS scores based on factors like education, age, work experience, and language proficiency. 

From there, IRCC invites individuals with the highest CRS scores to apply for a Canadian permanent residence visa. The higher your CRS score, the higher your chances of acceptance. 

The Express Entry encompasses the following programs:

The Federal Skilled Trades Program  

As the name suggests, you can get a permanent Canadian visa through the FST Program if qualified in a particular trade, as defined by the National Occupational Classification (NOC). 

This program mainly addresses the shortage of workers in specific trades, such as construction, plumbing, cooking, and transportation. 

You must meet the following requirements to qualify for the FST program:

• Have at least two years of work experience in your trade.
• A minimum level of 7 in each language ability in an English or French language test.
• Pass a Canadian certification exam in your trade.
• Have a full-time job offer in your trade valid for at least one year.

Canadian Experience Class 

This option is feasible if you have Canadian work experience through a temporary work permit and want to become a permanent resident. 

You meet the following requirements to qualify for the CEC program:

• Have prior work experience in Canada, facilitated by a temporary work visa.
• Have a minimum of 1 year of work experience in Canada within the last three years.
• Attain a minimum level of 7 in all four abilities of a French or English language test.

Federal Skilled Worker Program

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is the final way to gain a permanent Canadian visa. The program requires at least one year of experience working in your primary occupation.  

What sets FSWP apart from other programs is that you can qualify as a student, provided you gained work experience from a paid job while studying. 

Work Permits 

While work permits are temporary, they’re still an excellent option if you want to move to Canada for a few years. You can always apply for permanent residency before your work permit expires.

There are two types of work permits in Canada:

• Employer-specific work permit: As the name suggests, this work permit allows you to work for a specific employer in a particular location. You must apply for another one if you wish to change jobs or employers. 
• Open-work permit: This allows you to work for any employer in Canada. 

Temporary Resident Visa

A temporary resident visa, also known as a visitor visa, allows you to visit family and friends in Canada for up to six months. Sometimes, you can use it for up to 10 years or when your passport expires.

To be eligible for this visa, you must submit personal details, the purpose of the visit, your travel history, and your application. You may also need proof of financial stability. 

Family Sponsorships Visa 

Sponsoring one or more of your family members in Canada is among the best ways to expedite the application process. 

You can acquire a family sponsorship visa for your spouse if they’re at least 18 and you’re legally married. Dependant kids must be at least 22 and unmarried.

Study Permit 

Another common reason Kenyans move to Canada is to study. Applying for a study permit before your school’s enrollment period commences is essential. 

You must include a provincial attestation letter with your application. This document is from the Canadian province where you plan to study. 

The typical processing time for study permits is 14 weeks, and you’ll incur a $CAD 150. 

Note that a study permit is valid for the duration of your course plus an additional 90 days. You can always extend your permit’s validity or apply for permanent residency after you get to Canada. 

Pilot Programs 

The Canadian government introduced immigration pilot program to direct more people to smaller Canadian communities to promote economic growth in these areas.  

Some pilot programs, like the Agri-food Immigration Pilot and the Home and Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots, are industry-specific. 

On the other hand, pilot programs such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot are more region-specific. 

To qualify for a pilot program, you must meet community-specific eligibility requirements. Before beginning your application, be sure to check the IRCC website to determine eligibility. 

Start-Up Visa Program

Are you a Kenyan entrepreneurship enthusiast looking to relocate to Canada? It might be worth applying for a start-up visa if you have a good start-up idea. 

You only need to do what entrepreneurs do best: develop and pitch a business idea to several sponsors for their support. 

From there, you must also meet language requirements and have enough money to sustain yourself in Canada. 

But this isn’t limited to fresh entrepreneurial minds. You can also apply for a start-up visa as a designated organization that sponsors start-ups. 

You must be a member of the National Angel Capital Organization or the Canadian Venture Capital and Private Equity Association to qualify as a designated organization. 

Provincial Nominee Program  

If you’ve already chosen the Canadian province you’d like to reside in, the provincial nominee program is a fantastic but competitive way to obtain permanent residency. 

This program allows provinces to nominate people who want to relocate to Canada, mainly to satisfy the labor shortage within the territories. 

Your age, education, and work experience are the primary considerations because the provinces need qualified people. Each province has specific requirements tailored to its labor needs. 

If you’re interested in the PNP program, there are two major ways to go about it. 

The first is applying directly to a specific province’s program. If accepted at this stage, you’ll receive a Nomination certificate, which you can use to apply for a permanent visa at the IRCC. 

The second way is through the Express Entry program. Simply specify your preferred province in your Express Entry application. 

Provinces usually review these applications and issue a notification of interest to eligible candidates. 

If you get a notification of interest, your CRS score will increase by 600 points, making your application more visible and increasing your chances of getting accepted.

The Self-Employed Program

This is a business immigration program that allows you to relocate to Canada as a self-employed person with at least two years of experience. 

Kenyans are well-known for running small businesses, and since you’re cut from the same cloth, you might benefit from the self-employed program. 

Eligibility requirements revolve around experience, age, education, adaptability, and language proficiency. However, you must have a background in athletics or cultural activities. 

Canadian Visa Application Requirements For Kenyan Citizens 

We’ve already established that Canadian visa requirements mainly revolve around work experience, age, and language proficiency. 

However, each type of visa may have specific requirements that align with province laws or the labor market requirements. 

Let’s dive into the standard Canadian visa requirements for Kenyan citizens to help you determine eligibility before applying.

• Duly filled application forms.
• A valid passport
• Two recent passport-sized photos. 
• Proof of financial stability, including bank statements and income tax payments. You must be able to sustain yourself in Canada. 
• Proof of employment or enrolment in school.
• Have a minimum level of 7 in all English or French language abilities. These tests cover reading, writing, speaking, and listening. 
• Marriage, divorce, or death certificates, depending on your status. 
• Biometrics 
• Health insurance.
• Medical exam.
• No criminal record 

You’ll be denied a visa if you’re inadmissible to Canada. This means that you’re not allowed to travel to Canada. As you check the requirements, ensure also to check your admissibility. 

You can be inadmissible for the following reasons:

• Involvement in organized crime 
• Human rights violation 
• Medical conditions that endanger public health or demand excessive social or healthcare services.
• Providing false information in your application.
• Inability to sustain yourself financially while in Canada.
• Security reasons like subversion or espionage.

Language Proficiency 

One strict Canadian visa application requirement is a level 7 or higher in all abilities in an English or French language test. 

Generally, a language test covers the following four areas:

• Listening 
• Speaking 
• Reading 
• Writing 

As required by the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB), you must score 7 or higher in each area to get an overall score of 7. 

If you’re wondering what these CLB levels mean and whether you can attain the minimum requirement, here's a breakdown:

• CLB level 1-4: This is a basic proficiency level which you can communicate about common everyday topics but struggle with formal and more complex contexts.
• CLB level 5-8: Intermediate level; you can communicate well in some formal contexts but find difficulty in faster and more complex conversations, especially in listening.
• CLB level 9-12: Advanced level; you can confidently handle complex, formal conversations and have a wide range of vocabulary. 

From the above explanation, level 7 falls in the intermediate level, meaning you have a good command of the English language and can use it to get by. 

Given that the Kenyan education curriculum incorporates the study of English from kindergarten to high school, attaining a level 7 on the English test is possible.

Canadian Visa Application Fees

Canadian visa application fees vary from Kshs. 667 to over Kshs. 100,000, depending on the type of visa and number of people applying. 

It will cost more if you relocate your whole family to Canada. 

Here’s an overview of different types of visas and their fees per person:

• Electronic travel authorization: CAD 7 - Kshs. 666.96
• Visitor visa: CAD 100 - Kshs. 9,528.05 
• Extension of stay: CAD 100 - Kshs. 9,528.05 
• Work permit: CAD 155 - Kshs. 14,768.48
• Open work permit: CAD 100 - Kshs. 9,528.05
• Study permit: CAD 150 - Kshs. 14,292.07
• Permanent residence: CAD 1,540 - Kshs. 146,731.96
• Right of permanent residence: CAD 490 - Kshs. 46,687.44

How to Settle In After Migrating From Kenya To Canada

No one talks about how scary it can be to find yourself in a new environment thousands of miles from home. 

We emphasize the daunting application process, but settling in can be challenging because there is no rule book to follow. 

So, your application has been accepted, and you’ve already pulled resources and moved to Canada. What next? Where do you start? 

If you’re in this situation, here are some recommendations you can test out to make life easier in Canada. 

Mobile Data

When you arrive in Canada, the first thing you should do is get a local mobile phone. Such phones offer affordable data and talk-time plans, ranging from CAD 30 to about CAD 100 monthly. 

However, you may not receive your phone immediately after arriving in the country. It may take up to a few weeks. So, what do you do in the meantime?

Seeking an unlimited data plan with an eSim like Holafly is an excellent placeholder before your phone arrives. 

Safaricom offers roaming services, which can be expensive in the long run. For instance, the Videotron network charges upwards of Kshs 75 per MB.  

However, with Holafly, you can access fast, unlimited internet for as little as CAD 9 daily. 

The platform also has flexible unlimited data subscription tiers from which you can choose, depending on how long you need the data. Here are some subscription tiers and their respective prices:

• Five days: CAD 45
• Seven days: CAD 63
• Ten days: CAD 10
• 15 days: CAD 135

In addition to offering affordable prices, Holafly allows you to cancel your subscription anytime to avoid spending extra cash after receiving your local mobile phone.  

While still on the topic of browsing, getting a VPN is an excellent way to protect your internet connection and enjoy Kenyan and worldwide content in private. A good option is ExpressVPN. 

Opening a Bank Account 

Opening a new bank account in Canada is essential to maintaining a healthy financial life. There are numerous options, but KOHO is the best choice if you’re looking for a low-cost digital account. 

This platform lets you spend, save, and borrow money from the comfort of your home with zero fees. It also partners with several stores to offer up to 5% cashback when you shop. 

Another huge perk is their credit-building feature, which enables you to increase your credit score by about 22 points in three months. 

The platform is also connected to a smart budgeting app that helps you practice mindful spending and improve your saving culture.

Setting up is straightforward. Download the KOHO app from the Google Play Store or the App Store and set up your account in a few minutes. 

Acquiring a Credit Card

Another thing you should consider when you arrive in Canada is acquiring a credit card for convenient financial transactions. 

The most significant advantages of having a credit card, especially in a foreign country, include:

• Mobile phone insurance: You’ll earn cashback if you lose your phone. 
• Worldwide airport lounge access
• Travel insurance: You’ll get a cover for trip delays and medical expenses.

Tangerine is an excellent credit card provider that’s worth your time. The platform lets you earn a 10% bonus cashback on purchases worth at least $1,000 within the first two months.

After two months, they offer 2% cash back on select categories and 0.5% on additional expenditures. Tangerine deposits your cashback into your savings account monthly. 

So, the next time you purchase groceries, gas, or eat out, you can rest easy knowing that your account will be reimbursed for some amount. 

Travel Insurance for New Arrivals 

It’s essential to get travel insurance to cover medical emergencies, baggage loss, and trip cancellations and delays. 

Since travel insurance is temporary, you can purchase a short-term plan before getting your local insurance. The cost varies with age, duration, and your needs.

VisitorsCoverage offers personalized plans starting at as low as $6.80, depending on your duration of stay. All plans are extendable and cancelable at any time. 

Language Learning 

English is widely spoken in Kenya and Canada, and given the intensive English curriculum in Kenya, you can get by in Canada without additional classes. 

However, some Canadian provinces like Quebec and New Brunswick use French more than English. So, if you’re settling there, you might want to enroll in French classes. 

I like that Kenya incorporates foreign language study into the 8-4-4 and CBC curriculums. Therefore, you may not require additional classes if you did French in primary or high school. 

You can always opt for French classes as they are a superb way to immerse yourself in the culture and make new friends. But, if your proficiency is B2 or above, you don’t need to pay for classes. 

But what if you have a busy schedule and can’t manage to attend in-person classes? 

If you’re in that situation, then Babbel is your friend. This app lets you learn French at your own pace, even for just 5 minutes daily. Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced speaker, you can subscribe to Babbel for as low as $50.70 for six months.

Babbel is better than other apps in the language-learning space because it offers free live classes hosted by experienced teachers. 

Download the app from the App Store or Google Play to kickstart your French-learning journey!

Tips for Staying Connected to Loved Ones in Kenya

Staying in touch with loved ones back in Kenya, mainly if they depend on you, can be challenging due to the high cost of calls and transaction fees. 

However, here are some of the best tips to remember the next time you want to call, send money, or recharge a loved one’s mobile data from Canada. 

• Call Kenya through Rebtel: Rebtel offers a CAD 2 monthly subscription that allows you to make unlimited calls to Kenya from Canada.
• Send money to your loved ones in Kenya through WorldRemit: WorldRemit allows you to send money from Canada directly to your loved one’s Mpesa account at affordable rates. 
• Recharge their mobile data using Monito: Use Monito’s real-time comparison engine to top up your loved ones' mobile data in Kenya from Canada.

Final Thoughts 

Moving and living in Canada as a Kenyan can be challenging, especially if it’s your first time going far from home. 

The application process may seem daunting, but you can get accepted within a few weeks if you apply for the right program, meet all requirements, and attach all required documents. 

Staying in touch with your family and friends in Kenya is essential, especially in the first months when you’re likely to feel homesick. 

You can use Rebtel to make affordable calls to Kenya and WorldRemit to send money and recharge a loved one’s mobile data.