Canada Skilled Worker Visa

The Canada Immigration Points System for Skilled Workers

The Skilled Worker Visa for Canada is the most popular way of applying for migration to Canada. The Canada Skilled Worker Visa points selection system requires a pass mark of 67 out of 100 points and is assessed on six main factors including age, education, work experience, language ability and adaptability.

Advantages of the Canada Skilled Worker Visa are:

The Canadian Skilled Worker Visa allows migration to Canada as a Permanent Resident, without the need for an employer or sponsor, to seek employment and apply for jobs following the exact same process as a resident skilled worker. Canada is keen to have skilled workers and this Canada migration points system is designed to encourage Canadian immigration by skilled workers.

You are able to accept a job and join a new employer without you and that employer needing to go through the work permit process.

The Canada Skilled Worker Visa gives you the right to apply for Citizenship after 3 years, providing that you follow the necessary requirements to apply, thus making this visa a very attractive and popular method of Canadian immigration for skilled workers.

Canada Skilled Worker Application: Frequently Asked Questions:

What does Canadian permanent resident status confer?

Pursuant to the provisions of Canada's constitutional laws, the holder of a Canadian permanent resident visa and his/her accompanying dependants are permitted to permanently reside in Canada and earn a livelihood in any one of the ten provinces or three territories within Canada. In addition, individuals with Canadian permanent residence may attend primary and secondary education institutions in the various provincially administered public school systems, tuition exempt. Permanent residents also qualify for provincially administered universal health care coverage.

How long does it take to obtain a permanent resident visa?

Depending upon the time of year, the immigration office in question and other factors, the processing time for an application for permanent residence filed under the economic class can vary from between 6 months and 40 months. This is the time generally needed to demonstrate compliance under one of the applicable categories; a clean bill of health for the applicant and accompanying dependants; sufficient assets to successfully establish the family in Canada; and a confirmation of no criminal inadmissibility’s for the applicant and the overage accompanying dependants. (The immigration offices in New Delhi, Islamabad, Singapore and Beijing currently attract the most applications and therefore have the longest processing times).

Who is included in the application for permanent residence?

The application for permanent residence generally includes the applicant, spouse or common-law partner or conjugal partner 16 years of age or older and any unmarried children under the age of 22 years. Children over the age of 22 may in prescribed circumstances, be included as accompanying family members.

What supporting documents must I submit?

Supporting documentation generally encompasses evidence of employment, education, assets, civil status, and an absence of criminal convictions. Each visa office has its own specific requirements for supporting documentation. It is advisable to seek expert guidance or get instructions from the particular visa office, which will process your application.

Am I required to have a certain amount of assets?

Skilled Worker applicants will generally be required to prove that they have settlement funds sufficient for themselves and any accompanying dependents. They are expected to be able to support the landed family (the principal applicant and all accompanying dependents) until employment is obtained.

Will my application benefit if I have a close relative in Canada?

Skilled Worker applicants will be awarded bonus points if the close relative is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and over the age of 19 years. The applicant is then referred to as an "assisted relative". To qualify as a close relative, the Canadian citizen or permanent resident must be the applicant's uncle, aunt, brother, sister, parent, nephew or niece.

Is work experience a requirement?

Work experience is a critical requirement for a Skilled Worker immigrant. Applicants must be able to demonstrate at least one year's work experience in an occupation appearing on the General Occupations List. Applicants with arranged employment in Canada are exempt from the work experience requirement.

Must the experience have been accumulated on a full-time basis? Must it have been accumulated continuously?

Part-time work experience is acceptable. It is assessed in proportion to a standard full-time working week. For example, a two-year part-time position requiring approximately 20 hours of work each week, will be counted as one year of full-time experience. Non-consecutive work experience in positions involving the same duties may also be counted, if the total work experience meets the minimum experience requirements.

How is experience in a previous or current occupation evaluated when that occupation differs from the applicant's education?

Under the present selection criteria, such experience is fully counted towards the assessment of the applicant's work experience.

Is credit given for experience gained during post-secondary studies?

Yes, as long as the experience gained at that time is consistent with the definition of an occupation appearing on the General Occupations List, it can be counted in the assessment of work experience.

Must I have a Canadian offer of employment to qualify as a Skilled Worker?

You are not required to obtain an offer of an employment to qualify as a Skilled Worker.

Can I apply if I do not yet have the required minimum work experience?

Applicants without one year of work experience in an "open" occupation (6 months for applicants destined to Quebec or Manitoba) are required to demonstrate arranged employment.

What are the applicable processing fees to process an application for permanent residence?

Applications for permanent residence must include the appropriate non-refundable processing fees for applicants and their accompanying dependants. For applicants applying under the skilled worker program the application fee is currently set at $550 CAD for each applicant as well as each family member of the principle applicant who is 22 years of age or older. A fee of $150 shall apply to each family member under the age of 22 years. As well, a Right Of Permanent Residence Fee of $975 CAD is levied, prior to visa issuance, for each person who is at least 22 years of age applying for permanent residence.

Processing fees must be filed with the application. Right Of Permanent Residence fees are submitted upon request by the visa office, prior to visa issuance. Applicants are encouraged to verify with local missions for applicable immigration office specific payment procedures.

Working in Canada

Canada has one of the oldest populations in the world, with the median age over 40, which explains why immigration to Canada is so common. There are thousands of opportunities to work in Canada and the Canadian government is on a mission to issue 250,000 Canada Work Permit visas this year alone.

Global Visas offices in Canada and World wide assist our clients find the perfect job.  We have a team who prepare you for the Canadian recruitment process and then use our network of employers across Caanda to find a great job and help you pick the best jobs.

There are opportunities for tradespeople, health service professionals and in engineering, with fast-track visa processing open to overseas workers who meet certain requirements in critical skills shortlists.

Skills shortages are targeted by businesses across Canada to ensure the country remains competitive on the world stage by not limiting working visas.

Perhaps most attractive is the high standard of living among all citizenswho are all extremely friendly, and a government that is encouraging the country to grow.

Lifestyle

Workers and their families who move to work in Canada find the lifestyle easy to adjust to because of strong support aimed at welcoming new people to the Canadian way of life.

As over a million new immigrants are already living and working in the country following many a Canada visa application and there is strong cross-community support from people from all walks of life working in many industries.

Global Visas Canadian office has helped thousands of immigrants move to Canada and can assess your CV from our office in Ontario.

If you already have a permanent offer of work in Canada (also known as a work visa) you may already be eligible for ten points under the Arranged Employment category, which could be vital to a successful Canadian visa application.

Canada Work Visas

A Canada work permit or Immigration Canada work visa is a temporary Canadian immigration service which allows a worker to migrate to Canada to fill a specific position in a particular company.

Global Visas are delighted to offer International Employment Solutions to ensure our clients find the best jobs and secure a work permit for Canada quickly.

A Canada work permit is not intended as a route to settlement and applications for visas of this kind are designed to help Canadian employers who are finding it difficult to fill positions with Canadian permanent residents or Canadian citizens.

However, very often we ensure the Work Permit can act as a stepping stone to Citizenship.  Our offices across the globe and in Canada ensure our clients dreams come true and relocation is permanent if required. 

People who liked this page also found our page on federal skilled visas helpful.

How Global Visas Can Help

As an immigration advisory service with a branch in Canada, Global Visas can assist your relocation to Canada by helping you to determine which of the broad range of visas is right for you.

Global Visas provide a complete Canadian visa service and can take care of everything you will need for your move to Canada from immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on immigration processes and more.

Why a Canada Work Permit

Applying for a Canadian working permit makes provision for working in Canada without the need to undergo a points based assessment. In Canada, skilled worker visas and Canadian business visas require a points threshold to be met in order to qualify. 

Canadian work permits allow you to work in the country; however, they are dependent upon a job offer from a sponsoring company.

This is something Global Visa can assist you secure.

Working permits are not transferable, although you can apply for a Canadian visa for immigration of another type during your stay. Whilst in Canada, immigration status can only be altered in this way so long as your permit is still valid.

Eligibility

A Canada work permit rests upon a written job offer from an employer.

Once you have received such an offer, in most cases it is then subject to confirmation by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) who will assess the likely impact of employing a foreign national in the position in question, to ensure that the employment is genuine and that it will not impact negatively on the domestic labour market.

HRSDC 

Once HRSDC confirms that job offers may be filled by foreign nationals, applicants may request Canadian working permits from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Foreign workers seeking to work in Quebec will also require authorization from the Quebec immigration authorities.

Employers sponsoring a foreign national for a work visas in this way are responsible for ensuring that the candidate is in possession of the necessary permits and that they adhere to the appropriate conditions and limitations.

Dependents

In Canada visas of this type make provision for marriage immigration and spouse immigration on a temporary basis, and your husband, wife, or common-law partner and dependant children may join you.

However, if they wish to work they will need to submit their own working visa application. If you are travelling from a country whose nationals need a Temporary Resident Visa, or TRV, usually known as a visitor visa, you will also need to apply for one of these.

Exemptions 

The Canadian immigration service permits some instances in which members of particular professions may secure temporary immigration to Canada without requiring a Canadian work permit.

These exemptions are listed below with their conditions.

• Business visitors: Will not be permitted to enter the domestic labour market.
• Foreign representatives: Diplomats and representatives of nations or the UN. Their family members may also work if they possess a "no objection letter" from the Department of Foreign affairs.
• Military personnel: Where movement orders state that they are entering the country under the terms of the Visiting Forces Act.
• Foreign government officers: Should bring a formal letter of agreement if their period of work is longer than three months.
• On-campus employment on a Canadian study visa: In some cases a student visa may permit its holder to work on campus. 
• Performing artists: Where artists are performing for a limited time and will not be working in bars or restaurants or for a TV, motion picture or radio broadcast.
• Athletes and coaches
• News reporters: When reporting on events in the country.
• Public speakers: Where events are no longer than 5 days.
• Convention organisers
• Clergy: Coming to perform religious duties or assisting a religious group.
• Judges and referees
• Examiners and evaluators
• Expert witnesses or investigators
• Health-Care students: To undergo training of no more than 4 months. They must possess written approval from the appropriate regulatory body for their profession. A medical exam is also required.
• Civil aviation inspector
• Accident or incident inspectors
• Crew members e.g. Flight attendants: Where the vehicle is in the country for the purposes of transporting cargo or passengers.
• Emergency service providers

Find out further information on our Federal Skilled Worker Visa page.

Canadian Federal Skilled Worker Visa

The skilled worker class of Canada visa provides a route for immigration to Canada and permanent residency status for workers with desirable skills.

When it comes to skilled migration Canada functions similar to the Tier 1 system 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 Programme, Entrepreneur Programme and Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) are all business visas for Canadian emigration routes which offer permanent resident status and the opportunity to apply for Canadian citizenship after three years. They require a lower points score, but each Canada visa application carries its own requirements.

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 consultancy, 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.

Global Visas provides everything you will require for your relocation to Canada, immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on the processes of immigration and more.  For those who might want to try Canada before you relocate for good there is Working Holiday Visa Canada which you might find helpful.

Benefits

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 visa for when you immigrate to Canada 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

For the Canadian Skilled Working visa, points are allocated based on your highest level of achievement AND the number of years you have spent in full time education.

• Masters degree or PhD + 17 years of full-time study = Maximum points
  
• Two or more bachelors degrees + 15 years full-time study 
  
• Three year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 15 years full-time study 
  
• Bachelor's degree + 14 years full-time study 
• Two year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 14 years full-time Study 
  
• One year bachelor's degree + 13 years full-time study 
• One year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 13 years full-time study 
• One year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship + 12 years full-time study 
  
• High school graduation = Minimum points
  

Language Proficiency

Canadian immigration visas of this kind award points for language proficiency in either English or French. 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
• Writing

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 = Maximum Points
• Moderate
• Basic = Minimum Points
• None = 0

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

• High = Maximum Points
• Moderate
• Basic = Minimum Points
• None = 0

(Please note: Applicants not born in the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or USA will be required to sit the International English Language Testing System exam).

Work Experience

Points will be awarded for the 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 = Maximum Points
• 3 years
• 2 years
• 1 year= Minimum Points

Age

Points are also given to candidates based on their age.

The maximum obtainable in this category 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.

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 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 further 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 are intended as a route to settlement in Canada and accordingly successful applications for migration to Canada will be granted permanent residence in Canada. Find out further information on our Working Holiday Visa Canada page.

Working Holiday Visa Canada

Below you will find a brief summary on the paper work required for a working holiday visa: Canada. For more information about applying for a Canada visa by contacting us via our free visa assessment.

Working Holiday Visa Canada

It is possible to apply for a Canada working holiday visa through the country’s temporary foreign worker Canada immigration work permit program. There is not a specific age required for this type of Canada holiday working visa, but you must have a job offer from a Canadian employer. In addition, your employers must be able to prove that they cannot source someone with your skills locally.

Some temporary workers do not need a Canadian working holiday visa, depending on their nationality and the type of job they have been offered. To see if this applies to you take our free visa assessment and start your visa application for a Canada working holiday today.  Some people who read this page found our write up on Skilled Worker Canada helpful for ideas.

Live in Care-givers

A working holiday in Canada is also an option if you are accepted for a post as a live-in care giver for either children or the elderly. This working holiday program for Canada is open to those who will with the family they are providing care for and have a written contract with their employer. Every year, thousands of people enjoy working holidays in Canada as part of the care-givers’ scheme. Find out further information on our Skilled Worker Canada page. To start your application, take our free visa assessment today.

Skilled Worker Canada

One of our areas of expertise is skilled worker Canada immigration. To find out whether you could achieve residence as a skilled worker in Canada, we recommend taking the Global Visas free step-by-step Canadian immigration assessment. To begin, simply click on the link below to give us your details. An adviser will call you back within 24 hours to discuss your ideal skilled worker visa for Canada.

There are Canada visas and permanent residence available to skilled workers based on their ability to become economically established in Canada. The main criteria for being accepted as a federal skilled worker in Canada are discussed below. Applicants can find out more about this and the special provisions for moving to Quebec by contacting Global Visas through our free assessment.

Language proficiency for skilled workers in Canada

The official languages of Canada are English and French. Before submitting your application to be a skilled worker, you must take a language proficiency test and submit those results with the rest of your documents. Should you meet the minimum requirements, your language skills will be graded in the skilled worker points grid.

Arranged employment for skilled workers in Canada

An applicant who already has an offer of permanent employment from a Canadian employer is more likely to be approved as a federal skilled worker in Canada. In some cases applicants will already be working in Canada, in which case they will need a valid temporary work permit Canada and a permanent job offer from their current employer. Where the applicant is not currently working in Canada, they will need to show that a prospective employer has made an offer to hire on an indeterminate basis.  Some people who found this page helpful also viewed Canada Post Graduate Work Permit information for further advice. 

Work experience for Canada skilled workers

Applicants who don’t already have an offer of arranged employment can still be considered if they have one year of continuous full-time paid work in one of the eligible occupations, which include:

• Restaurant and food service managers
• Biologists and related scientists
• Architects
• Plumbers and industrial electricians
• Specialist and family physicians

Canada has a grading system for managerial, professional and technical occupations. To find out about how occupations and trades are graded in Canada contact Global Visas.

Points system

Applicants who meet the minimum requirements will have their skilled worker Canada application assessed on a points basis. The selection factors are:

• Education
• Proficiency in English and French
• Work experience
• Age
• Whether you have arranged employment in Canada
• Your adaptability

An applicant’s financial resources will also be considered.

Post-Graduate Work Permit

Benefits

A Post Graduate Work Permit, like some other Canadian visa applications, offers international students no restrictions on the type of employment you seek and no job offer needs to be in place. The program extends your opportunity to gain valuable Canadian work experience, an important factor when applying for Canadian citizenship through the Canadian Experience Class program.

To be eligible for immigration to Canada via the Experience Class program, you will need a minimum of one year of work experience in Canada in managerial, professional or technical positions, at level 0, A or B under the National Occupational Classification system.

Eligibility

International students applying for this type of working permit must have studied full-time for eight months preceding the completion of their program of studies and graduated from a public post-secondary institution, such as a college, university or CEGEP (in Quebec); or a private post-secondary institution that operates under the same rules and regulations as public institutions.

The private school has to receive at least 50 percent of its financing for its overall operations from government grants (currently, only private college-level educational institutions in Quebec qualify). Alternatively, international students from a private Canadian institution authorized by provincial or territorial statute to confer degrees also qualify.

International students intending to relocate to Canada must apply for a Post Graduate Work Permit within 90 days of receiving written confirmation that they have met the minimum requirements at the institution they have been studying. The Canadian study visa must also be valid when they apply for the Canadian Post Graduate work permit. 

One point worth remembering is, if your study course lasted less than two years but longer than eight months, you are still eligible for the Post-Graduate Work Permit, however, the work permit visa must be longer than your period of study.

You may also like to view our Canda sponsored visa guide once you have read this page.

Duration

The Post Graduate Work Permit visa has been extended to three years across all of Canada. At the end of the three years, as long as you have amassed one year's employment experience in managerial, professional or technical position you can apply for permanent residence in Canada through the Canadian Experience Class. Find out further information on our Sponsor Visa page.

Quebec Skilled Worker Visa

The Quebec skilled migration class for Canadian immigration is an option for skilled immigration to Quebec, contrasted with the Skilled Workers Visa used in other Canadian provinces.

Both programmes provide points based routes for immigration to Canada, which offer permanent residency status for workers with desirable skills.

Under the Canada-Quebec Accord, in matters of immigration, Quebec takes a key role in determining which immigrants settle in the province based on their ability to adapt to living in Quebec.

If you wish to immigrate to Quebec but do not meet the requirements of this route, you may still be able to live and work in Canada permanently if you apply for a Canadian visa of another kind.

As a Canadian immigration consultancy, Global Visas can help you move to Quebec, and help you decide which of the range of Canadian work visas is most appropriate for your needs.

Whichever route you choose to relocate to Quebec, immigration consultants at Global Visas will provide a complete Canadian visa service taking care of everything you will require for your relocation to Canada, including immigration lawyer expertise, detailed information on how to immigrate to Canada, and much more.

Benefits

As with the federal version of the skilled working visa for Canadian permanent residence, applying for a Quebec skilled worker visa for Canada affords unrestricted access to the domestic job market without the need for a Canadian work permit, a sponsoring employer, or a specific job offer.

Unlike the range of Canadian visit visas and tourist visas for Canada, this route is intended as a permanent Canadian visa for immigration. In accordance with this, no restrictions are placed upon the type of work that successful applicants may undertake.

Eligibility Criteria

The Quebec immigration selection system for this type of visa calculates a candidate's ability to become economically established and to integrate and adapt to Quebec culture.

Applicants must meet the minimum points requirements. Applicants bringing a spouse or common-law partner must meet a higher pass mark in order to gain a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ).

However, under this route, visa applications are still subject to assessment by the Canada immigration service body, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, (CIC).

CIC will require documentary evidence to demonstrate your ability to support yourself and your family and to prove that you do not have any criminal convictions.

We note many people who like this page also viewed Federal Skilled Worker Occupations to see if they were on the shortage skills list.

The Points System

Immigration visas for Quebec assesses candidates on the ten selection factors set out below:

Factor 1 - Education

A successful Quebec skilled working visa application awards points based on the level of education achieved by a candidate. Level of education is ranked in the following way:

• PhD. = Maximum points
• Master's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree (4 years full-time)
• Bachelor's Degree (3 years full-time)
• Bachelor's Degree (2 years full-time)
• Bachelor's Degree (1 year full-time)
• Secondary Diploma (3 years full-time)
• Post-secondary Diploma (2 years full-time)
• Post-secondary Diploma (1 year full-time)
• High School Diploma = Minimum points

Second Specialty

• Diploma (2 years full-time) = Maximum points
• Diploma (1 year full-time)= Minimum points

Favoured Training

• Points can be achieved for Favoured Training

Factor 2 - Employment

This factor is crucial to your Quebec visa application, and you must score some points in this category to qualify. Points in this section are awarded via one of the routes below:

• Quebec Immigration - Assured Job Programme = Maximum points
• Occupations in Demand
• Employability and Occupational Mobility = Minimum points

Quebec Immigration Assured Job program

This programme applies where a job offer has been made - To gain points under this route, applicants must:

• Be in possession of a job offer from a Quebec employer which has been approved by the Quebec immigration service authorities.
• Be able to satisfy the requirements of the position.
• Have occupied a similar position for at least six months during the ten years prior to the application.
• Commit to occupying the job on arrival in Quebec.

The programme also places responsibility on the Quebec employer who must:

• Have been in business for at least 12 months in the province.
• Agree to reserve the position in question for the applicant.
• Be able to prove that the position could not be filled from the domestic labour market and that a Quebec based candidate could not have been trained within the period of a year or less.

NB: The last requirement is not necessary for the following exempted professions:

Computer engineers (except software engineers), computer systems analysts and consultants, electrical and electronics engineers, machinists and machining and tooling inspectors - setter-operators for computer controlled machine tools, mechanical engineering technologists and technicians, software engineers.

Occupations in Demand

Shortage occupations present a greater likelihood of an applicant finding employment.

A list of such industries is provided below. In each category an applicant must intend to practice in the profession upon arrival and must have filled a similar role for at least six months in the period prior to application.

• Aircraft Instrument, Electrical and Avionics Mechanics, Technicians and Inspectors
• Chemical Engineers
• Chemical Technologists and Technicians
• Chemists
• Computer Engineers, except Software Engineers
• Computer Programmers and Interactive Media Developers
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Electrical and Electronics Engineers
• Electronic Service Technicians (Household and Business Equipment)
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineers
• Industrial Designers
• Industrial Instrument Technicians and Mechanics
• Information Systems Analysts and Consultants
• Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors
• Mathematicians, Statisticians and Actuaries
• Mechanical Engineering Technologists and Technicians
• Mechanical Engineers
• Other Professional Engineers
• Physicists and Astronomers
• Software Engineers
• Tool and Die Makers

For a full list of available careers, visit the official Quebec website at http://emploiquebec.net/imt/index_en.asp.

Employability and Occupational Mobility

This category of Quebec visas for immigration assesses an applicant's credentials based upon education, work experience, age, language ability, time spent in Quebec, ties to Quebec and spouse situation. If a candidate is successful, the points are translated into the minimum pass mark for the employment section of the Quebec skilled work visa.

Factor 3 - Work Experience

Work experience is another essential area under the Quebec immigration selection system for visas for skilled workers.

It is worth up to ten points with a minimum of one point. Work experience must have been conducted within the ten years prior to the application.

• 5 years + = Maximum points
• 4 years and 6 months 
• 4 years
• 3 years and 6 months
• 3 years
• 2 years and 6 months
• 2 years
• 1 year and 6 months
• 1 year
• 6 months (Minimum requirement) = Minimum point

Factor 4 - Age

Points are awarded for age, distributed as follows:

• 46 years or more = 0 points
• 40 to 45 years = Minimum points
• 39 years
• 38 years
• 37 years
• 36 years
• 20 to 35 years = Maximum points
• 19 years or less = 0 points

Factor 5 - Language proficiency

In Canada, immigration visas for workers with desirable skills consider candidates' ability in the English and French languages. In Quebec, greater emphasis is put upon the latter.

Points are awarded per ability for listening and speaking. This category can be worth up to 24 points:

French Language

• High (per ability) = Maximum points
• Moderate (per ability)
• Basic (per ability) = Minimum points

English Language

• High proficiency (per ability) = Maximum points
• Moderate proficiency (per ability)
• Basic proficiency (per ability) = Minimum points

French Education

• High School or higher= Maximum points

Factor 6 - Visits to and Ties with Quebec

Canada visas for Quebec immigration award points under this criterion as follows:

Previous Visits to Quebec

• Paid Work equivalent to at least 6 months = Maximum points
• Full-time training for at least 2 semesters = Maximum points
• Government approved internship of at least 6 months = Maximum points
• Government approved internship of at least 3 months
• Full-time training for at least 1 semester
• Paid work equivalent to at least 3 months
• Visit equivalent to 3 months or more
• Visit equivalent to 2 weeks to 3 months = Minimum points

Ties with Quebec

In this section, a relative from the list below must be a permanent Canadian resident or Canadian citizen and must reside in Quebec to be considered valid.

• Mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, son, spouse or common law/conjugal partner = Maximum points
• Grandparent
• Other relative or friend = Minimum points

Factor 7 - Spousal characteristics

Spouse and fiancé immigration to Canada is permitted under this type of Canadian visa application and points are awarded according to the circumstances and skills of your spouse or common law/conjugal partner.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree - 3 years full-time = Maximum points
• Post-secondary Diploma - 1 year full-time
• High School Diploma
• Favoured Training = Minimum points
• Second Specialty = Minimum points

Work Experience

• 6 months = Minimum points
• 1 year or more = Maximum points

Age

• 46 years or more = 0
• 40 to 45 years = Minimum points
• 20 to 39 years = Maximum points
• 19 years or less = 0

French Proficiency

• Basic (per ability) = Minimum points
• Moderate (per ability) 
• High (per ability) = Maximum points

Factor 8 - Presence of accompanying children

Points can be added to Quebec visas applications if children are included in the application.

• 12 years or less (per child) = Maximum points
• 13 to 17 years (per child) = Minimum points

Factor 9 - Financial Autonomy

This category awards only 1 point but it is an essential requirement of immigration to Quebec. Candidates must meet the minimum financial requirements for financial independence.

Factor 10 - Adaptability

Points are awarded for a candidate's ability to adapt to living and working in Quebec.

Points are awarded as follows:

• Personal qualities = Maximum points
• Motivation = Minimum points
• Knowledge of the province of Quebec = Minimum points

Find out further information on our Immigration to Canada page.