FEDRAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM

Requirements for Federal Skilled Worker Program

• Minimum of one year of continuous full-time work experience, or an equivalent amount of part-time work.
• Only paid work is considered (volunteer work and unpaid internships do not qualify).
• Experience must be within the same National Occupation Classification (NOC) skill type (0, A, or B).
• Work experience must be within the last 10 years.
• Must meet skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2011 NOC.

Language Ability

• Meet the minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7.
• Take a language test approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) that verifies your proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Six Selection Factors

If you meet the basic eligibility criteria, your application will be evaluated using the federal skilled worker points system, based on the following selection factors:

• Your proficiency in English and/or French (Canada's two official languages).
• Your level of education.
• Your relevant work experience.
• Your age.
• Whether you have a valid job offer in Canada.
• Your adaptability (how well you are likely to integrate and settle in Canada).

Other Requirements

• You must be admissible to Canada.
• You must intend to live outside the province of Quebec.

Eligibility for Skilled Trades Program

• The Federal Skilled Trades Program is designed for individuals looking to become permanent residents based on their qualifications in a skilled trade.

Skilled Work Experience

• Eligible skilled trades for this program are classified under specific major and minor groups in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), including:
• Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical, and construction trades.
• Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades.
• Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical roles in natural resources, agriculture, and related production.
• Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing, utilities supervisors, and central control operators.
• Minor Group 632: Chefs and cooks.
• Minor Group 633: Butchers and bakers.

Education

• There is no specific education requirement for the Federal Skilled Trades Program.
• However, you can earn additional points in the Express Entry system for your education by meeting one of the following criteria:
• A Canadian post-secondary certificate, diploma, or degree.
• A completed foreign credential, along with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from an approved agency, showing that your education is equivalent to a Canadian secondary or post-secondary qualification.

Principal Applicant

• If both you and your spouse qualify for the program, you can choose who will apply as the principal applicant.

Other Requirements

• You must be admissible to Canada.
• You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec.
• You may need to travel to the province or territory where you want to work to get assessed and may require an employer in Canada to provide experience and training.
• Each province and territory has its own rules regarding certification for trades. The governing body for trades varies by location:
• Alberta
• British Columbia
• Manitoba
• New Brunswick
• Newfoundland and Labrador
• Northwest Territories
• Nova Scotia
• Nunavut
• Ontario
• Prince Edward Island
• Saskatchewan
• Yukon

Requirements for Canadian Experience Class (CEC)

• The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) is a permanent resident category for individuals with skilled work experience in Canada, particularly developed for temporary foreign workers and graduates with Canadian work experience.
• To qualify, applicants must have gained skilled work experience in Canada within three years of applying, according to the National Occupational Classification (NOC):
• Managerial jobs (NOC skill level 0).
• Professional jobs (NOC skill type A).
• Technical jobs and skilled trades (NOC skill type B).
• Applicants must have at least 12 months of full-time work experience (or an equivalent amount of part-time work) within these NOC categories.
• Work experience gained while self-employed or as a full-time student (such as during a co-op work term) does not count towards the CEC.
• Applicants must plan to live outside the province of Quebec.

Language Ability

• Applicants must meet the minimum language level requirements for their specific job classification:
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 for NOC 0 or A jobs.
• Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for NOC B jobs.
• Applicants must take a language test approved by Canada, showing proficiency in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. The test results must not be more than two years old at the time of applying for permanent residence.

Eligibility Requirements

• At least 12 months of full-time (or equivalent part-time) skilled work experience in Canada within the last three years before applying.
• Work experience must have been gained legally in Canada with proper authorization.
• Applicants must meet the language requirements for their job, as outlined by the CLB levels.
• Applicants must plan to live outside the province of Quebec.

Other Requirements

• Applicants must be admissible to Canada.
• Self-employment and work experience while studying full-time do not count towards the Canadian Experience Class.
• Applicants must intend to reside outside Quebec.