Migration & Relocation Guidance

Permanent Residence Classes

SKILLED WORKER

Skilled workers are people selected as permanent residents based on their ability to become economically established in Canada. The system used to manage how people with skilled work experience apply to immigrate to Canada is called Express Entry.

Immigrating to Canada as a skilled worker through Express Entry is further subdivided into 3 categories:

• Federal Skilled Worker

• Federal Skilled Trades Program

• Canadian Experience Class

Federal Skilled Worker

To be eligible, you must meet the following 3 minimum requirements/conditions:

Skilled Work Experience

Your work experience must be:

1. in the same type of job as your primary NOC

2. within the last 10 years

3. paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships don’t count)

4. at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC)

5. at least 1 year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience). This full-time can be at more than 1 job, but continuous.

You must show that you did the duties set out in the occupational description in the NOC. This includes most of the main duties listed. If you can’t show that your work experience meets the description in the NOC, you aren’t eligible under this program.

Language Ability

You must:

1. take an approved language test that shows you meet the level for: writing, reading, listening and speaking. The approved language tests are English (CELPIP or IELTS) or French (TEF)

2. get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you complete your Express Entry profile. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Education

1. If you went to school in Canada, you must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

2. If you have foreign education, you must have: an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

Selection Factors

If you meet all conditions in the above minimum requirements, your application will be processed according to these Six Selection Factors in the skilled worker points grid:-

1. Your Education

2. Your Abilities In English and/or French (Canada’s Two Official Languages)

3. Your Work Experience

4. Your Age

5. Whether You Have Arranged Employment In Canada

6. And Your Adaptability. (See Below).

The skilled worker Six Selection Factors are weighted as follows:

• Your education (Applicants are awarded up to 25 points).

• Your abilities in English and/or French (Applicants are awarded up to 28 points).

• Your work experience (Applicants are awarded up to 15 points).

• Your age (Applicants are awarded up to 12 points)

• Whether you have arranged employment in Canada (Applicants are awarded up to 10 points).

• Your adaptability -how well you are likely to settle in Canada. (Applicants are awarded up to 10 points).

Please Note:

At present, the pass mark for Skilled Worker applicants is 67 points, and for Business migrant is 35 points

Proof of Fund

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your dependents after you arrive in Canada, unless you:

• are currently able to legally work in Canada

• have a valid job offer from an employer in Canada

This table shows the minimum amount you need.

Federal Skilled Trades Program

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

To be eligible, you must meet the following 4 and/or 5 minimum requirements or conditions:

1. plan to live outside the province of Quebec

2. meet the required levels in English or French for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing and listening),

3. have at least two years of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience) in a skilled trade within the five years before you apply,

4. meet the job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), except for needing a certificate of qualification, and

5. have an offer of full-time employment for a total period of at least one year or a certificate of qualification in that skilled trade issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial authority.

Skilled Work Experience

Skilled Trades currently eligible for the Federal Skilled Trades Program are organized under these major and minor groups of the NOC:

• Major Group 72, industrial, electrical and construction trades,

• Major Group 73, maintenance and equipment operation trades,

• Major Group 82, supervisors and technical jobs in natural resources, agriculture and related production,

• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators,

• Minor Group 632, chefs and cooks, and

• Minor Group 633, butchers and bakers.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. (All are NOC skill type B.)

You must show that you did the duties set out in the lead statement of the occupational description in the NOC, including all the essential duties and most of the main duties listed. If you can’t show that your work experience meets the description in the NOC, you aren’t eligible under this program.

Education

There is no education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program. But, if you want to earn points for your education under Express Entry, you either need:

1. a Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree OR

2. a completed foreign credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an agency approved by CIC. [The report must show your foreign education is equal to a completed Canadian secondary (high school) or post-secondary certificate, diploma or degree.]

Language Ability

You must:

1. take an approved language test that shows you meet the level for: writing, reading, listening and speaking. The approved language tests are English (CELPIP or IELTS) or French (TEF)

2. get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 for reading and writing.

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you complete your Express Entry profile. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Canadian Experience Class

The Canadian Experience Class is for people who want to become permanent residents based on having experience in Canada either by completing a program of studies or working.

To be eligible, you must meet the following 4 minimum requirements/conditions:

1. at least 12 months of skilled work experience in Canada, in the last three years (before you apply). The work was: full-time OR an equal amount in part-time

2. gained your work experience in Canada with the proper authorization

3. meet the required language levels needed for your job for each language ability: writing, reading, listening and speaking

4. planned to live outside the province of Quebec

Self-employment and work experience gained while you were a full-time student (such as on a co-op work term) doesn’t count under this program.

Skilled Work Experience

To be eligible for the CEC, you need to have Canadian skilled work experience within three years of applying. According to the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), skilled work experience means:

• Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0)

• Professional jobs (NOC skill type A)

• Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B)

Your experience must be at least

1. at least 1 year of full-time work experience (or an equal amount of part-time work experience). This full-time can be at more than 1 job, but continuous.

You must show that you did the duties set out in the occupational description in the NOC. This includes most of the main duties listed. If you can’t show that your work experience meets the description in the NOC, you aren’t eligible under this program.

Education

There is no education requirement for Canadian Experience Class. But you can earn points for your education under Express Entry:

1. If you went to school in Canada, you must have a certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

2. If you have foreign education, you must have: an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency showing that your foreign education is equal to a completed certificate, diploma or degree from a Canadian: secondary (high school) or post-secondary school

Language Ability

You must:

1. take an approved language test that shows you meet the level for: writing, reading, listening and speaking. The approved language tests are English (CELPIP or IELTS) or French (TEF)

2. get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs OR Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for NOC B jobs

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you complete your Express Entry profile. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Permanent Residence Classes

FAMILY CLASS SPONSORSHIP

There is also the family visa for persons who have qualifying relatives in Canada who are willing and eligible to sponsor them.

Sponsors must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and there are 3 types of family sponsorship:

1. Sponsorship of spouse, common-law or conjugal partners or dependent child

2. Sponsorship of parents and grandparents

3. Sponsorship of adopted children and other relatives – which include an orphaned brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild (under 18 and without a spouse or common-law partner); and any relative if the Canadian sponsor does not have another close relative who is in Canada or who can be sponsored to come to Canada.

The most common type of family class application is for those persons who are married or engaged to a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

Permanent Residence Classes

BUSINESS - IMMIGRANT INVESTOR VENTURE CAPITAL PILOT PROGRAM

If you are an international investor with the skills and abilities needed to contribute to the economy and integrate into Canadian society, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Pilot Program.

You must meet all of the requirements listed below to be eligible to apply under the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital Pilot Program. You must also plan to live outside the province of Quebec.

Personal Net Worth

You must have a personal net worth of CDN $10 million or more. Your net worth must have been acquired through lawful, private sector business or investment activities.

Personal net worth acquired by inheritance or in the value of your primary residence will not count towards the personal net worth requirement.

Non-Guaranteed Investment in a Venture Capital Fund

You must be willing and able to make an at-risk investment (non-guaranteed) of CDN $2 million in the Immigrant Investor Venture Capital (IIVC) Fund for approximately 15 years.

As with any venture capital investment, you could receive proceeds over time or at the end of the investment term. Proceeds will depend on the fund's performance and will be based on its gains or losses, including expenses and fees incurred to manage it.

However, this would be an at-risk investment. This means that there is no guarantee of a return and it is possible that you could lose some or all of your investment

Language Skills

You must:

1. take an approved language test that shows you meet the level for: writing, reading, listening and speaking. The approved language tests are English (CELPIP or IELTS) or French (TEF)

2. get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French by including the test results when you apply. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day IRCC receives your application.

Education

You must have:

1. a completed Canadian post-secondary degree, diploma or certificate of at least one year OR

2. a foreign equivalent, as validated by an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a CIC-designated organization. The ECA report must indicate that your completed foreign education credential is equal to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.

The outcome stated in your ECA report must match one of the acceptable assessment outcomes for you to be eligible to apply.

If you can demonstrate that you have a personal net worth of $50 million or more acquired through lawful, private sector business or investment activities, you can request an exemption from the education requirement

Permanent Residence Classes

PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAM (PNP)

If you do not qualify under any of the above classes, you may be able to apply under one of the Provincial Nominee Program. Although only a limited number of places are available every year, the regulations differ from those described above, as they are set by the Provincial Government according to economic and social needs of that region. Contact Achievers Consult for further information.

Most provinces and territories in Canada can nominate immigrants through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). These immigrants must have the skills, education and work experience to contribute to the economy of that province or territory, and must want to live there.

Each province and territory has its own “streams” (immigration programs that target certain groups) and criteria (eligibility requirements and nomination guidelines) for their PNP. For example, in a program stream, provinces and territories may target students, business people, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers.

How to Apply

To apply for the PNP you must:

• Apply to a province or territory for a nomination,

• Be nominated by that province or territory, then

• Apply to IRCC to become a permanent resident.

Under a PNP Express Entry stream, you will need to complete an Express Entry profile and show that you meet the minimum criteria for Express Entry.

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Caution

Immigration Regulations can change without advance notice. You are strongly advised to always check the official Canada Immigration Website before applying.

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