Immigrating as a Skilled Worker

Skilled workers are people who are selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada.

Federal skilled worker applications are assessed for eligibility according to the criteria set out below.

For your application to be eligible for processing, you must:

• have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
• have one year of continuous full-time paid work experience in at least one of the occupations* OR
• be an international student enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months) and meet certain criteria.

*The occupations on this list are in areas where there is a proven need in Canada for more workers. If you are applying under this stream, CIC will only accept your application if you have experience in one of these occupations.

Work experience minimum requirements

If your application is eligible for processing it will then be assessed against minimum requirements.

Your work experience must be:

• for at least one year, continuous, and paid (full-time or the equivalent in part-time), AND
• 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 you meet the above minimum requirements, your application will be processed according to the six selection factors in the skilled worker points grid, which are:

• your education
• your abilities in English and/or French, Canada's two official languages
• your work experience
• your age
• whether you have arranged employment in Canada, and
• your adaptability.

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependants after you arrive in Canada.