Canada Federal Skilled Worker Program points requirements

Introduction

Applicants for Canada's Federal Skilled Worker Program must score a minimum of 67 points from the following tables to qualify for a visa. Applicants are scored on 6 factors:

• Factor 1: English and/or French language ability
   

• Factor 2: Education
   

• Factor 3: Skilled work experience
   

• Factor 4: Age
   

• Factor 5: Arranged employment in Canada
   

• Factor 6: Adaptability

Overview of Changes

Recent changes to Canadian immigration law made on May 4^th 2013 mean all applicants for the federal Skilled Worker Program must meet certain basic requirements for work experience, education, age, and language ability. These basic requirements are a listed on our Federal Skilled Worker Program page.

As of 5 November 2011, Canadian Citizenship and Immigration will accept a total of 1,000 applications from international students who have completed at least two years of study towards a PhD and or who graduated from a Canadian PhD program in the 12 months before the date their application is received.

Factor 1: English and French language ability - maximum 28 points

Applicants must have reasonable proficiency in English, French, or both languages. To prove this applicants must provide test results from the following language test providers on their Express Entry profile BEFORE they can apply for a visa:

•  The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP), OR;
   

•  The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), OR;
   

•  The Test d’evaluation de francais (TEF)

Applicants are tested on 4 language components: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Applicants must meet at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 7 in all 4 components of the language test for their 'first official language' (either English or French) for a maximum of 24 points. Applicants can then be awarded an additional 4 points if they achieve CLB level 5 in their 'second official language'.

Factor 2: Education - maximum 25 points

Applicants must have the following educational qualifications:

• A Canadian secondary school certificate, or post secondary qualification, such as a college diploma or university degree, OR;
   

• A foreign qualification, and an Educational Credential assessment, stating that the qualification is equivalent to a Canadian secondary or post secondary qualification, from one of the following organisations:

  • Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
     

  • International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
     

  • World Education Services
     

  • International Qualifications Assessment Service
     

  • International Credential Evaluation Service
     

  • Medical Council of Canada
     

  • Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada (professional body for Pharmacists)

Factor 3: Work experience - maximum 15 points

Federal Skilled Worker Program applicants must have significant work experience in a skilled role, which must meet the following conditions:

•  Must have totalled at least 1,560 hours; approximately one year of full time work.
   

•  Must have been gained in a paid job, or multiple paid jobs
   

•  Must have been gained within the last 10 years
   

•  Must have been gained in a managerial, skilled professional, or skilled trade role; Skill Type 0, Skill Level A, or Skill Level B in Canada's National Occupational Classification system (NOC).
  A full list of FSWP eligible trades on the NOC can be found on our Canada National Occupation Classification List

You can check that you meet the Canada visa requirements by following the relevant links on out NOC list, or by taking note of the 4 digit code next to your profession and entering it on the NOC website.

You must make sure that your work experience matches that stated in the NOC. You do not have to meet the "employment requirements" section of the particular job listed on NOC.

You may need to look at a number of different occupations to find one that matches your work experience. If your occupation does not come under skill level O, A or B or your experience did not occur in the last ten years your application will be refused.

Once you have confirmed that you meet the above requirements, you can now estimate your points score. You are granted 15 points for one year of work experience and two points for each further year up to a maximum of 21 points.

Factor 4: Age - maximum 12 points

Your points score is calculated based on your age on the date your application is received.

Factor 5: Arranged employment –maximum 10 points

You will gain 10 points in the Canada immigration points system if you already have a job offer in Canada, or if you are already working in the country. The job must be full time and permanent – meaning seasonal work is excluded – and must be listed as Skill Type 0, Skill Level A, or Skill Level B on Canada's National occupation Classification list.

Applicants are awarded 10 points in any of the following situations:

You are currently working in Canada on a temporary work permit, and:

• Your work permit was granted subject to a successful Labour Market Impact Assessment
   
• Your work permit is valid, and will still be valid when the FSWP visa is granted
   
• The employer named on your work permit has made you a permanent, full time job offer

OR

• You are currently working in Canada on a temporary work permit, and:

  • The job for which the work permit was issued is not subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment under an agreement such as the NAFTA agreement or a federal-provincial agreement
     

  • Your work permit is valid, and will still be valid when the FSWP visa is granted
     

  • The employer named on your work permit has made you a permanent, full time job offer

OR

• You do not have a Canadian work permit, and do not plan to work in Canada before your FSWP visa is granted, and:

  • A Canadian employer has offered you a full time and permanent job
     

  • The employer has received a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment for the job

OR

• You are currently working in Canada and have been offered a full time and permanent job with a different Canadian employer, and:

  • The employer has received a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment for the job

OR

• You are currently working in Canada in a job that is not subject to the Labour Market Impact Assessment, but NOT due to an international agreement such as the NAFTA agreement or a federal-provincial agreement

Factor 6: Adaptability (maximum 10 points)

You and your accompanying spouse/partner can receive a maximum of 10 points based on any combination of the elements listed below:

Maintenance funds

Applicants must also have access to sufficient maintenance funds for themselves and their family members, and must be able to prove this with bank statements or other documents. The amount of funds applicants must have access to depends upon the number of family members included in the application. The following table gives a detailed breakdown of the funds required for this visa:

You can look up the relevant exchange rate at Currency Convertor.

You do not need to meet the maintenance funds requirement if you currently have a valid Canadian temporary work permit and/or you have arranged employment in Canada

You can add up your points score below:

You will need to gain sixty-seven points under the selection criteria.

Further information, help, and advice

Workpermit.com's team of specialists has over 25 years of experience in immigration services, and have helped thousands of people to study, work, and invest in Canada. All applications for Canadian visas are dealt with in-house by a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada.

For more information and advice on Canadian immigration law and Canadian visa applications please contact us on 0344 991 9222 or at london@workpermit.com