Applying as a federal skilled worker

According to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), “Skilled workers are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada”. The Federal Skilled Worker Program is an entry scheme for skilled workers seeking permanent residence in Canada.

Do I qualify as a federal skilled worker?

Step one

CIC examines certain basic criteria to determine an applicant’s eligibility under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. At the very least, you must:

Have an offer of arranged employment, or
Have been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary worker or an international student, or
Be a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one of the occupations in extreme demand in Canada

Step two

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 National Occupational Classification list.

If at this stage your application is deemed eligible for processing, to qualify as a skilled worker, you must also:

Have at least one year of continuous full-time paid work experience or the equivalent in part-time continuous employment,and
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 list, and
You must have had this experience within the last 10 years

Step three

It is at this stage that those who have met the above minimum requirements are assessed according to six key selection factors. Currently, applicants need to score at least 67 out of 100 points to pass, though this pass mark is subject to change at any time and should be verified with CIC.

A free online self-assessment test is available through Citizenship and Immigration Canada. It can help you to easily determine whether or not you can meet the pass mark.

Points are awarded according to six selection factors:

Category	Maximum points granted	Detail
Education	25	A high school diploma will earn just five points, but a basic university degree commands 20. To achieve maximum points in this category, you must have a Master’s degree or PhD, with a minimum 17 years of completed study.
Knowledge of English and/or French	24	Fluency in English or French achieves 16 points, while fluency in both gains the maximum allowable 24 points in this category. Note that you may be required to take a language proficiency test.
Work experience	21	Points in this category are allocated per number of years of work experience an applicant has. To earn the full 21 points, you must have at least four years of experience in the occupation listed on your application.
Age	10	Priority and maximum points are given to applicants between the ages of 21 and 49 years.
Arranged employment in Canada	10	If you have a job offer from a Canadian employer or are on a temporary work visa and hold a job in Canada, you will receive maximum points in this category.
Adaptability	10	CIC wants migrants with the best chances of settling well. If you have lived or studied in Canada previously, have arranged employment or family in Canada, you are likely to receive additional points in this category.

Meeting the financial criteria

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada if you do not have pre-arranged employment.

You will be asked to provide proof of your funds to the Canadian visa office in your home country when you submit your application for immigration. The amount of money you need to support your family (sufficient funds) is determined by the size of your family. Sufficient funds amounts are updated yearly.

Number of family members	Funds required (in Canadian dollars)
One	$10,833
Two	$13,486
Three	$16,580
Four	$20,130
Five	$22,831
Six	$25,749
Seven +	$28,668

How to apply

Start by downloading the skilled worker application package. Then, take advantage of the simplified application process for skilled workers.

What happens next?

Applications are processed on a first come first served basis. Steps one and two are completed at the Sydney Case Processing Center in Canada. Applications are then sent to local visa offices.

Initially, CIC determines whether your application is complete and that fees have been paid. Afterward, your eligibility is assessed, and you will receive a confirmation letter, including a reference number, instructing you to send a copy of your application to the relevant Canadian visa office within 120 days.

After your application has been submitted, you can check its status and review processing times on the CIC website.

Your application will be assessed according to the points scale at this stage. If you pass, you will be asked to undergo a full criminal and medical assessment.