The Federal Skilled Worker Class

Immigration has always helped to make Canada’s economy strong and prosperous. To continue this tradition, Canada encourages skilled worker applications for Permanent Residence from people with skills, education and work experience that will contribute to the Canadian economy.

Applications for Permanent Residence under the Federal Skilled Worker Class can be submitted by foreign nationals who are skilled workers and professionals who do not fit in one of the other classes described below.

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord on Immigration, Quebec establishes its own immigration requirements and selects foreign nationals who will adapt well to living in Quebec. If you intend to come to Canada as a Quebec-selected skilled worker, you must first contact the Ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (MICC) at: www.micc.gouv.qc.ca/fr/index.asp (in French only)

You may also consult our website for more information at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/immigrate/quebec/index.asp

Selection criteria, requirements and other information for applicants can sometimes change. Please note that:

• Applications will be processed according to the rules and regulations in effect at the time of the application. These may change at any time.
• Our website contains the latest news, selection criteria updates and applications links. Check periodically for updated information.

Federal Skilled Worker applications submitted on or after February 27, 2008 will be placed into processing if they meet the criteria in one or more of the three categories described below.

Choose the Category in the table below which corresponds to your situation. This chart describes the three categories available to you.

The National Occupation Classification (NOC) is the official classification system of occupations in the Canadian economy. It describes duties, skills, aptitudes, and work settings for occupations in the Canadian labour market.

The NOC 2006 can be accessed online at:
www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC-CNP/app/index.aspx?lc=e

Follow these steps to determine if your work experience is in an occupation that is on the list of occupations eligible for processing under the Federal Skilled Worker Class:

STEP 1. Go to the NOC website at
www5.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC-CNP/app/index.aspx?lc=

STEP 2. Click on “To Search the NOC…”

STEP 3. Follow the instructions to find the NOC category that matches your work experience.

The initial description and list of main duties must match what you did in a job that you held for one (1) year in the last ten (10) years.

If the description does not match your work experience, then you might not have the experience required to apply as a skilled worker.

Look through the NOC list to see if your experience matches another occupation. Check all the jobs you have had in the past 10 years to see if you have at least one continuous year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) paid work experience in one or more jobs that will qualify you as a skilled worker.

STEP 4. Consult the list of eligible occupations

Once you have determined the NOC category or categories that match(es) your work experience, consult the list of occupations that are eligible for processing as per the Ministerial Instructions.

Note: If none of your occupations is on this list, you do not meet the criteria to be placed into processing under Category 1. If you are applying in Category 2 or 3, you need to provide your NOC category but do not need to be in one of the occupations listed in the Ministerial Instructions.

If you do not meet the eligibility criteria in any of the three categories, there is no point in submitting an application as a Federal Skilled Worker at this time. Check the other classes more suited to your situation. Also check our website regularly for changes in the selection criteria.

Once you have determined that you are eligible for processing, you must also meet the minimum requirements for Federal Skilled Workers, meet the minimum funds requirement and obtain sufficient points under the selection factors.

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

• You must have at least one continuous year of 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 Occupational Classification (NOC)

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:

You can assess your qualifications using the skilled worker self-assessment test from Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The test is available on our website. The current pass mark is 67 points for all factors combined. If your score is the same or higher than the pass mark, then you may qualify to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker. Review the information about immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker and decide if you want to apply.

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

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.

Score ______

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 and
• write.

Description of each level of proficiency
Use the following chart to assess your skill levels. Follow the links for a description of each skill level.

Calculate your language points

*A maximum of 2 points can be awarded at the Basic proficiency level.

You should not submit your test results or written submission to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) in Sydney, Nova Scotia Canada. If the application is recommended for further processing, the test results or written submission should be submitted to the responsible Visa Office.

However, it is recommended that all applicants using this category complete their language test(s) or their written submission before submitting their application to the CIO in Sydney so that they know in advance how many language points they will attain on the selection grid.

Note: The descriptions above are meant to provide you with an informal self‑assessment only.

At the time of submission of your application to a Visa Office, you will need to:

• submit language test results from a designated testing agency or
• establish your proficiency levels through a written explanation and supporting documentation.

CIC strongly advises that you provide the results of a language test if English or French is not your first language. Written submissions are only recommended for applicants whose first language is English or French.

Take a language proficiency test from a designated testing agency

Note: Test results will be used as conclusive evidence of your language proficiency.

Once you have taken a language test from a designated testing agency, you can 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):

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):

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):

Add your points: Total of speaking + listening + reading + writing = ______ (both languages)

Score ______

Establish your proficiency levels through a written explanation and supporting documentation

If you believe that you can clearly demonstrate your level of proficiency through a written submission, follow the instructions in the table below.

CIC strongly advises that you only choose this option if your first language is English or French.

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 continuous year of full-time, paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment.
• Your work experience must be in an occupation of Skill Type 0, or Skill Level A or B of the Canadian National Occupational 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.

Determining your NOC category

To determine how many points you can earn for your work experience, go to the Occupational Descriptions page on the NOC website. Follow the instructions to find the NOC category that matches your work experience.

If the initial description and list of main duties match what you did at your last job(s), you can use this experience to earn points under the selection factors when you apply as a skilled worker.

If the description does not match your work experience, then you might not have the experience you need to apply as a skilled worker. Look through the NOC list to see if another occupation matches your experience. Check all the jobs you had in the past 10 years to see if you have at least one continuous year of work experience in a job that will qualify you as a skilled worker.

Note: Remember that you must have work experience in an occupation in Skill type 0 or Skill level A or B and that your experience must have occurred during the 10 years before the date of application.

If you do not meet the minimum work experience requirements, your application as a skilled worker will be refused.

Score ______

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

Score ______

Determine your points based on the chart below:

Score ______

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.

Score ______

Use this worksheet to calculate your estimated points. The minimum is currently set at 67 points for all factors combined.

The Government of Canada does not provide financial support to new skilled worker immigrants.

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family members after you arrive in Canada. The money must be available to support the costs of living for yourself and your family. The amount is an estimate of what you would require to support yourself and your family without employment or other income. You cannot borrow this money from another person.

The amount of money you need to support your family is determined by the size of your family. These amounts are updated every year. Check our website to make sure you have the most recent information.

We strongly recommend that you research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you intend to live. To make your establishment in Canada easier, bring as much money as possible with you to Canada.

Note: Persons with arranged employment in Canada do not have to meet the minimum funds required.

Finding employment in Canada requires planning. You should obtain as much information as possible before you apply to immigrate. There is no guarantee that you will be able to work in your preferred occupation.

Although credential assessment and licensing are not requirements of the skilled worker application, you need to be aware of these issues when considering immigrating to Canada.

Please consult our website for some helpful sites on regulated and non‑regulated occupations.

A credential assessment is advice on how qualifications from another country compare to Canadian qualifications. An assessment does not guarantee that:

• a regulatory body will issue you a licence to practice, or
• your credentials will be accepted by a Canadian employer

However, a credential assessment will help you understand the Canadian educational system and assist you with your job search.

You can obtain advice about your credentials from the Foreign Credentials Referral Office. Consult their website at www.credentials.gc.ca for more information.

Job opportunities and labour market conditions are different in each region of Canada. It is important to research conditions in the area in which you want to live.

Please consult the Working in Canada tool on our website for information on the Canadian labour market, job banks, and provincial and territorial labour market information.