Immigration Options

Federal Skilled Worker

Skilled worker is a person who can compete and succeed in the country’s knowledge-based economy and has the ability to be self supporting upon the arrival in Canada. In order to qualify, the applicant must score a minimum of 67 points out of the possible 100 points.

As of June 26, 2010, the following is the accepted occupation list and their duties.

Free Assessment

What are the minimal requirements?

All applicants must meet the following minimal requirements to apply as a skilled worker:

  • You must have at least one year of continuous full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment
  • You must have had this experience within the last 10 years
  • Your work experience must be Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades) on the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC)

What are the selection factors?

Your application to come to Canada as a skilled worker will also be assessed against a point system consisting of six selection factors. The six selection factors are:

Factor 1 Education Maximum 25 points
Factor 2 Ability in English and or French Maximum 24 points
Factor 3 Experience Maximum 21 points
Factor 4 Age Maximum 10 points
Factor 5 Arranged employment in Canada Maximum 10 points
Factor 6 Adaptability Maximum 10 points
Total   Maximum 100 points
Pass Mark   67 points

Below is a detailed description of all factors that are to be assessed.

Factor 1
Education
(maximum of 25 points)

Points are awarded for earned educational credentials as well as the number of years of full‑time studies or full‑time equivalent studies. To be awarded points, you must meet both stated criteria.

Full‑time studies: At least 15 hours of instruction per week during the academic year. This includes any period of workplace training that forms part of the course.

Full‑time equivalent studies: If you completed a program of study on a part‑time or accelerated basis, count the length of time it would have taken to complete the program on a full‑time basis.

Use the chart below to determine your points. If you have not completed the number of years of study that correspond to your highest educational credential, award yourself points based on the number of years of study.

Example 1: If you have a Master’s degree but have completed only 16 years of full‑time study, award yourself 22 points.
Example 2: If you have a four‑year Bachelor’s degree and have completed 14 or more years of study, award yourself 20 points.

Master’s or PhD AND at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 25
Two or more university degrees at the Bachelor’s level AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 22
A three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 22
A university degree of two years or more at the Bachelor’s level, AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 20
A two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 20
A one-year university degree at the Bachelor’s level AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 15
A one-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 15
A one year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study 12
Secondary school (also called high school) 5

Factor 2
Ability in English and/or French
(maximum of 24 points)

The ability to communicate and work in one or both of Canada’s official languages is very important to you as a skilled worker. Proficiency in English, French or both will help you in the Canadian labour market.

You will be awarded up to 24 points for your basic, moderate or high proficiency in English and French. You will be given points based on your ability to:

  • listen
  • speak
  • read
  • write.

 

Proof of language proficiency

Use your language test results from a designated testing agency, to determine how many points you will be awarded for language proficiency.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the International English Language Testing System (IELTS):

Level Points
(per ability)		 Test results for each ability
Speaking Listening Reading
(General
Training)		 Writing
(General
Training)
High First official language: 4 6.5 - 9.0 7.5 - 9.0 6.5 - 9.0 6.5 - 9.0
Second official language: 2
Moderate Either official language: 2 5.5 - 6.0 5.5 - 7.0 5.0 - 6.0 5.5 - 6.0
Basic Either official language: 1
(maximum of 2)		 4.0 - 5.0 4.5 - 5.0 3.5 - 4.5 4.0 - 5.0
No 0 Less than 4.0 Less than 4.5 Less than 3.5 Less than 4.0

Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP):

Level Points (per ability) Test results for each ability
Speaking Listening Reading Writing
High First official language: 4 4H
5
6		 4H
5
6		 4H
5
6		 4H
5
6
Second official language: 2
Moderate Either official language: 2 3H
4L		 3H
4L		 3H
4L		 3H
4L
Basic Either official language: 1 (maximum of 2) 2H
3L		 2H
3L		 2H
3L		 2H
3L
No 0 0
1
2L		 0
1
2L		 0
1
2L		 0
1
2L

Test d’évaluation de français (TEF)

Use the following table to determine how many points you will be awarded for your test scores with the Test d’évaluation de français (TEF):

Level Points
(per ability)		 Test results for each ability
Speaking (expression orale) Listening (compré-
hension orale)		 Reading (compré-
hension écrite)		 Writing (expression écrite)
High First official language: 4 Level 5
Level 6
(349-450 pts)		 Level 5
Level 6
(280-360 pts)		 Level 5
Level 6
(233-300 pts)		 Level 5
Level 6
(349-450 pts)
Second official language: 2
Moderate Either official
language: 2		 Level 4
(271-348 pts)		 Level 4
(217-279 pts)		 Level 4
(181-232 pts)		 Level 4
(271-348 pts)
Basic Either official
language: 1
(maximum of 2)		 Level 3
(181-270 pts)		 Level 3
(145-216 pts)		 Level 3
(121-180 pts)		 Level 3
(181-270 pts)
No 0 Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
(0-180 pts)		 Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
(0-144 pts)		 Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
(0-120 pts)		 Level 0
Level 1
Level 2
(0-180 pts)

 

 

Factor 3
Work experience
(maximum of 21 points)

You will earn points for the number of years you have spent in full-time (37.5 hours per week), paid work.

Minimum work experience requirements

You must meet the following minimum work experience requirements to be eligible to apply as a skilled worker:

  • You must have at least one year of full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time employment.
  • Your work experience must be in an occupation of Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B of the Canadian National Occupation Classification (NOC). See below for instructions on determining the NOC category for your work experience.
  • You must have had this experience within the last 10 years.
Experience Maximum 21 points
1 year 15
2 years 17
3 years 19
4 years 21

Factor 4
Age
(maximum of 10 points)

Points are given for your age on the date that your complete application is received.

Age Points
16 or under 0
17 2
18 4
19 6
20 8
21-49 10
50 8
51 6
52 4
53 2
54 and over 0

 

Factor 5
Arranged employment
(maximum of 10 points)

Determine your points based on the chart below:

If: And: Points
You are currently working in Canada on a work permit.
  • Your work permit is valid when you apply for a permanent resident visa and;
  • Your employer has made an offer to give you a permanent job if your application is successful.

Note: Your work permit must be valid at the time your permanent resident visa is issued.

 10
You are currently working in Canada in a job that is Human Resources and Skills Development Canada HRSDC confirmation-exempt under an international agreement or a significant benefit category (e.g. intra-company transferee).
  • Your work permit is valid when you apply for a permanent resident visa and;
  • Your employer has made an offer to give you a permanent job if your application is successful.

Note: Your work permit must be valid at the time your permanent resident visa is issued.

 10
You do not currently have a work permit and you do not intend to work in Canada before you have been issued a permanent resident visa.
  • You have a full-time job offer that has been confirmed by HRSDC;
  • Your employer has made an offer to give you a permanent job if your application is successful; and
  • You meet all required Canadian licensing or regulatory standards associated with the job.

Note:

  • You cannot arrange for an HRSDC confirmation. Your employer must do this for you..
  • HRSDC will confirm permanent job offers for occupations listed in Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B of the NOC.
 10

Factor 6
Adaptability
(maximum of 10 points)

If you have a spouse or common‑law partner, points for each element can be awarded only once, either for you or for your spouse or common‑law partner (except for the points under Adaptability criteria “A” below).

Use the chart below to determine your points. Even if you qualify under several criteria, you will be awarded a maximum of 10 points.

Adaptability criteria Points

A. Spouse or common-law partner’s level of education

  • Secondary school (high school) diploma or less: 0 points
  • A one-year diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree and at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 3 points
  • A diploma, trade certificate, apprenticeship, or university degree of two years or more and at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 4 points
  • A Master’s degree or PhD and at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent studies: 5 points
 3 - 5

B. Previous study in Canada:

  • You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner studied at a post-secondary institution in Canada for at least two years on a full-time basis. This must have been done after the age of 17 and with a valid study permit.
 5

C. Previous work in Canada:

  • You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of one year of full-time work in Canada on a valid work permit.
 5

D. Arranged employment:

  • You earned points under Factor 5: Arranged Employment.
 5

E. Relatives in Canada:

  • You or your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has a relative, i.e. parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, child of a parent, (sibling), child of a grandparent, (aunt/uncle), or grandchild of a parent, (niece or nephew), who lives in Canada and is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
 5