There are over 2 million Internationally Trained Workers in Canada – both skilled immigrants and Canadians with international training or education.
For many Internationally Trained Workers in Canada, a lack of foreign credential recognition or when their employment training and experience do not align with Canadian labour market needs is a significant barrier to employment and effective labour market integration.
Foreign credential recognition is the process of verifying that the education and job experience obtained in another country is equal to the standards established in Canada.
If you are an internationally educated immigrant to Canada and are looking for funds to help you get Canadian accreditation for your certificates or training in your pre-immigration career, please feel free to contact any one of the following organizations in Canada currently offering loans to foreigners in Canada to see if you qualify.
What's Covered in This Article
CANADA
Windmill Microlending
Windmill Microlending is a registered charity serving newcomers to Canada since 2005.
They offer microloans to help skilled immigrants and refugees continue their careers in Canada.
Funded by the public and private sector, Windmill is Canada’s largest and most successful microlending program for immigrants and refugees.
How to Apply:
Phone:1-855-423-2262
Visit: https://windmillmicrolending.org/
GREATER MONTRÉAL, QUEBEC
Association communautaire d’emprunt de Montréal (ACEM)
With Microcrédit Montréal’s loan program, you – as an internationally trained professional – can secure financing of up to $15,000 to get your credentials recognized faster and work in your field in Québec.
How to Apply:
Email: info@acemcreditcommunautaire.qc.ca Phone: 514-843-7296
Visit: https://microcreditmontreal.ca/
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project
The Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loan Project, funded by the Government of Canada, provides financial support to residents of B.C. who are internationally trained to help them get foreign credential recognition, which evaluates your education and experience to ensure that you meet the standards established in Canada for your field of practice.
How to Apply:
Phone: (778) 819-0728 (ext. 1001)
Email: FCRloaninfo@success.bc.ca
Visit: https://www.fcrloan.ca/
MANITOBA
SEED Winnipeg
Recognition Counts is a program that provides supports to skilled immigrants wishing to work in their fields of expertise or alternative career in Manitoba.
The program offers financial counselling, as well as the opportunity to apply for a loan of up to $15,000 with Assiniboine Credit Union, to help with the cost of having your qualifications recognized in Manitoba and obtaining employment in your profession or trade.
How to Apply:
Email: info@seedwinnipeg.ca Phone: 204-927-9935
Website: http://seedwinnipeg.ca/programs/detail/recognition-counts
ONTARIO, South Western (excluding the GTA)
WIL Employment Connections
The Internationally Trained Worker Loan Program provides Internationally Trained Workers residing in southwestern Ontario with loans to help them in covering the direct and indirect costs related to foreign credential recognition, including:
- Qualification assessment
- Exam and licensure fees
- Tuition fees for training and skills upgrading
- Books and course materials
- Professional association fees
- Other costs relating to obtaining accreditation/training as required
The ITW Loan Program is a pilot program funded by the Government of Canada in partnership with WIL Employment Connections. Loan applications are processed through the program’s service delivery partners – the Access Centre for Regulated Employment and Libro Credit Union.
How to Apply:
Email: info@accesscentre.ca
Phone: 519-858-2348
Visit: www.wil.ca/immigrants-newcomers/skilled-immigrant-loan-program
For more information please contact the Access Centre for Regulated Employment.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
Canada Microcredit Educators Group (CMEG)
Canada Microcredit Educators Group (CMEG) provides micro loans to internationally trained individuals in Prince Edward Island with professions such as technicians, trades people and skilled workers who need help to pay for the costs associated with obtaining the Canadian accreditation or training required to work in the occupation for which they have trained or experienced before immigrating to Canada.
The Government of Canada through Human Resources Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) has partnered with CMEG to create the program.
Financial services are provided by Consolidated Credit Union.
How to Apply:
Email: info@microloanscanada.ca Phone: 902-626-8667
Visit: www.microloanscanada.ca
NOVA SCOTIA
The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund (ISANS/AICLF)
The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund is a micro-loan fund for internationally trained immigrants in Atlantic Canada. The purpose of the micro-loans is to help them to overcome financial barriers to upgrade their skills and obtain their license or certification so that they can:
- Practice their occupation, regulated or unregulated
- Find opportunities in field or a related field
- Change career to adjust to the labour market needs
The project is funded by the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program, and is administered by Immigrant Services Association of Nova Scotia in partnership with Royal Bank of Canada, Association for New Canadians (Newfoundland and Labrador), PEI Association for Newcomers to Canada, New Brunswick Multicultural Council, Multicultural Association of Fredericton, Multicultural Association of the Greater Moncton Area and YMCA of Greater Saint John.
How to Apply:
Visit: https://aiclf.ca/about/
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
Acquiring eXperience; Integrating Skills (AXIS) Employment Services
If you an internationally trained immigrant living in Atlantic Canada and you need financial support to completing training courses, the Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund may be for you.
The Atlantic Immigrant Career Loan Fund pays for:
- Registration fees
- Licensing and examination fees
- Training, tuition fees, related text books or online resources
- Living expenses (during exams or a specific training)
- Travel and accommodation expenses to complete exams and courses
How to Apply:
Click here for more information.
