Skilled Worker Immigration

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada administers the immigration of skilled workers under the fast-track immigration system.

Canada Express Entry Candidates with the highest scores in the Express Entry pool are issued invitations to apply to one of the following programs:

• Federal Skilled Worker
• Canada Experience Class
• Provincial Express Entry Classes
• Once the ITA has been issued, the candidate must submit a complete application to the relevant program.

The Federal Skilled Worker Program uses its points system according to various factors. It is designed to show whether the applicant and his/her affiliates will succeed in Canada. Ideal applicants will have skills and experience aligned with in-demand professions. The selection rules favor applicants with government approved job offers.

For more details on the federal skilled worker category, find out who qualifies for Canadian permanent residency / skilled worker immigration.

Under the Quebec Skilled Worker category and the Provincial Candidate category, applicants may become permanent residents on the basis of their demonstrated ability to become economically well-established in Canada, in accordance with the immigration programs and selection criteria administered by Quebec or the provinces.

Canada also accepts immigrants under its business programs, including the Start-up Visa and Self-employed class. Meanwhile, Quebec runs the Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP).

The Start-up Visa Program was introduced through ministerial instructions in April 2013 as a five-year pilot project. It was decided to become permanent on March 31, 2018. The Start-up Visa Program grants permanent residency in Canada to eligible immigrant entrepreneurs. The program aims to recruit innovative entrepreneurs to Canada and connect them with Canadian private sector companies (investor groups, venture capital funds, or business incubators) and facilitate the establishment of their start-up businesses in Canada.

The self-employed category is directed towards applicants who have relevant self-employment experience, in addition to the intention and ability to create their own employment opportunities and make a significant contribution to the cultural, artistic or sports life of Canada, or to create their own business by purchasing and managing a farm in Canada. The Quebec government runs its own immigration programs that provide rules for selecting skilled workers and the business class.

The Quebec Immigrant Investor Program (QIIP) is the only option for high net worth business immigrants wishing to secure permanent residency on a frozen investment basis. The basic requirements to qualify under the Quebec Investor Program are:

• Having a legally earned net worth of $ 2 million.
• Having two years of appropriate administrative or business experience during the five years preceding the application.
• A commitment to invest $ 1.2 million in a passive investment guaranteed by the government for a period of five years without interest.
• Intent to settle in Quebec.

On January 1, 2015, the Government of Canada implemented the Express Entry System under the Economic Category including the Federal Skilled Worker Program.

Under the express entry system, federal skilled workers, across 347 qualified professions that meet the minimum entry criteria have sent an Expression of Interest file to the Express Entry Pool.

The profiles of the candidates in the group are classified according to a comprehensive ranking system (CRS). Top-ranked candidates will be considered for an invitation to apply for permanent residency (ITA). Candidates who receive an invitation must submit a complete application within 90 days.

Federal skilled workers are people with appropriate education, work experience, age and language skills in one of the official languages ​​of Canada and are selected under the Express Entry Immigration system to apply for permanent residency.

To qualify for admission to the Express Entry Pool as a Federal Skilled Worker, applicants must meet the following conditions:

• Possessing one year of continuous full-time work experience or its equivalent in continuous part-time work during the previous ten years in one of the 347 eligible occupations included in the applicable National Occupational Classification System.
• Work experience should be classified under Skill Type 0 (Administrative Professions), Skill Level A (Professional Occupations), or Skill Level B (Technical Professions and Skilled Crafts) within the definition of the National Occupational Classification System.
• Sufficient points should be scored within the Skilled Worker Score Network consisting of six selection factors. The current passing score is 67 points.
• You must take a language test from a recognized third party and demonstrate medium-level language skills in English or French in accordance with Canadian Language Standard 7)
• Have adequate settlement financing.
• Have a security background check and a successful medical examination.

Eligible applicants are evaluated against 6 factors to determine their eligibility to immigrate to Canada. Applicants must have a total of 67 points out of 100 to qualify. The selection factors are:

• Education
• Language
• Work experience
• Age
• Arranged job
• Adaptability

The new program seeks to select candidates who have the highest likelihood of successful economic settlement and contribution to Canada, maintains previous criteria while adjusting the materiality and point structure for each selection factor.