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 4th 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:

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'.

CLB level in 'first official language'

Speaking points

Listening points

Reading points

Writing points

CLB level 9 +

6

6

6

6

CLB level 8

5

5

5

5

CLB level 7

4

4

4

4

CLB level in 'second official language'Points

CLB level 5 in all 4 components+

4

CLB level 4 or less in any component

0

 

Factor 2: Education - maximum 25 points

Applicants must have the following educational qualifications:

Qualification 

Points

University degree at PhD level or equivalent

25

University degree at Master's level or equivalent

23

University entry-to-practice degree or equivalent. This degree must be related to a profession at NOC Skill Level A, must be licensed by a provincial regulatory body, and must be in one of the following fields:

  • Medicine

  • Veterinary Medicine

  • Dentistry

  • Podiatry

  • Optometry

  • Law

  • Chiropractic Medicine

  • Pharmacy

23

Two or more Canadian post-secondary degrees/diplomas or equivalent, one of which must be for a program lasting 3 years or more

22

A Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma or equivalent, for a program lasting 3 years or more

21

A Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma or equivalent, for a program lasting 2 years or more

19

A Canadian post-secondary degree/diploma or equivalent, for a program lasting 1 year or more

15

A Canadian high school diploma or equivalent

5

 

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.

Experience

Points

1 year

9

2-3 years

11

4-5 years

13

6 years +

15

 

Factor 4: Age - maximum 12 points

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

Age

Points

17 or under

0

18-35

12

36

11

37

10

38

9

39

8

40

7

41

6

42

5

42

4

44

3

45

2

46

1

47

0

 

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:

Adaptability factor

Points

Your spouse/partner has achieved CLB 4 on all 4 components in an approved English or French language test

5

You have completed a minimum of 2 years of full time study (more than 15 hours per week) at a Canadian secondary school or post-secondary education institution

5

Your spouse/partner has completed a minimum of 2 years of full time study (more than 15 hours per week) at a Canadian secondary school or post-secondary education

5

You have previously worked for at least 1 year in Canada on a valid work permit, in a job listed as Skill Type 0, Skill Level A, or Skill Level B on Canada's National occupation Classification list

10

Your spouse/partner has previously worked for at least 1 year in Canada on a valid work permit

5

You earned any points under Factor 5: arranged Employment (above)

5

You or your spouse/partner have one of the following family members, aged 18 or over,living in Canada as a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident:

  • parent
     

  • grandparent
     

  • child
     

  • grandchild
     

  • sibling
     

  • aunt or uncle
     

  • niece or nephew

5

 

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

Number of family members (including main applicant)

Maintenance funds required

1

$12,164 CND

2

$15,143 CND

3

$18,617 CND

4

$22,603 CND

5

$25,636 CND

6

$28,913 CND

7 +

$32,191 CND

 

You can add up your points score below:

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

Factor

Maximum points

Your score

Factor 1: English and/or French language ability

28

 

Factor 2: Education

25

 

Factor 3: Skilled work experience

15

 

Factor 4: Age

12

 

Factor 5: Arranged employment in Canada

10

 

Factor 6: Adaptability

10

 
Total:90 

 

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