A skilled worker is any worker who has some special skill, knowledge or ability in his work and may have attended a college, university or technical school, or may have learned his skills on the job.
Federal skilled workers are assessed on six selection factors. Where their qualification are based on their education, work experience, age, language skills and other criteria that will help them established economically in Canada.
The six selection criteria are:
Education
For the Canadian Skilled Working visa, points are allocated based on your highest level of achievement AND the number of years you have spent in full time education and the maximum point is 25.
Language Proficiency
Canadian immigration visas of this kind award points for language proficiency in either English or French. Bilingual candidates should nominate one of the two languages as their "first language".
Points are allocated in the four key ability areas of:
- Speaking
- Listening
- Reading
- Writing
A maximum of four points per ability area for the first language and two points per ability area for the second language, for a total maximum points of 24.
Work Experience
Points will be awarded for the number of years in full time paid work and the maximum points is 19.
Occupations must be listed in Canada's National Occupational Classification as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B.
Age
Points are also given to candidates based on their age. The maximum obtainable in this category is 10 points and this applies to applicants aged between 21 and 49. Two points are deducted for every year outside this range and Canadian visas of this class do not award any points to applicants under the age of 17 or beyond 53 years of age.
Arranged Employment
This type of Canadian immigration service does not require a specific job offer, as is the case with a permit to work in Canada, but an applicant can be awarded extra points if a job is in place. By having an arranged employment, you can earn 10 points to be added to your total for a job offer approved by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) whether you are already in the country on a temporary work permit or applying externally.
Adaptability
In Canada, immigration visa applications of this kind can accumulate extra points for a range of factors related to you and your family's ability to adapt to life in Canada. Your spouse or common-law partner's education may be worth between 3-5 points. In addition 5 points are available if you or your partner have completed a 2 year post secondary educational course in Canada and another 5 if either of you has worked for a least 1 year in full time employment on a valid Canadian working permit.
Finally you may be eligible for a further 5 points if you or your partner has a relative who is a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident in Canada.
If you apply to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker, your application will be processed based on regulations that are in effect on the date that you apply, even if they change after you apply.
If you have all the selection factors, then you can apply as a Federal Skilled Worker where you will be assessed for eligibility such as:
- the results of your official language proficiency test, and either:
- have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
- be a skilled worker who has
had one year of continuous full-time or
equivalent part-time paid work experience in at least one
of the following eligible occupations within the last ten years:
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0811 Primary Production Managers (Except Agriculture)
1122 Professional Occupations in Business Services to Management
1233 Insurance Adjusters and Claims Examiners
2121 Biologists and Related Scientists
2151 Architects
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3113 Dentists
3131 Pharmacists
3142 Physiotherapists
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3222 Dental Hygienists & Dental Therapists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4151 Psychologists
4152 Social Workers
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7216 Contractors and Supervisors, Mechanic Trades
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial & Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7265 Welders & Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers & Blasters - Surface Mining, Quarrying & Construction
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
NOTE: the occupations above are all Skill Type 0 (managerial occupations) or
Skill Level A (professional occupations) or B (technical occupations and skilled trades)
on the Canadian
