Lesson 11 — Activity 3: The Selection Process

Warm Up

In this activity, you will learn what a skilled worker is and why they are wanted in Canada. You will also look at the criteria needed to enter into Canada as a skilled worker.

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As you have seen, there are certain people that the Canadian government is looking for when they look for immigrants from other countries — most of which are skilled workers.

A skilled worker is someone that comes to Canada with specific skills, such as trade workers, accountants, engineers, or nurses. These skilled workers are people who can become permanent residents because they are able to start work and not worry so much about finances when they come to Canada.

In order to be eligible for a Permanent Resident Visa, federal skilled worker applicants must:

have at least one year of continuous full-time or equivalent paid work experience in the past ten years in a skilled occupation; or

qualify for arranged employment in Canada and a full-time, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer; or

have completed a PhD in Canada or have completed two years of study in Canada towards a PhD, in both cases at a recognized institution; and

pass a minimum threshold of language ability in one of Canada's two official languages, English or French.

In addition, federal skilled worker applicants must obtain at least 67 points based on Citizenship and Immigration Canada's (CIC) immigration selection factors.

The Points System

Your application to come to Canada as a skilled worker will be assessed on six selection factors and a point system.

If you score 67 points or higher (out of 100), you may qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

If you score lower than the pass mark of 67 points, you will not qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker. It is better not to apply at this time.

The selection factors are as follows:

*Note: Refugees and family-class immigrants don't have to qualify under the points system.

As you can see, there are many different factors that the government is looking for, such as education, language, experience, age, arranged employment, and adaptability to the country. You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada, and you must pass a medical examination as well as security and criminal checks.

Click here to go through the process of what a newcomer to Canada may have gone through during the years 1928 to 1971 to see if you would have been admitted to Canada.

Try This!

Click here to take a quiz to see if you would qualify to come to Canada as a qualified worker based on the points program. To begin the quiz, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on the button.