Altec Insight | Canada Ranks 4th in 2024 Global Best Countries

Canada has once again secured a spot among the top-ranked nations in the latest U.S. News 2024 Best Countries rankings, placing fourth with an overall index score of 94.1. This consistent performance underscores Canada’s reputation for quality of life, entrepreneurial potential, and social purpose, all of which contributed to its strong positioning on the global stage.

While Switzerland took the top spot with a perfect score of 100, Canada remains a top-five contender, ranking highly across several key factors. This marks the fourth consecutive year that Canada has ranked in the top five, demonstrating its ongoing global appeal. However, Canada did see a slight drop from its second-place ranking in 2023, due to dips in scores for “Open for Business,” “Cultural Heritage,” and “Entrepreneurship.”

How Does U.S. News Rank Countries? 

U.S. News rankings are based on survey responses regarding “citizen engagement,” evaluating 73 attributes for each country. These attributes are then categorized into 10 themes: 

Movers: Considers the extent to which a country is viewed by survey respondents as being different, dynamic, and unique. 

Quality of Life: Includes scores for affordability, job market, economic stability, family friendliness, income equality, political stability, safety, educational system performance, and healthcare system performance. 

Entrepreneurship: Assesses a country’s connection with the rest of the world, the education and skills of the labor force, access to entrepreneurial opportunities, innovation potential, ease of access to capital, technological expertise, implementation of transparent business practices, and development of digital and traditional infrastructure, as well as the legal framework. 

Adaptability: Considers respondents’ perceptions of a country’s adaptability, dynamism, modernization, progressiveness, and responsiveness. 

Social Purpose: Measures a country’s commitment to human rights, animal rights, environmental issues, gender equality, religious freedom, property rights, social justice, the existence of trustworthy institutions, equitable distribution of political power, and racial equality. 

Open for Business: Assesses how suitable a country is for established companies to open branches or offices, including considerations of bureaucracy, corruption, low manufacturing costs, favorable tax environment, and transparent government practices. 

Cultural Influence: Examines the global cultural significance of a country’s entertainment and culture, and how it is perceived in terms of fashion, modernity, trendiness, prestige, and presence of strong consumer brands. 

Adventure: Look at how friendly, fun, tourist-friendly, scenic, and climate-pleasant a country is considered. 

Power: Measures the extent to which a country is seen as a global leader, its economic and political influence, and its military strength and international partnerships. 

Cultural Heritage: Considers the accessibility of a country’s culture, its rich history, delicious food, and the attractiveness of its cultural and geographic features.

Canada’s Performance in Key Factors

Canada’s strong ranking comes from outstanding performance in several scoring categories. Notably, Canada excels in Agility, Entrepreneurship, Quality of Life, and Social Purpose, areas where it remains a global leader. 

Easier Pathways to Immigrate to Canada in 2024

As Canada maintains its top-four ranking globally, the country continues to attract immigrants seeking better quality of life, job opportunities, and permanent residency. Canada’s immigration system offers multiple pathways, especially for individuals with entrepreneurial or professional aspirations. Altec Global Inc. highlights the most accessible and strategic immigration routes for those seeking to make Canada their new home:

1. Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program

The Start-Up Visa (SUV) program offers a unique pathway for foreign entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas. By securing support from a designated organization (venture capital, angel investor group, or business incubator), applicants can gain permanent residency. The SUV program is ideal for entrepreneurs ready to create businesses that contribute to Canada’s economic growth and innovation landscape.

Why Choose the Start-Up Visa?

• Permanent residency upon arrival if successful

• Access to Canada’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem

• Support from designated organizations in Canada

• Ideal for tech and innovation-focused businesses

2. C11 Work Permit (Self-Employed)

The C11 Work Permit is designed for self-employed individuals or entrepreneurs who do not yet qualify for the Start-Up Visa but want to establish a business in Canada. It allows applicants to move to Canada to actively manage their business while positioning themselves for permanent residency in the future.

Key Benefits:

• Flexibility to run your business and gain valuable Canadian experience

• Pathway to permanent residency through future immigration programs

• Ideal for consultants, freelancers, and independent professionals

3. Intra-Company Transfer (ICT)

The Intra-Company Transfer (ICT) program allows multinational companies to transfer key employees to Canada to manage or expand their business. This work permit is highly attractive for businesses with operations in both Canada and abroad, offering a route for professionals to gain Canadian work experience and potentially transition to permanent residency.

Why Consider ICT?

• No Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) required

• Transfer of skilled professionals to Canada to manage operations

• Opportunity for eventual permanent residency through work experience

4. Healthcare-Related Occupation Programs

With Canada’s aging population and growing demand for healthcare professionals, immigration pathways for healthcare workers are some of the most accessible. Occupations such as nurses, doctors, and healthcare aides are in high demand, with specific immigration programs offering fast-track options for qualified individuals.

Key Programs:

• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) for healthcare workers

• Express Entry (EE) through the Canadian Experience Class (CEC) or Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) streams

Why This Path?

• High demand across Canada’s healthcare system

• Fast-track options through PNPs or Express Entry

• Job opportunities available in multiple provinces

5. Express Entry (EE) and Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)

The Express Entry system is the most popular route for skilled workers to gain permanent residency in Canada. It evaluates applicants based on factors such as age, education, work experience, and language skills. The Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) allows provinces to nominate individuals based on regional labor needs, often offering faster processing times for specific in-demand occupations.

Why Choose Express Entry or PNP?

• The comprehensive points-based system that evaluates your profile holistically

• Faster processing times for in-demand occupations

• Provincial nominations can significantly boost your Express Entry score

Conclusion – Your Path to Permanent Residency Starts Here

As Canada continues to rank among the best countries globally, it remains a top destination for immigrants seeking new opportunities. With programs like the Start-Up Visa (SUV), C11 Work Permit, Intra-Company Transfer (ICT), and healthcare-related immigration options, there are numerous ways to make Canada your permanent home.

At Altec Global Inc., we specialize in guiding our clients through the most accessible pathways to permanent residency. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, healthcare professional, or skilled worker, our expert team is here to help you find the best immigration strategy for your future. If you need immigration assistance, we encourage you to contact our team for a personalized assessment.