Immigrating as a Skilled Worker

Skilled workers are selected as permanent residents based on their education, work experience, knowledge of English and/or French, and other criteria that have been shown to help them become economically established in Canada.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program is for people coming to any part of Canada except Quebec. The province of Quebec is responsible for selecting its own skilled workers.

The rules for applying as a federal skilled worker can change from time to time, so make sure you visit this site regularly if you are considering immigrating to Canada as a federal 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 received on or after February 27, 2008 are now assessed for eligibility according to a set of instructions issued by the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

1. According to the Minister’s instructions, you are eligible if:

• you have an offer of arranged employment, OR
• you are a foreign national who has been living legally in Canada for one year as a temporary foreign worker or an international student, OR
• you are a skilled worker who has at least one year of experience in one or more of the occupations listed here.

  0111: Financial Managers
  0213: Computer and Information Systems Managers
  0311: Managers in Health Care
  0631: Restaurant and Food Service Managers
  0632: Accommodation Service Managers
  0711: Construction Managers
  1111: Financial Auditors and Accountants
  2113: Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
  2143: Mining Engineers
  2144: Geological Engineers
  2145: Petroleum Engineers
  3111: Specialist Physicians
  3112: General Practitioners and Family Physicians
  3141: Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists
  3143: Occupational Therapists
  3142: Physiotherapists
  3151: Head Nurses and Supervisors
  3152: Registered Nurses
  3215: Medical Radiation Technologists
  3233: Licensed Practical Nurses
  4121: University Professors
  4131: College and Other Vocational Instructors
  6241: Chefs
  6242: Cooks
  7213: Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades
  7215: Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
  7217: Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
  7241: Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)
  7242: Industrial Electricians
  7251: Plumbers
  7252: Steamfitters, Pipe fitters and Sprinkler System Installers
  7265: Welders and Related Machine Operators
  7312: Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
  7371: Crane Operators
  7372: Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction
  8221: Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying
  8222: Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
  9212: Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities

2. You must also meet the following minimum requirements to qualify as a skilled worker:

• you 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.

3. If you meet these minimum requirements, the following six selection factors in the skilled worker must also be considered. The six selection factors are:

• your education
• your abilities in English and/or French
• your work experience
• your age
• whether you have arranged employment in Canada
• your adaptability

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

You do not have to show that you have these funds if you have arranged employment in Canada.