Point
System: This gives a minimum requirement of no of points for qualifying for various
categories of Immigration.
Canada uses a point system
to assess all Independent/Skilled Worker applicants. To be eligible for permanent
residence in Canada, you must obtain at least 67 points in the
point assessment.
The most important point assessment criteria
are related to occupation – that is, what you intend to do for a living
in Canada and why you are qualified to do it. Immigration officials will look
at your education and training, current and past employment duties, and skills
and experience to assess whether you are qualified for Canadian immigration. You
will earn significantly more points if you have “Arranged Employment”
in Canada. “Arranged employment” means a job offer in Canada that
has been approved by Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) or that is exempt
from HRDC approval.
HOW THE POINTS ARE DETERMINED
There are six factors to consider in pre-determining how
many points you should receive:
Languages (English and/or French)
Work Experience
Age
Arranged Employment in Canada
Adaptability (including previous work or study in
Canada, arranged employment, relative in Canada and partner’s
education)
Below please find an explanation of how the points for each factor are
assessed and determined:
EDUCATION FACTOR (maximum 25 points) :
The Education Factor is an assessment of your completed education. A
specific number of points corresponds to each level of completed education.
For each educational credential, there is a specific number of full-time
(or full-time equivalent) years that you must have completed in order
to obtain the points that correspond to that education credential* (*consult
with Guidance Counsellor at the nearest Diva Immigration services office
if you did not complete the number of years required).
If you have more than one educational credential, you are assessed by
whichever credential results in you being awarded the highest number
of points for this factor. (Example: if an applicant has a 3-year college
diploma and a 2-year university bachelor’s degree, this applicant
should receive 22 points for the diploma instead of 20 points for the
degree.)
Use the following chart to determine how many points you should receive
for the Education Factor:
EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS
MAXIMUM
25 POINTS
Master's Degree
or Ph.D. AND at least 17 years of full-time or full-time equivalent
study.
25
Two or more university degrees at the bachelor's level AND
at least 15 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.
22
Three-year diploma, trade
certificate or apprenticeship AND at least 15 years of full-time
or full-time equivalent study.
22
Two-year university degree at the bachelor's level
AND at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.
20
Two-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND
at least 14 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.
20
One-year university degree
at the bachelor's level AND at least 13 years of full-time or
full-time equivalent study.
15
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship
AND at least 13 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.
15
One-year diploma, trade certificate or apprenticeship AND
at least 12 years of full-time or full-time equivalent study.
12
Completed high school.
5
LANGUAGE FACTOR(maximum 24 points): Points for
the Language Factor are awarded for high, moderate or basic proficiency in speaking,
listening, reading and writing in English and French, Canada’s two official
languages. Your “first official language” should be whichever of these
languages you have the best ability in. Your “second official language”
should be whichever of these languages you have the lesser ability, or no ability,
in.
Click here for descriptions of the different levels of proficiency in English
and French.
Once you have determined your level of proficiency in each
skill, use the following chart to determine how many points you can claim for
the Language Factor:
FIRST
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (English or French)
Speaking
Listening
Reading
Writing
High Proficiency
4
4
4
4
Moderate Proficiency
2
2
2
2
Basic Proficiency*
1
1
1
1
*Maximum of two points in total for basic-level
proficiency.
No Ability
0
0
0
0
SECOND
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE (English or French)
Speaking
Listening
Reading
Writing
High Proficiency
2
2
2
2
Moderate Proficiency
2
2
2
2
Basic Proficiency*
1
1
1
1
*Maximum of only two points in total for
basic-level proficiency.
No Ability
0
0
0
0
If claiming points
for “first official language”, you will have to submit proof of your
abilities in that language. If claiming points for “second official language”,
you will also have to provide proof of your abilities in that language.
You can prove your language abilities by:
taking an official language
test administered by an approved organization; or
providing other written
documentation to support your claim of abilities in the language.
If
neither English nor French is your native language, take an official language
test to prove any abilities you claim to have in these languages.
If you don’t take an official language test, the alternative written
documentation you provide must clearly show that you meet the level of ability
you are claiming (high, moderate or basic proficiency) for speaking, listening,
reading and writing in English and/or French. Diva Immigration Associates
can advise you of the written documentation you should provide. WORK EXPERIENCE FACTOR (maximum
21 points)
To be eligible for Canadian permanent residence and to obtain points for
the Experience Factor, you must have at least one year of work experience
in at least one occupation listed in the National Occupations List
(NOC) under the categories of “Skill Type 0 – Management”,
“Skill Level A” or “Skill Level B”.
Diva Immigration Associates can advise you whether your work experience
falls under Skill Type 0 – Management”, “Skill Level A”
or Skill Level B” and what the NOC lists as duties and responsibilities
for that occupation.
You will be awarded a set number of points depending on how many years
of work experience you have:
Years of Experience*
POINTS
One year
15
Two years
17
Three years
19
Four or more years
21
*The number of years of work experience
are cumulative, must be in the last ten years, and do not have to be in the same
occupation. For instance, if you have three years of work experience, you will
get 19 points for the Experience Factor even if your three years of work experience.
AGE FACTOR (maximum 10 points) The age
you are (or will be) at the time your application is submitted to the consulate
is the age that should be used in determining your points for the Age Factor.
Use the following chart to determine how many points you should receive for the
Age Factor:
AGE
POINTS
16 and younger
0 points (minimum)
17
2 points
18
4 points
19
6 points
20
8 points
21-49 years old
10 points (maximum)
50
8
points
51
6 points
52
4 points
53
2 points
54 and older
0 points (minimum)
ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT IN CANADA FACTOR
(maximum 10 points) You will receive 10 points if you have a job
offer in Canada, or if you are currently working in Canada on a valid work permit.
Job offer in Canada
you are outside Canada
and do not intend to work in Canada before being issued a permanent resident visa
you do not presently hold a work permit for Canada
an employer in Canada
has made a job offer to you for ongoing full-time work to begin after you obtain
a permanent resident visa and enter Canada
the job offer must be approved
by Human Resources Development Canada
Presently
working in Canada on a valid work permit (HRDC approved work)
you are working in Canada on a temporary work permit obtained pursuant to
a job offer that was approved by HRDC
the work permit is valid for at least
12 months from the date you submit your application for permanent residence
the
employer has made an offer to continue employing you indefinitely after your permanent
residence visa is issued
Presently
working in Canada on a valid work permit (exempt from HRDC approval)
you are working in Canada on a temporary work permit
that is exempt from HRDC approval according to international agreements (eg, NAFTA)
or “significant benefits” (eg, intra-company transferee)
the work
permit is valid for at least 12 months from the date you submit your application
for permanent residence
the employer has made an offer to continue employing
you indefinitely after your permanent residence visa is issued
ADAPTABILITY FACTOR (maximum 10 points)
The Adaptability Factor is intended to give you points for things that may enhance
your ability to become successfully established in Canada. You may receive points
for one or a combination of the following (up to a maximum of 10 points overall):
partner’s education
previous work in Canada
previous
study in Canada
arranged employment
relative in Canada
a) Partner’s Education (3, 4 or 5 points) If your spouse or
common-law partner is accompanying you to Canada, you may receive points for your
partner’s education.
Look at the table provided above in the description
of the Education Factor. Determine the number of points that your partner's education
corresponds to in that table.
If it corresponds to 12 or 15 points, you
may receive 3 points for it under the Adaptability Factor;
If
it corresponds to 20 or 22 points, you may receive 4 points for
it under the Adaptability Factor;
If it corresponds to 25 points, you may
receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor;
b) Previous Work Experience in Canada (5 points) If you or
your accompanying spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of 1 year of
full-time (or full-time equivalent) authorized work in Canada, you may receive
5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor.
c) Previous Study in Canada (5 points) If you or your accompanying
spouse or common-law partner completed a minimum of 2 years of full-time (or full-time
equivalent) authorized post-secondary study in Canada, you may receive 5 points
for it under the Adaptability Factor.
d) Arranged Employment
(5 points) If you receive points for the Arranged Employment Factor
(see above), or if your accompanying spouse or common-law partner has arranged
employment in Canada, you may also receive 5 points for it under
the Adaptability Factor. (*Note: if it is your spouse or common-law partner
who has the job offer, it must meet the criteria of one of the categories listed
above in the description of the Arranged Employment Factor).
e) Relative in Canada (5 points) If you or your accompanying spouse
or common-law partner has a close relative who is a citizen or permanent resident
of Canada, you may receive 5 points for it under the Adaptability Factor. “Close
Relative” refers to the following familial relationships: father, mother,
grandparent, son, daughter, grandchild, sister, brother, niece, nephew, aunt or
uncle. (*Note: only 5 points may be awarded, even if there is
more than one close relative in Canada).
*PLEASE
NOTE: You may receive no more than 10 points overall for the
Adaptability Factor, regardless of how many of the above items you can claim.
Time
in Vancouver, Canada:
