Canada Federal Skilled Worker Visa

The Skilled Worker Class for Canadian Permanent Residence provides a route to Canadian immigration and permanent residency status for workers with desirable skills. Skilled migration to Canada functions much like the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, or HSMP, in the UK in that qualification depends upon reaching a threshold under a points based assessment.

If you do not qualify for this route to live and work in Canada permanently, you may be able to apply for a Canadian visa of an alternative class. The Self Employed Immigrant Program, Entrepreneur Program and Immigrant Investor Program, (IIP) are all business visas for Canadian emigration routes which offer permanent resident status and the opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship after 3 years. They require a lower points score, but each carries its own requirements which are discussed on the Canadian Business Immigration Program page. You may also wish to explore the Provincial Nomination Program, another permanent residency visa option which does not require a points assessment but requires that applicants work, if selected, in a specific province.

As a Canadian immigration consultant Global Visas can help you to determine which of the range of visas for Canada and Canadian work permits available is the right option for you. However you choose to relocate to Canada immigration consultants at Global Visas go beyond just being a Canadian visa service. We can provide everything you will require for your relocation to Canada, immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on the processes of immigration and more.

Benefits

As with the Highly Skilled Migrant program in Great Britain, applying for a Canadian Skilled Worker Visa allows full access to the domestic job market without the need for a sponsoring employer, a Canadian work permit or a specific job offer. Unlike Canadian visit visas, often referred to as Tourist visas for Canada, this permanent Canadian visa for immigration places no restrictions whatsoever on working in the country. The company-specific conditions of Canadian working permits are bypassed and candidates are free to work without constraint, with the status of a permanent Canadian resident. After three years in the country a successful applicant may become a Canadian Citizen.

The Points System

Education

Your education can be worth between 5 and 25 points to your Canadian Skilled Working Visa application. Points are allocated based on your highest level of achievement AND the number of years you have spent in full time education.

• Master's Degree or PhD + 17 years of full-time study = 25 Points

• Two or more Bachelor's Degrees + 15 years full-time study = 22 Points

• Three-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 15 years full-time study = 22 Points

• Bachelor's Degree + 14 years full-time study = 20 Points

• Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 14 years full-time Study = 20 Points

• One-year Bachelor's degree + 13 years full-time study = 15 Points

• One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 13 years full-time study = 15 Points

• One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 12 years full-time study = 12 Points

• High school graduation = 5 Points

Language Proficiency

Canadian immigration visas of this kind award points for language proficiency in either English or French which together constitute the official languages. 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 and Writing with a maximum of four points per ability area for the first language and two points per ability area for the second language.

Proficiency in 1st Official Language (Points per ability area)

• High = 4 Points

• Moderate = 2 Points

• Basic = 1-2 Points

• None = 0

Maximum points = 16

Proficiency in 2nd Official Language (Points per ability area)

• High = 2 Points

• Moderate = 2 Points

• Basic = 1 - 2 Points

• None = 0

Maximum points = 8

Overall maximum = 24

(Please Note Applicants who were not born in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or the USA will be required to sit the IELTS (International English Language Testing System exam).

Work Experience

Points will be awarded for an applicant's number of years in full time paid work. Occupations must be listed in Canada's National Occupational Classification as Skill Type 0 or Skill Level A or B. Points will be awarded as follows.

• 4 years = 21 Points

• 3 years = 19 Points

• 2 years = 17 Points

• 1 year = 15 Points

Age

Points are also given to candidates based on their age. The maximum obtainable in this category is 10 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 17 or beyond 53 years of age.

Pre - 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. 10 points are 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.

Dependants

As suggested in the eligibility criteria, a Canadian visa application of this type does make provision for your partner and/or dependent children to join you in the country. Spouse immigration to Canada permits your husband, wife or unmarried partner to move with you along with any unmarried children under the age of 22.

Settlement

These visas for Canada are intended as a route to settlement in Canada and accordingly successful applications for migration to Canada under this route will be granted permanent residence in Canada. As a permanent Canadian resident you will qualify for Canadian citizenship after completing the residency requirement of three years in the country.