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Flag of The United States of America and Canada.

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The United States of America and Canada - Solomon Bulley

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The United States of America and Canada - Solomon Bulley

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I have elected to analyze the immigration policies of Canada and the United States of America. In conducting this comparison, I have specifically focused on the most recent iteration of U.S. immigration policy, following the election of Donald J. Trump to the Oval Office.

I have selected the United States of America as my country of focus. It has recently undergone immense political and legislative reforms, specifically in relation to immigration policies. These alterations have symbolized a significant shift in the nation’s approach to immigration.

How Are The Immigration Policies Of The United States of America Different From Those Of Canada?

After review of the immigration frameworks of the United States and Canada, several differential factors emerge that highlight the nations' objectives.

Canadian Immigration Policy:

Canada’s immigration policy has several unique features. To begin with, Canada has transformed into a central hub for immigration. In 2021, more than 8.3 million foreign-born people were situated in Canada. This comprised approximately a quarter of the total population (38.24 million).

Canada releases an “Immigration Levels Plan,” which acts as a guideline for the total number of immigrants welcomed into the country. It utilizes a breakdown of various immigration classes (the economic class, family class, and refugee/humanitarian class).

In its Immigration Levels Plan 2023-2025, Canada announced that it will increase its immigration targets/plan to allow for 460,000 in 2023, 485,000 in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025. The plan aims to attract skilled workers to address labour shortages, recognizing the importance of family reunification, and helping vulnerable populations from around the world through refugee resettlement efforts.

In 2022, IRCC allowed more than 437,000 immigrants into Canada. 56% of new immigrants arrived under the economic pathways (Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP). In addition, family class immigrants made up 24% of admissions.

The United States of America Immigration Policy:

The United States of America's Immigration Policy is divergent compared to that of Canada. In 2016, the US admitted over 1,100,000 lawful permanent residents (LPRs) to the country. However, in recent years, the number of LLPRs admitted to the US significantly declined to just over 700,000 in 2020 and 740,000 in 2021. This was a result of reforms in government policies, processing delays and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The body of law that governs the US immigration policy is formally the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The INA allows the US to grant up to 675,000 permanent immigrant visas each year across the various visa categories. On top of those 675,000, the INA sets no limits on the annual admission of US citizens’ spouses, parents and children under the age of 21. Each year, a certain number of refugees get admitted to the country through the US Refugee Admissions Program.

The US provides various ways for immigrants with valuable skills to come to the country on a permanent or temporary basis. There are more than 20 types of visas for temporary non-immigrant workers. Regarding permanent employment-based programs, the US limits this number to 140,000 immigrants per year.

How to Obtain Resident Status in Canada vs. The United States of America

There are various ways to obtain permanent residency in the US.

- An employer-sponsored green card application

- A self-sponsored employment-based green card application

- Marriage to a US citizen

- Sponsorship by a close relative who is a US citizen or permanent resident

- The US Department of State diversity lottery program

There are several ways to qualify for Canadian permanent residency.

- Express Entry

- Provincial Nominee Program

- Sponsorship

Similarities In the United States of America and Canada’s Immigration Process.

The United States and Canada have various similarities in their immigration process. Both immigration systems allow individuals to gain entry to the country through family sponsorship, skilled worker programs, and humanitarian/refugee pathways. In both countries, immigrants can apply for permanent residence and have access to rights under various programs (The Constitution and The Charter of Rights and Freedoms). In conclusion, both programs aim to enhance the prosperity of their country through immigration.

How Important Is Immigration In The United States of America?

To begin with, in 2024, immigrants comprised 19.2% of the U.S. civilian labour force, representing a significant portion of the nation's workers. This translates to roughly 29.1 million individuals, both legal and unauthorized immigrants, who contribute to various sectors of the economy. Immigrants play a crucial role in filling job shortages and are projected to be the sole source of labour force growth in the foreseeable future. Furthermore, immigrants contribute to tax revenue. As well, immigration promotes diversity, equity and inclusion amongst all citizens of society.  Everywhere, immigrants have enriched and strengthened the fabric of American life. - John F. Kennedy

Reforms To Immigration Policies In The United States of America.

1. Policies to address asylum seekers and the immediate situation at the border

2. Proposals to address economic drivers of migration

3. Creating more opportunities for legal immigration

4. Establish increased support groups, resources, and organizations to benefit immigrants

Works Cited

1. Anderson, Stuart. “Immigrants Will Be America’s Only Source of Labor Force Growth.” Forbes, 16 Oct. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2024/10/16/immigrants-will-be-americas-only-source-of-labor-force-growth/.

2. “Immigrating to Canada vs. the United States.” CIC News, 9 June 2023, www.cicnews.com/2023/06/immigrating-to-canada-vs-the-united-states-0634715.html.

3. “JFK and a Nation of Immigrants: Transcript | JFK Library.” Www.jfklibrary.org, www.jfklibrary.org/about-us/social-media-podcasts-and-apps/jfk35-podcast/season-1/jfk-and-a-nation-of-immigrants/transcript.

4. Pew Research Center. “What Would Improve the U.S. Immigration System?” Pew Research Center - U.S. Politics & Policy, 15 Feb. 2024, www.pewresearch.org/politics/2024/02/15/what-would-improve-the-u-s-immigration-system/.

5. Statistics Canada. “Population and Demography Statistics.” Www.statcan.gc.ca, 3 June 2019, www.statcan.gc.ca/en/subjects-start/population_and_demography.

6. U.S. Department of Labor. FOREIGN-BORN WORKERS: LABOR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS — 2015. 21 May 2024.

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Viann Whatley - United States of America

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Viann Whatley - United States of America

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America bases its policies on what relationship the immigrant has with the US and what the immigrant's preferences are. For instance, America has types of immigration, family and employment. Family is similar to Canada's adaptability, but if you have family with American citizenship, you can get them to apply for you for citizenship as well. This allows people to enter America just because they have a relative with American citizenship already. However, America and Canada have similarities. This is between how they critique their immigrants. Both Canada and America critique prior experience and education, America goes deeper by looking at what degree and speciality the immigrant has, but still both similarly grade on work experience and education. Immigration is important to America. Specifically, America's economy, immigrants help boost job growth and productivity within work and job opportunities. America's economy also depends a lot on Fortune 500 companies, of which more than 40 percent were founded by immigrants. Immigrants are especially important because they pay back what they take. For instance, when Immigrants come in, the government has to pay for their education and funding; however, when Immigrants start to enter the workforce, they then pay all that back with their taxes. I don't believe America should make any changes, as they are already good enough with its immigrant policies. How America deals with their immigration helps bolster their economy. Therfore, how America decided to arrange it's immigration policy is working for America, and it seems to be helping them through backlashes of covid-19.

“How the United States Immigration System Works - American Immigration Council.” American Immigration Council, 6 June 2025, www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/fact-sheet/how-united-states-immigration-system-works-fact-sheet/. Accessed 18 July 2025.

‌Gelatt, Julia. “Explainer: Immigrants and the U.S. Economy.” Migrationpolicy.org, Migration Policy Institute, 23 Oct. 2024, www.migrationpolicy.org/content/explainer-immigrants-and-us-economy.

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Russia’s immigration policies are very different from Canada’s policies. Canada's point-based system to attract skilled workers, reunite families, and welcome immigrants from different countries, while Russia focuses more on short-term migration from nearby countries with stricter rules for permanent residence and citizenship. Furthermore, how both countries see immigration policies is also different. Canada often sees the policy as a long-term benefit to its economic and population growth, while Russia aims to balance economic needs with national security and views the policy as helping with labor shortages. However, there are similarities between these two policies. Both countries need a background check, an application for a visa, and language or cultural knowledge for citizenship. Immigration is important to Russia because of the country’s declining birth rates and aging population, which impacts social stability and economic growth. To improve this, Russia should consider making its immigration system less strict for permanent residence and more open to skilled workers willing to come. These changes would help the country to address its problems of population decline and labor shortage.

Sources:
https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-economy-population-demographic-crisis-labor-shortage-birth-rate-2030-2025-7

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-wants-migrants-new-countries-help-plug-labour-shortage-interfax-reports-2025-03-04/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Russia

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The US has less centralized immigration policies and fewer social support programs for newcomers compared to Canada, which has a more structured and points-based immigration system and stronger social services. Both countries use systems to select skilled workers and for family reunification. They also focus on attracting immigrants who can contribute to the economy. Immigration is very important to the US for economic growth, filling labour shortages, and maintaining population size. The US could improve by creating clearer immigration pathways and offering better support for new immigrants, like Canada does, to help integration and reduce challenges.

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Canada and Australia both anchor their national growth strategies in the selective intake of immigrants, yet they diverge markedly in policy design, scale, and underlying governance ethos. Canada’s Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) program, introduced in 1967, employs a 100‐point grid that allocates up to 12 points for age, 25 for education, 28 for language proficiency, and 15 for skilled work experience, with additional credits for arranged employment and provincial nomination. In 2023, Canada admitted 1 324 000 new permanent residents, nearly 75 percent as economic immigrants, while family reunification and humanitarian streams comprised 24 and 12 percent of admissions, respectively (IRCC 2024). Australia’s counterpart, the Skilled Independent (subclass 189) visa, caps at 70 points, 30 for age (maximum awarded to applicants aged 25–32), 20 for “superior” English (CLB 9 or higher), 20 for academic qualifications, and a further 15 for skilled employment, yet its permanent migration ceiling of approximately 160 000 annually remains more restrictive in per‐capita terms. Of these, 65 percent are economic migrants, and the 2023–24 humanitarian intake stood at 13 750, representing just under 10 percent of total admissions (DHA 2024). Unlike Canada’s expansive Provincial Nominee Program, which facilitated over 60 000 admissions in 2023, Australia requires explicit state or territory sponsorship tied to occupation lists and enforces residence mandates that direct migrants to designated “regional” areas for a set period (Australian Government).

Despite these procedural contrasts, both nations maintain the tri‐sector framework of (1) economic migration; (2) family reunification; and (3) refugee/humanitarian admissions. Canada’s family class admitted 370 000 sponsored relatives in 2023, nearly four times Australia’s 26 000 family‐class entrants, reflecting Canada’s legislative emphasis on social cohesion and labour‐market integration (IRCC 2024). Conversely, Australia’s humanitarian program, while smaller in absolute numbers, targets specific refugee cohorts and allocates place releases dynamically in response to global crises. As UNHCR High Commissioner Filippo Grandi remarked in 2023, “Targeted humanitarian admissions are critical for responding to urgent global needs,” a principle enshrined more visibly in Canada’s higher relative refugee commitment, which comprised 24 percent of its 2023 admissions compared to Australia’s 8 percent (UNHCR 2023).

Immigration underpins both countries’ demographic and economic resilience. Canada recorded a 1.4 percent population increase in 2023, three‐quarters attributable to net migration, pushing population to nearly 40 million and projecting a rise to 50 million by 2042 (Statistics Canada 2024). Australia’s 2023 growth rate of 1.1 percent similarly relied on arrivals offsetting near-zero natural increase, lifting its population above 26 million, and recording migrants at 30 percent of total populace, the highest share in over a century (ABS 2024). “Without net migration, both our economies would stagnate,” observed Bank of Canada Governor Tiff Macklem in early 2024, underscoring migrants’ integral role in labour‐force expansion, innovation, and regional revitalization.

Nonetheless, each system bears potential for enhancement. Canada might transition to a dynamic occupation‐ceiling model, as exemplified by Australia’s quarterly-reviewed Skilled Occupation Lists, to better minimize backlogs in sectors like IT (currently 120 000 pending applications) and healthcare (35 percent projected vacancy by 2025). Australia, by contrast, could broaden its family reunification quotas and accelerate spouse visa processing, which now averages 18 months, thereby mitigating family separation and accelerating newcomers’ socio-economic integration. Both countries should also strengthen regional settlement incentives: Canada’s Atlantic Immigration Pilot, lauded for reducing regional vacancy rates by 15 percent since 2021, could be expanded with targeted housing subsidies, while Australia’s Designated Regional Areas program should integrate employer-driven community sponsorship to ensure long-term retention.

Finally, Canada and Australia must preserve adaptability to humanitarian emergencies. In 2022–23 alone, the Canadian government undertook special measures to resettle 40 000 Ukrainians within months, an operation of “unprecedented scale” according to Immigration Minister Marc Miller, while Australia temporarily increased its offshore refugee ceiling in response to the Afghanistan and Rohingya crises. Embedding flexible quotas and expedited pathways into core policy, rather than as ad hoc supplements, would honor both nations’ humanitarian obligations as articulated in the 1951 Refugee Convention and reinforce their global leadership.

Works Cited:

Australian Bureau of Statistics. “Australian Demographic Statistics, June 2023.” ABS, 2024, https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population.

Australian Government Department of Home Affairs. Migration Program Report 2023–24. Australian Government, 2024, https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/what-we-do/migration-program-report.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Permanent Resident Levels 2023–2025. Government of Canada, 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/02/permanent-resident-levels-2023-2025.html.

Statistics Canada. “Population and Dwelling Count Highlight Tables, 2023 Census.” Statistics Canada, 2024, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/71-607-x/71-607-x2023017-eng.htm.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Global Trends: Forced Displacement in 2023. UNHCR, 2023, https://www.unhcr.org/globaltrends2023/.

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The United States and Canada have different immigration policies. Canada uses a point based system that focuses on things like skills, education, and language ability, however America mainly relies on family sponsorship, employment, and refugee or refugee claims. Americas system is often more complex and slower. However, both countries share some similarities, such as allowing family reunification, accepting refugees, and having temporary worker programs. Immigration is very important to the U.S., as it supports the economy, fills labor shortages, and adds to the country’s cultural diversity. Many immigrants start businesses, work in key industries, and help the country grow. The U.S could improve its system by making it simpler, creating a points-based path like Canada’s, offering a clearer path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants brought as children. These changes would help make the system fairer and more effective.

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Canada and Australia both have 5 main immigration programs, with the Federal Skilled Workers Program in Canada and the General Skilled Migration Program in Australia being the most commonly used. In 2021 Canada admitted ~748,000 economic immigrants, and over ⅓ of that amount were accepted through the Skilled Workers Program. Similarly, Australia also admits largely economic immigrants as 71% of the country’s immigrants in 2023 fell under that category. Both countries use a point based system to assess applicants. Canada’s program has a 100 point system based on the factors such as age, language skills, education, work experience, arranged employment, and adaptability. In comparison, Australia’s 70 point system has similar categories with the addition of others including the Australian Study Requirement and Credentialled Community Language categories. Moreover, Canadian immigration policies often have a faster processing time and a more defined points system, while Australian immigration policies tend to focus on regional needs and in-demand occupations. Despite their differences, both Canada and Australia have similar policies for family immigrants. Applicants with close family already settled must be sponsored by a family member in order to gain permanent residence.

Immigration is incredibly important to Australia, as one of the most significant factors in the country’s population growth. Throughout the country’s history, immigrants have helped build the economy and had many social and cultural impacts on the country, transforming it from a British colony into an independent, diverse society. Immigration fills holes in the workforce and boosts employment of Australian-born citizens without affecting wages. Without immigration, Australia’s economic growth would halt as fewer people are of working age, and the country would lose a large part of its identity without its multiculturalism.

Australia’s immigration system is extremely complicated, which can be considered a positive or negative depending on a person’s viewpoint. For many, this is a negative because it can be confusing for applicants and leads to exceedingly long processing times. By shortening screening times and offering more support to new immigrants, Australia can have fewer gaps in its workforce and improve all citizen's quality of life.

Sources:

“Points Table for Skilled Independent Visa (Subclass 189).” Homeaffairs.gov.au, 2019, immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/skilled-independent-189/points-table.

Abraham, Paul. “Comparing Canadian and Australian Immigration Systems: A Detailed Overview.” Pa-Ic.com, Paul Abraham Immigration Consulting, 20 Sept. 2024, www.pa-ic.com/canada-immigration-vs-australia-immigration/. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Government of Canada. “Express Entry: Federal Skilled Worker Program - Canada.ca.” Canada.ca, 2024, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/who-can-apply/federal-skilled-workers.html.

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a. The United States immigration policy is different from Canada in a few ways. To start, Canada has a more restrictive approach to immigration compared to the US with its point system. Similarly, Canada's immigration is more open to people, however economically focused, hence the use of the point system. In addition, Canada allows for citizens to sponsor immigrants. My father is a great example of this, escaping from the Vietnam war and coming to Canada, his family was sponsored and allowed them to live in Canada. The US on the other hand, is more expansive, allowing immediate relatives of US citizens to immigrate. The US prioritizes family reunification in contrast to Canada's more economic approach.

b. Both countries do have some similarities though, allowing for families to reunite within their borders, employment, and for refuge. Both Canada and the US also allow for temporary residency, as many students, workers and visitors come around often. Canada and the US also allow plenty of opportunities for professional programs like medicine or law.

c. Immigration is an extremely important in both countries, helping to fil in labour gaps, improve economic prosperity, and to compensate for the aging population. Immigration to Canada is essential due to the declining birth rates and slowly declining birth rates. In addition, immigration helps with it's economic growth, having around 30% of the Canadian workforce being immigrants. For the US, its pretty much the same, helping with declining birth rates, improving the economy and sustaining it's workforce.

d. I think that overall, not a lot of changes could really be made to their immigration policies. However, the US immigration policy is visibly more complex than Canada's, but prioritizes family reunification. If the US instead put more focus on immigrants with economic prosperity, it would be more impactful in the long term. Canada could make a couple of tweaks to it's point system and it's overall threshold for immigrating, however it's solid as it stands right now.

Sources:

“Canada’s Immigration Track Record - Canada.ca.” Canada.ca, 2021, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/immigration-matters/track-record.html. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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“Comparing Canadian and US Immigration Systems – Stewart Sharma Harsanyi.” Sshlaw.ca, 2020, www.sshlaw.ca/comparing-canadian-and-us-immigration-systems/#:~:text=Canadian%20immigration%20policies%20are%20similar,class/non%2Deconomic%20classes. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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“A Layered Look at Canadian and U.S. Immigration.” Wilson Center, 21 July 2020, www.wilsoncenter.org/article/layered-look-canadian-and-us-immigration#:~:text=Both%20the%20United%20States%20and,admissible%20without%20any%20numerical%20ceilings. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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The USA allows three times fewer immigrants per capita. While it is more difficult to get into with work, it is a lot easier to get into if you have family in the US. On the other hand, Canada is easier to get into for work (if you meet the requirements for the point system), but isn't much easier to get into if you have family in the country. They are similar as they both have tracks for skilled workers to apply. In the US, you can get permanent residence if you secure a permanent, full time job offer. In Canada, you can use the point system to apply. Both countries also allow you to get in if you have family in the country, but it's easier to do this in the USA. In Canada, you still count towards the total amount of immigrants if you are coming for family, meaning that there's a limit on how many are coming into Canada, meaning there's competition. In the USA, they allow unlimited immigration for people who have family in the US, meaning there is no competition. They are similar in that the top countries emigrating to them are similar, both sharing China, India, and the Philippines. However, while USA gets more Spanish countries (Mexico, Dominican Republic, and Cuba), Canada gets more miscellaneous countries (Afghanistan, Nigeria, and France). Immigrants are important to the US. Immigrants pay more in taxes than they use government services, meaning that they do contribute to the government. They also raise the GDP, and increase the labor force. The US has an aging population, and immigrants are helping to combat that with contributing to labor. I think that one change the USA should make is to be more welcome to immigrants. They are helpful to the economy, help the labor force, and pay taxes to the Government. Allowing more working immigrants would help them more than it would hinder, which is why I think they should allow more immigrants.

Sources:

Gelatt, Julia. “Explainer: Immigrants and the U.S. Economy.” Migrationpolicy.org, Migration Policy Institute, 23 Oct. 2024, www.migrationpolicy.org/content/explainer-immigrants-and-us-economy.

Hornstein, Julia. “Immigrating to Canada vs. the United States.” CIC News, Canada Immigration News, 9 June 2023, www.cicnews.com/2023/06/immigrating-to-canada-vs-the-united-states-0634715.html. Accessed 22 July 2025.

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Canada and the United Kingdom have different approaches to immigration, shaped by their national priorities and their unique climates. Canada uses a points-based immigration system that focuses on attracting skilled workers, diversity and addressing labour shortages. The UK also uses a points-based system, but they have a greater emphasis on controlling immigration numbers and prioritize highly skilled workers. Both countries offer pathways to work, education, family and refugees. However Canada is generally more welcoming to immigrants while the UK are more strict and Immigration is a more sensitive topic. Immigration is vital for both countries but the UK benefits especially from healthcare, transportation, and agriculture which are more popular for immigrant workers. Canada benefits from immigrants too through diverse cultures, the economy and fills labour shortages. I think that in order for the Uk to better its system they need to accept more immigrants or make the system easier and open up more space for immigrants to work and helping meet worker shortages while facing economic demands.

Gov.UK. “UK Visas and Immigration.” GOV.UK, 20 May 2019, www.gov.uk/government/organisations/uk-visas-and-immigration.

Government of Canada. “Immigration and Citizenship - Canada.ca.” Canada.ca, 2017, www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html.

---. “Immigration Matters: Canada’s Immigration Track Record.” Www.canada.ca, Government of Canada, 24 Oct. 2024, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/immigration-matters/track-record.html.

Richards, Lindsay, et al. “UK Public Opinion toward Immigration: Overall Attitudes and Level of Concern.” Migration Observatory, 24 Jan. 2025, migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/resources/briefings/uk-public-opinion-toward-immigration-overall-attitudes-and-level-of-concern/.

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a) How are Spain’s immigration policies different from Canada’s?

Spain’s immigration system is less focused on attracting skilled workers like Canada’s. Instead, Spain has more people coming for family reunification, asylum, or from former Spanish colonies in Latin America. Canada uses a points-based system that focuses on education, work experience, and language skills, while Spain mostly offers temporary residence that can lead to permanent status over time, but it’s a slower and less structured process. Spain also has something called the “Golden Visa." People can get residency if they invest a lot of money in Spanish property. Canada doesn’t focus as much on wealthy investors anymore and puts more effort into welcoming skilled workers and refugees.

b) Are there any similarities in the process?

Yes, both countries allow people to come through family sponsorship, asylum, and work permits. They also both offer permanent residency after living in the country for a few years legally. Both systems require paperwork like background checks, income proof, and ID documents.

c) How important is immigration to Spain?

Immigration is important to Spain, but for different reasons than in Canada. Spain has an aging population and a low birth rate, so they need more young people to support the economy. However, Spain has high youth unemployment, so the government is sometimes cautious about bringing in too many foreign workers. Still, immigration helps in jobs like farming, construction, tourism, and home care.

d) What changes do you think they should make? If none, why?

Spain should improve the way they bring in skilled workers. Right now, it’s not very easy for professionals like doctors or engineers to move to Spain unless they’re from the EU. They could also make the path to permanent residency and citizenship faster and more clear, like Canada’s system. This would help attract more talented people who want to settle long-term and contribute to the country.

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a) Australia's immigration system is different from Canada's in a few ways. One major difference is how each country invites people to apply. Canada invites new applicants every two weeks, while Australia focuses more on job experience in Australia and specific job skills. Canada gives extra points for things like speaking French or having studied in Canada. In terms of speed, Canada is usually faster, taking about six months to process applications, while Australia can take eight months or more. Canada is also starting to lower the number of immigrants it accepts each year, while Australia is still accepting large numbers, especially skilled workers.

b) Yes, Canada and Australia have a lot in common when it comes to how people immigrate. Both countries use a points system that scores people based on things like age, education, job experience, and how well they speak English. In both places, applicants first create an online profile and then wait to be invited to apply for permanent residency. They also both have programs that allow citizens or permanent residents to sponsor close family members, such as a spouse, child, or parent. Another similarity is that both countries accept refugees and have programs to help people who are fleeing dangerous situations.

c) Immigration is very important to Australia. The country depends on new immigrants to bring skilled workers who help the economy grow. People like doctors, nurses, engineers, and construction workers are needed in many parts of the country, and immigration helps fill those jobs. Immigration also helps balance the population by bringing younger people into the country, which supports an aging population. In just one year, recently, Australia accepted around 739,000 immigrants, which shows how much it relies on immigration for the future of the country.

d) I think Australia could make some helpful changes to its immigration system. First, the process could be faster. Waiting eight months or more can be very stressful for people who want to move and start a new life. If Australia could match Canada's faster timelines, it would make the process better. Another change could be offering more help to newcomers, like free English classes, job training, or help finding affordable housing. Lastly, Australia could improve its programs for immigrants to move to smaller towns and rural areas, where more workers are needed. These changes would help immigrants settle in more smoothly and also benefit the country.

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How are Australia's policies different?

Both Canada and Australia use a points-based system, but Australia’s system is more career-specific. They rely heavily on skills lists that are regularly updated based on labour market needs, while Canada's Express Entry system is broader and includes more pathways through federal and provincial programs. Detention and Border Policies Australia has stricter border enforcement, particularly for asylum seekers arriving by boat. They use offshore detention centers, which are controversial. Canada, on the other hand, emphasizes resettlement and integration and generally has a more humanitarian approach to refugees. Geography and Control Australia, being an island continent, has more physical control over unauthorized entry. Canada shares a long land border with the U.S., which leads to different challenges, especially regarding refugee claims made at the border. Permanent Residency Pathways
Canada often provides faster and more predictable pathways to permanent residency, especially for skilled workers and international students. In Australia, temporary migration can be a longer and less secure pathway to PR.

Are there any similarities in the process?

Points-Based Selection for Skilled Workers

English Language Proficiency Requirements

Medical and Security Checks

Support for Multiculturalism

Emphasis on Economic Immigration

How Important is Immigration to Australia

Very important. Immigration drives population growth, economic development, and fills critical skill shortages, especially in healthcare, trades, and IT. Immigrants have helped diversify Australian society, especially in urban areas like Sydney and Melbourne. The government uses immigration to offset aging demographics and maintain labour market strength.

What Changes Can be Made to Improve Australia

Improving asylum seeker treatment.
End offshore detention and replace it with more humane alternatives that still maintain security. So the process does not feel so threatening. Faster pathways to permanent residency would also improve the system.
Many temporary visa holders live in limbo for years. A clearer, quicker route to PR would help integration and stability.

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Germany and Canada have both built their economies around immigration, but their policies are quite different. Germany recently introduced a points-based system similar to Canada’s to attract skilled workers, but it also made stricter rules for asylum seekers and limited family gatherings for some refugees. Canada on the other hand, continues to welcome a mix of economic immigrants, and refugees. Both countries value skilled workers and use points systems to evaluate them, but Canada is generally more open to family reunification and refugee resettlement. Immigration is very important to Germany because of its aging population and labour shortages, it needs hundreds of thousands of workers each year. However, recent political pressure has led to tighter border controls and more deportations. In contrast, Canada still sees immigration as a key part of its identity and population growth, although it’s slightly lowering its targets to address housing and service concerns. Germany should consider making it easier for families to reunite and improve how newcomers are welcomed to help fill job gaps and create stronger communities. Overall, both countries relly heavily on immigration, but Canada takes a more balanced and supportive approach that Germany could learn from.

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Immigration looks really different when comparing Canada and Greenland. Canada's got its own points based system, but Greenland's is a bit trickier. Since it's under Denmark's control, they mostly just bring people in to fill specific jobs they need done. It's not really set up for new immigrants to start living there. Both places are really focused on what kinds of workers they need at any given moment, but Canada’s system seems to be more flexible, as well as more developed. They've got open work permits, and you can do most of the immigration process online. Plus, they're pretty good about helping newcomers once they get there. Immigration seems to be a lot more important in Canada. It shapes how the country grows and affects their economy in a lot of ways. In Greenland, it's not as much of a big focus, and they've got a much smaller population because of it. If that’s something that they want to change, they may want to start thinking about changing their process. It can help with their worker shortages and if they want to keep developing their country. They'll also need to make it more obvious how people could actually settle there long-term, and start offering more help to newcomers too.

Sources:
“Become a Canadian Citizen - Canada.ca.” Canada.ca, 2017, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/canadian-citizenship/become-canadian-citizen.html.

“Guide: Moving to Greenland.” Nordic Cooperation, 2025, www.norden.org/en/info-norden/guide-moving-greenland-0.

“Work and Residence Permits in Greenland.” Nordic Cooperation, 2025, www.norden.org/en/info-norden/work-and-residence-permits-greenland.

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Canada and New Zealand both have very similar policies and systems for immigration, for example both use point based system. However, I chose New Zealand not for this, but because I deemed it a close to ideal country for its polices and system on immigration. While Canada comes close to New Zealand, it has some gaps that leave vulnerabilities in its system. Both systems are similar for their structuring, easy residency and citizenship, prioritizing young skilled workers who have already seized a job, and beneficial qualifications are all points both share. However, New Zealand imposes stricter regulations and requirement for migrants, plus a safer use of VISAs, and then permanent residence and citizenship. The reason for these differences lies in the bias for immigration that both countries hold. Canada and New Zealand are both big locations for immigration and well known for acceptance and easy integration, however issues within the countries call for an influx of migration to solve the problems. In Canada, this is a housing crisis, a declining birth rate, and generally a lack of overall manpower, however New Zealand does not have these issues (except for a smaller housing crisis). Smaller countries like New Zealand have smaller populations, and thus shorter range or skills, and so they take in migrants to fill the gaps in their workforce and keep their economy running smoothly. To fix these issues I believe it would be best to increase funding/investments in the following: housing industry, digital systems, transit systems, language training, community organizations, national campaigns, and strengthen legal protections for migrants and workers alike. Improvements for their systems could be stricter visa monitorization, prioritizing market based needs, reducing reliance on low skilled and less beneficial workers, and matching the immigration flow to the availability of housing, healthcare, and education.

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The immigration differences in Canada are great, but they are also similar in some ways. First of all, Canada tends to be more lenient when it comes to immigration, with the country allowing almost 460,000 brand-new permanent residents in 2023. In the meantime, Japan barely allows people in, and if they do, most of them are short-term. Canada uses a point system where they look at various things like your age, language, work experience, etc. If you end up passing with high points, you will then be allowed to apply for permanent residence in Canada, which Japan does not do. The problem is that Japan tends to only take workers like Specified Skilled Workers (SSW). These workers are still not allowed to stay in Japan forever, along with bringing their families. Though these countries still share similarities in some aspects concerning immigration. Both Canada and Japan have realized that they are facing an aging population, which means they require more young workers. Most of Japan's society is beginning to age, with 28% of the people of Japan being over the age of 65 and above. If they don't consider this, they may face a decline of less than 90 million by 2065, which is crazy. Canada has been working towards their aging population by fixing it through immigration. Now, Canada has approximately 23% of its residents being immigrants. Skilled workers are welcome in both countries; however, Canada is essentially less strict when it comes to letting people stay, settle, and even become citizens one day. Japan is way more narrow-minded, as they are starting to realize they may need immigration to save their country.

What can Japan do?

To put it in simple terms, Japan should consider changing their rules and allowing easier ways for people to be able to stay in the country longer, bring family, and feel welcome. This will not only help the population but also the declining economy. Though, during this time, they are fully focused on bringing workers to help fill in the labour gap. This is great, but it also affects these workers because it doesn't allow them to get the opportunity to start a life there.

Works Cited

Immigration Services Agency of Japan. Statistics on Foreign Residents (June 2024). Ministry of Justice, 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immigration_to_Japan. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Immigration Services Agency of Japan. “Comprehensive Measures for Acceptance and Coexistence of Foreign Nationals” (PDF). Ministry of Justice, Jan. 2024, www.moj.go.jp/isa/content/001428430.pdf. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. “International Migration Outlook 2024: Japan.” OECD, Nov. 2024, www.oecd.org/en/publications/2024/11/international-migration-outlook-2024_c6f3e803/full-report/japan_b4d10c79.html. Accessed 22 July 2025.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. Supplementary Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027. Department of IRCC, accessed via Canada.ca, 2025, www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/notices/supplementary-immigration-levels-2025-2027.html. Accessed 22 July 2025

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South Korea Immigration Comparison - Simon Kesminas

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South Korea Immigration Comparison - Simon Kesminas

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a. Differences in Immigration Policies

Canada and South Korea have very different approaches to immigration. Canada is known all around the world for its inclusive system, admitting around 483,000 permanent residents in 2024. Using multiple different pathways, like Express Entry, family sponsorship, and refugee resettlement. While South Korea, on the other hand, focuses more on short-term labor through strict visa programs and offers very little options for people to gain permanent residency or citizenship. While Canada invites immigrants to settle and build long-term lives, South Korea usually limits foreign workers to temporary roles in work like agriculture, caregiving, and manufacturing.

b. Similarities in the Process

Even though their systems are different, both countries use points-based programs for skilled workers. Canada’s Express Entry system does language skills, education, and work experience, while South Korea also uses a points system to approve high-level professionals in science and technology. However though, South Korea’s system is more harder to access. Both countries want people to do language skills and have background checks, and both allow some international students to apply for longer stays or permanent residency later on.

c. Importance of Immigration to the Country

Immigration plays a big role in Canada’s economy and population growth. In 2023, almost all of Canada’s population increase came from immigration. Canada also relies on immigrants to support healthcare, construction, and education. South Korea though, is facing a population crisis with one of the world’s lowest birth rates and an aging population. Even though the country needs more workers, immigration is still a difficult topic for them and changes have been slow. The government also recently introduced a digital nomad visa and new policies for skilled labor, but it's far behind Canada in long-term immigration planning.

d. Suggested Changes to Improve the System

To deal with there population and workforce challenges, South Korea should think about making its immigration system more open. By creating a more easier pathway to permanent residency, allowing more families to connect back with each other, and supporting immigrants with language and integration programs could help attract and keep skilled workers. These changes would help boost South Korea’s economy and address there labor shortages, just like Canada has done through its more of a inclusive and flexible immigration system.

Works Cited:

Government of Canada. Immigration Levels Plan 2025–2027, 2024. https://apnews.com/article/7e718df6979915b112a1ff243f224ac7

Statista. “Number of Permanent Residents Admitted to Canada.” 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/612452/immigrants-in-canada-by-status/

OECD. International Migration Outlook 2024 – Canada. https://www.oecd.org/en/publications/2024/11/international-migration-outlook-2024_c6f3e803/full-report/canada_89e5860e.html

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a) How are Australia’s policies different from Canada’s?

Australia and Canada both use points systems for skilled workers, but there are differences. In Australia, the system is more focused on age, occupation lists, and state nominations. You must choose an occupation from their official “Skilled Occupation List,” and some applicants need to be nominated by a specific Australian state or territory. Also, Australia has strict English language requirements and medical tests that must be passed before approval.

b) Are there any similarities in the process?

Yes! Both countries use a points-based system that looks at things like age, language skills, education, and work experience. Both also allow people to immigrate through different categories such as skilled worker, family, or humanitarian/refugee. They both value English language skills highly.

c) How important is immigration to this country?

Immigration is very important to Australia’s economy. Like Canada, Australia has an aging population and needs skilled workers to fill jobs. Immigrants help support healthcare, construction, and technology sectors. The country depends on newcomers to grow its economy and workforce.

d) What changes do you think they should make?

I think Australia could improve its system by making the process faster and more clear for people applying from outside the country. Some steps are long and confusing. They could also do more to support immigrants after they arrive, like offering more language classes or housing help. Overall, the system is good, but it could be more welcoming and easier to understand.

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Canada and Israel have vastly contrasting immigration policies in keeping with their respective national interests. Canada uses the points system under which immigrants are selected based on their education, language, job offers, and work experience. It has several channels for skilled workers, family members, refugees, and humanitarian cases. In comparison, Israel's is mainly based upon the Law of Return, giving automatic citizenship to Jews, their grandchildren or children, and their spouses regardless of their place of origin. The law is almost as dear to Israel's Jewish nature.

For non-Jewish immigrants, Israel possesses a limited and harder path to citizenship. They must live in the country for five years, master Hebrew, and prove strong affinities to the country. Canada, on the other hand, does not discriminate on religion or heritage and offers several programs to attract skilled newcomers from around the world.

However, there are also similarities. Both countries provide support to immigrants such as language education, housing assistance, and employment assistance. Both also require background checks, medical examinations, and identification. Immigration is also essential in both countries. Canada uses immigration to grow its economy and cover up labour shortages. Israel utilizes immigration as a way of strengthening its Jewish population and being in close connection with the Jewish population.

One change Israel can implement is to make the process of immigration more fair and open to people converting to Judaism or from more untraditional Jewish communities. The process could also be better made by creating more opportunities for talented non-Jewish immigrants who can contribute to the economy. As a whole, Canada's immigration process is more welcoming and open, while Israel's is more focused on national heritage and identity.

Sources

Government of Canada. “How Canada’s Immigration System Works.” Canada.ca, 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/campaigns/immigration-matters/system.html.

Nefesh B’Nefesh. “Making Aliyah: The Process.” NBN.org.il, 2024, https://www.nbn.org.il.

Itim. “Immigration to Israel: Legal Process.” Itim.org.il, 2024, https://www.itim.org.il/en/immogration-to-israel/.

Wikipedia contributors. “Law of Return.” Wikipedia, 2024, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_of_Return.

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Canada and New Zealand both rely heavily on immigration, and their immigration policies are somewhat similar, with some minor differences. Canada uses a points‑based system for immigration that bases selection on age, English proficiency, education, experience, job offers and adaptability. This points system helps select higher-skilled immigrants who can adapt quickly to Canadian society and make a positive contribution to the economy. New Zealand also uses a points‑based system called the Skilled Migrant Category in the Immigration Act 2009, but has a stricter cap on how many people can migrate to the country each year. Further, they have also recently added a “Green List” for jobs that are needed urgently, such as nurses and teachers. Under the “Green List,” the number of points required to immigrate is reduced. New Zealand also uses a “Golden Visa” in which immigrants can bypass the points system by making an investment in New Zealand. In sum, both Canada and New Zealand use the points system, making their policies/systems quite similar for immigration. For example, they both require applicants to pass health and background checks, prove English-language ability, and sometimes need to show a job offer or employer sponsorship. They also both value skilled workers and people who already have family in the country.

New Zealand relies on immigration to fill labour shortages, support population growth and make its economy stronger. However, their immigration policies in recent years have led to some undesired effects. The immigration growth has put a strain on the public system. In order to fix this, maybe the number of people immigrating to New Zealand each year should be lowered until the public system can support the new immigrants properly. Also, I believe relying on a “Golden Visa” program in which people use their wealth to buy their way into a country is unfair and doesn’t necessarily mean these people are better or will have a more positive impact on New Zealand's society than others who have less wealth.

Sources:

policy, Immigration. “Immigration Policy and Law.” Immigration New Zealand, 2025, www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/immigration-policy-and-law/. Accessed 23 July 2025.

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Both Canada and Germany are really popular destinations for immigrants. However, they have different approaches shaped by their history, economy, and goals. Canada uses a points-based system that evaluates applicants based off their education, work experience, language skills, and age. People can apply through Express Entry, and many are accepted even without a job offer as long as they get enough points from other catergories. This makes Canada’s system flexible and allows many skilled individuals to apply. Similar to Canada, Germany has recently started its own points-based system, but its way more stricter than Canadas system. Most applicants need a job offer and must meet salary requirements to be accepted. Germany has also made immigration more difficult by suspending some family reunification programs and increasing deportations, especially for rejected asylum seekers. This shows that Germany is currently focusing more on border control and immigration enforcement than on attracting newcomers. Both countries now use point systems that consider education, work experience, and language ability. They also offer integration programs to assist immigrants in learning the official language and settling into their new homes. In Germany, integration courses teach German as well as German laws, culture, and daily life. In Canada, newcomers have access to language training and job services to support their settlement. These programs show that both countries understand the importance of helping immigrants adjust. Immigration is very important to Canada. Immigrants make up over 23% of the population and contribute to the economy by filling jobs, paying taxes, and bringing new ideas and cultures. Germany also depends on immigration, especially because of its aging population and labour shortages in fields like construction, healthcare, and technology. Immigrants help keep the economy strong and support the pension system as more people retire. Germany has made some progress, but it should become more welcoming. Lowering job offer and salary requirements and allowing family reunification would make it easier for skilled workers to choose Germany. Canada’s example shows that it is possible to have an open and fair immigration system. Making the process faster and easier would help Germany attract more skilled workers and fill important jobs.

Government of Canada, “Express Entry – Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) Criteria,” Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, June 1, 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/check-score/crs-criteria.html.

Sarah Marsh, “Germany, EU Allies Push for Asylum Crackdown, More Deportations,” Reuters, July 18, 2025, https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/germany-eu-allies-push-asylum-crackdown-more-deportations-2025-07-18/.

Federal Office for Migration and Refugees, “Integration Courses,” Migrationsberatung.org, accessed July 22, 2025, https://www.migrationsberatung.org/en/knowledge-area/learning-german/integration-courses.

Statistics Canada, “Immigration and Ethnocultural Diversity: Key Results from the 2021 Census,” Government of Canada, October 26, 2022, https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quotidien/221026/dq221026a-eng.htm.

Make It In Germany. “Opportunity Card.” Accessed July 22, 2025. https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/service/newsletter/opportunitycard.

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Nathaniel Chan - United States of America

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Nathaniel Chan - United States of America

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The United States and Canada have very different approaches to how to handle immigration. United States immigration policy is largely centered around sponsorship either via family members or corporate sponsors. This is, of course, excluding refugees and asylees, who can apply should they meet specific criteria. Canada, contrastingly, is much more rooted in the skills and experiences of the individual in question, as well as the sort of economic or societal benefits which the individual can contribute to the country. Furthermore, the United States has immigration limits that cap the amount of people who can enter the country as Lawful Permanent Residents or as citizens, whereas Canada does not. Essentially, Canada and the United States have extremely different systems, with Canada's being without limit so long as people can fulfil the requirements/have the required points, and the US's being limited, and judged off on sponsorships of citizens or LPRs and their situations.

TLDR: Very different in almost every aspect

The systems don't have very much in common, with the best parallel that I could draw being in regards to how both processes consider/hold value around having blood relatives or spouses/spouse adjacent individuals in the country. Reuniting families and keeping said connections alive and healthy seems to be a priority for both countries, which is something that they, and other countries, have in common in terms of immigration laws.

Immigration is an extremely important part of the United States's economy and identity. America is a country that has been built on the backs of immigrants, and this is reflected in the very diverse cultures and identities that are present throughout the country. The United States is made up of around 15% Immigrants, and takes in a rising 2.6 million immigrants every year, which makes up a pretty substantial amount of the population. Immigrants are powerful boosters to the workforce, and build the country in all sectors, from business to manual labor to development to education and beyond. America is a country which, since the days of its conception, has been built on immigration from all over, and because of that, immigration is a part of the core of the US.

I think one of the strongest changes which the US could implement would be removing the immigration limits so that as many people could enter the country as possible. America, since its founding, is something built on the backs of working immigrants, and today has a culture and identity which is forged around the experiences and heritages of the people who come into the country. As America's population ages, immigrants from growing continents like Africa should have ease of access into the US so that they're able to bolster the workforce and economy of the country. The United States, frankly, needs immigrants, and to compensate for that, the US should loosen its laws to be more susceptible to educated/working-age/qualified immigrants entering the country regardless of whether they are sponsored or not. This would, most probably, help to strengthen the US in the sense that new cultures, heritages, and individuals can be introduced.

America is a country that is extremely different from Canada, at least in its immigration policies. With that being said, America is a country that is highly dependent on immigrants, and in the future, if it can be more open to the right ones, America can truly grow as a country. (assuming that no people in positions of power destroy that)

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Saudi Arabia's Immigration Policy Compared to Canada's - Aliya Makada

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Saudi Arabia's Immigration Policy Compared to Canada's - Aliya Makada

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The country that I chose to research about is Saudi Arabia which has around 13.5 million immigrants as of 2022 and they represent 40-42% of the entire population. In terms of the country’s policies, they are quite different in comparison to Canada. First, Canada has an immigrant-settler society which is designed to encourage and select permanent immigrants. This is why the points system ensures that Canada prioritises skilled migrants with a path to citizenship. In comparison, Saudi Arabia is a labor-importing country where immigration is usually temporary and contractual. The system in Saudi Arabia is design to fill short-term labor shortages, but not to give a pathway to permanent residency. Another difference is that Saudi Arabia enforces restrictive visa policies, meaning unpredictable changes and suspensions can occur for immigrants. However, Canada does not follow the same procedure, and instead the visa system is relatively stable and transparent. As you can tell there are not a lot of similarities between the two countries besides that they both do background checks and use their own online application platforms for people to apply to.

Immigration in Saudi Arabia is very crucial as the country heavily relies on migrant labor, especially in construction, services, and domestic work. Yet, even though the service of immigrants is very important to the country’s economy, they are not intended to settle permanently. To put it simply, immigration in Saudi Arabia is not intended to built a multicultural society like in Canada, but instead, it serves to temporarily supplement the labor market. In fact, the government is actively working to reduce reliance on immigrant labor in favor of employing the people who already live there.

I think that the country could benefit from introducing clearer paths for immigrants to gain permanent residence or citizenship, especially if those immigrants have already contributed to the economy. I also think that the country should change and strengthen the legal protections around immigrants so that they have protection against abuse or unfair labor practices.

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Canada and China are countries that have a very different immigration system and set up when comparing the both. Initially, there are a lot of ways that people can move to Canada which is through the programs like Express Entry that gives points based on factors like age, education, and your work experience, also programs likes family sponsorship, refugee programs, and many more other things. Additionally, Canada has been bringing hundreds of thousands of immigrants every single year because it is needed for them to help grow the population and by also keeping the Canadian economy strong.

Now talking about China, their immigrations system is on a way more strict scale. It is overall very hard to become a permenatn resident in a country like this one. Most of the people who do get accepted any form of residency are really top level experts, wealthy investors, or in more common cases people that are married to Chinese citizens but for several years. Next thing is the regular workers or the families looking to move to China do not have an easy way to move to the country when comparing to Canada. Lastly, there is not big points system or any multiple programs to help the people acquire any form of citizenship, residency, or come in as a immigrant all together.

However, there are still a few things that the two countries have in common. They both have to have some form of background checks, health checks, and a way to check you are a good contributing person to society or in general. Now, recently talking, China has made a points system also but it is only for temporary work visas and not for the perminent residency. Overall, it is not quite the same as the Canadian system, initially this helps the people actually move and stay in a more long term bases.

Adding on, immigration is very important for the country of Canada. Initially, the country has a very low birth rate and a ton of people retiring, this means that it does truly depends on the immigrants to keep the things going. Basically, more than 1 in 5 people living in the country of Canada have been born in a different place. Now on the other hsnf, immigration does not have a very big play in China's plans for this. As the country has around 1.4 billion people, the country, China, is way more focused and keen to managing their own population than bringing in new people to their country.

Lastly, the country China could definitely take in different positive things like opening up its immigration system more like by creating a points system like Canada or more unique paths for the workers and families coming to China. It could also help their economy and bring in the country way more talent on a global scale. Now, as for Canada, we as a country should keep improving the system by tweeking some things and removing the severity of some of the points systems but we should also make sure it is all fair especially for the refugees and the people who actually are in need for pure help.

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Canada vs. The UK: Immigration Policies - Amrita Badial

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Canada vs. The UK: Immigration Policies - Amrita Badial

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Canada and the United Kingdom are both Western First World countries that share very similar values and laws, especially since Canada resides under the English Commonwealth. However, their policies surrounding immigration have key similarities and differences. Firstly, immigrants coming from the United States or Mexico into Canada receive certain benefits that immigrants from other continents do not. The Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement, CUSMA, allows for North American immigrants to apply for certain jobs without their employer needing a Labour Market Impact Assessment, which is a time-consuming assessment of the economic benefits that foreign workers bring. Overall, this agreement facilitates obtaining work permits and border crossing for American or Mexican citizens moving to Canada. However, after Britain left the European Union in 2020 (Brexit), those who reside in other countries no longer receive the benefits associated with being in the European Union. Another key difference is that the United Kingdom has adjusted their policies and tightened their restrictions to reduce migration in the region, due to their population density. However, Canada has a fairly welcoming immigration plan, with less rigid restrictions. Both Canada and the UK have shifted to a points based system, where certain points are allotted to new immigrants based on their contributions to the country. Both countries also allow refugees to reside there if there are being persecuted in their homeland. Immigration is imperative to the United Kingdom, by promoting their economic growth and number of entrepreneurs. Higher immigration levels have led to a higher GDP in the UK and a more diverse landscape. With more immigrants, there is a higher number of taxpayers in the country, supporting public infrastructure. A change that could be made to the UK immigration policy is one that is highly disputed, but rejoining the EU would aid the UK's economy and aid European immigrants entering the country. I don't believe that the UK needs to make any other significant changes to their immigration policy, because keeping strict migration policies is important for a country like the UK that is already incredibly densely populated to avoid potential overpopulation.

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Australia and Canada both use points-based systems for skilled immigration, but Canada’s Express Entry is faster and more flexible, while Australia’s SkillSelect system emphasizes specific occupations and skills assessments with stricter quotas. Both countries allow regional governments to nominate applicants, Canada through Provincial Nominee Programs and Australia through state nominations, but Canada gives more autonomy to its provinces. They share similarities like ranking candidates by age, education, language, and experience, and they both rely heavily on immigration to support population and economic growth. Immigration is extremely important to Australia, making up most of its recent population growth and helping fill job shortages, though it has also led to housing and infrastructure strain. Australia could improve by giving more power to states, focusing more on permanent skilled migrants, and better aligning immigration with housing and services.

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Canada and Germany both offer structured immigration programs for skilled workers, but they differ significantly in approach and accessibility. Canada’s Express Entry system uses a comprehensive points-based method that considers language proficiency, education, work experience, and other adaptability factors. Applicants must have at least one year of skilled work experience and demonstrate strong language skills in English or French to be eligible. The Government of Canada also highlights the extensive support provided to newcomers, including pre-arrival resources, credential recognition programs, and integration services like job training and local assistance.

Germany, on the other hand, has recently introduced the Opportunity Card (Chancenkarte), which is designed to attract non-EU workers based on a similar point system. This system values qualifications, age, German or English language skills, and any existing ties to Germany. According to DW News, the Opportunity Card makes it easier for qualified applicants to come to Germany without a prior job offer, although having one remains advantageous. However, challenges such as housing shortages and limited access to integration services still affect many new arrivals. The official “Make It in Germany” website outlines pathways for skilled immigration, but Germany’s system tends to favor those already connected to the German job market or culture.

While both countries aim to address labor shortages and demographic shifts, Canada’s model offers more flexibility and a stronger focus on long-term settlement success for newcomers.

Government of Canada. “Immigration and Citizenship.” Canada.ca, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html.

Government of Canada. “Who Can Apply – Federal Skilled Workers.” Canada.ca, 2024, https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/express-entry/who-can-apply/federal-skilled-workers.html.

“Opportunity Card a Boon for Germany’s Labor Market.” DW, 2024, https://www.dw.com/en/opportunity-card-a-boon-for-germanys-labor-market/a-69267503.

“Working in Germany.” Make It in Germany, https://www.make-it-in-germany.com/en/.

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Canada and the United States approach immigration in very different ways, despite both being major immigrant destinations. Canada uses a points-based system that is specifically used to assess applicants for permanent residency. It gives points based on factors such as age, education, language ability, and work experience. Applicants who meet the minimum total of 67 points are considered eligible to immigrate permanently through programs like the Federal Skilled Worker Program. This system helps Canada select immigrants who are likely to succeed. The United States, on the other hand, does not have a point based system. Instead, it relies on a mix of family reunification, employment sponsorship, humanitarian programs, and the diversity visa program to decide who can immigrate. The United States' immigration process takes longer and is less predictable than Canada. The two countries share some similarities. Both countries offer family based immigration programs and let in immigrants who have family members already in the country. They both offer jobs, education, healthcare, and family visas to immigrants also. Immigration is extremely important to the United States to boost the economic growth. It fills labour shortages and increases consumer spending. Specifically, immigration contributes heavily to the healthcare, agriculture, and construction industries. I believe the United States should make the immigration process easier as this would be beneficial to everyone. Reducing the amount of paperwork and simplifying the requirements to immigrate would make the entire process much easier.

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Canada and the US have a few key differences in their immigration policies. The first difference is that in Canada, the largest percentage of immigrants are economic immigrants. These immigrants are required to attain 67/100 on the points system. The main management team for this type of immigration is the Provincial Nominee Program or PNP. In contrast, the most common rate of immigration in the US is family immigration. The process for this type of immigration requires attaining a permanent resident visa. Although visas to visit the US often take longer to be issued, they have a much higher acceptance rate due to family ties. Canada also encourages French-speaking individuals to immigrate to Canada, so that French-speaking populations outside of Quebec will increase. Whereas the US doesn't. Although there are lots of differences, there are also some similarities. The US only allows 675,000 immigrants per year. Similarly, Canada also has a limit on the number of immigrants it can accommodate. Canada's goal this year is to acquire 395,000 new permanent residents. Furthermore, both Canada and the US have very diverse immigration pathways, and they aim to give options for what type of visas people would want to apply for. Another major similarity is that both countries rely heavily on immigration to fill jobs and support the economy. Overall, I think that the US's immigration policies are pretty good, but they could be made more efficient and streamlined.

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Australia’s immigration policies differ from Canada’s primarily in their structure and emphasis. While both use a points-based system, Australia’s General Skilled Migration program includes specific visa subclasses and often requires applicants to be nominated by a state or employer or pass a skills assessment for a specific occupation on the Skilled Occupation List. Canada’s system is more centralized through Express Entry, and doesn't always require employer sponsorship. Both countries value skilled workers and assess applicants based on age, language, education, and work experience. Immigration is highly important to Australia, as it fills labor gaps and contributes to economic growth, nearly 30% of Australians were born overseas. A potential improvement would be for Australia to streamline its many visa subclasses into a simpler application system, similar to Canada’s Express Entry, to reduce confusion and wait times.

Sources:

1. https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/people/population/migration-australia/latest-release

2. https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/

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Canada and Italy have very different immigration systems based on their individual goals and needs for immigration. Canada has a point-based immigration system, which is very structured and encourages skilled workers to come to the country. In contrast, Italy has a quota-based immigration system for non-EU immigrants. For non-EU citizens from Africa, legal immigration is typically granted based on humanitarian reasons. Irregular immigration is typically quite common as well. Italy does not have any immigration-based long-term population growth plan, unlike Canada. Italy’s immigration policy is also shaped by EU rules, with most EU citizens being able to have freedom of movement across Italy.

Both countries have similar policies, such as: ability for family reunification, a pathway for permanent residency and citizenship, acceptance for asylum seekers and refugees, and requirements for applicants to pass language and civic knowledge tests. However, Canada allows for better, more open, and more organized and supportive systems for long-term settlement.

Immigration will eventually become more important to Italy due to declining birth rates, with issues similar to Japan. However, immigration is also a politically sensitive topic in Italy, linked to topics of border control and national identity. Many immigrants already work in Italy in sectors like agriculture, domestic care, and construction, filling certain labor gaps.

I think that Italy should institute a more efficient and structured immigration program. Like Canada, focused on skilled workers and economic migrants. It's going to be a path that is uniquely hard on the country, as its culture is inherently distinct and shaped by hundreds of years of history. However, with Italy suffering from one of the worst birth rates in Europe, it's going to have to use immigration or attempt to raise birth rates by providing welfare. I think Italy has the ability to create a long-term immigration strategy, improve immigration pathways and integration services, while still preserving its culture. These steps would help Italy manage migration more effectively and allow Italy to thrive in the future.

Canada. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. “Immigration and Citizenship.” Government of Canada, 2025, https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html.

European Commission. “Migration and Home Affairs: Italy.” European Commission, 2024, https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/policies/migration-and-asylum/italy_en.

International Organization for Migration. “Italy: Migration Profile.” IOM, 2023, https://www.iom.int/countries/italy.

OECD. “International Migration Outlook 2023.” OECD Publishing, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1787/migr_outlook-2023-en.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. “Italy Refugee and Asylum Seeker Data.” UNHCR, 2024, https://www.unhcr.org/italy.html.