PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Foreign nationals who wish to become permanent residents of Canada (excluding the province of Quebec) must apply under either the Express Entry system, or the Provincial Nominee System.
EXPRESS ENTRY
Express Entry is a two-step permanent residence selection system operated by the federal government. The first step is for the foreign national to apply to be selected under the Express Entry program. If the foreign national is selected, they must then apply separately for further selection under the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Canadian Experience Class program, or the
Federal Skilled Trades program.
Express Entry applicants begin by submitting a profile with information about themselves and their accompanying family members. Applicants who submit a profile are entered into a pool of applicants, and each applicant’s profile is awarded a points score (from 0 to 1200 points) based on the following factors:
- Age
- Education
- English and/or French language ability
- Work experience
- Spouse’s education
- Spouse’s English and/or French language ability
- Spouse’s work experience
Bonus points can also be awarded for the following factors:
- Brother or sister living in Canada who is a Canadian citizen or permanent resident
- Completion of a post-secondary college or university program in Canada
- French language skills
- Arranged employment in Canada
- Nomination under a provincial nominee program
Applicants who are in the pool are ranked against each other based on their points score. Each month, Canadian immigration conducts between one to three draws in which the highest ranking applicants are selected from the pool. Applicants who are selected from the pool are issued an Invitation to Apply for further selection under one of the three federal permanent residence programs – the Federal Skilled Worker program, the Canadian Experience Class program, or the Federal Skilled Trades program.
FEDERAL SKILLED WORKER PROGRAM
The Federal Skilled Worker program is intended to attract foreign nationals who have received an Invitation to Apply under Express Entry and who have a high level of education and demonstrated work experience in an executive, managerial, professional, administrative or technical occupation.
Applicants are assessed on a points system (which is different to the Express Entry points system) and awarded a points score from 0 to 100. In order to qualify, the foreign national will normally be required to score 67 points or more, although in certain exceptional circumstances, applicants who score slightly below 67 points may be awarded “discretionary points” by Canadian immigration if the applicant is likely to become economically established in Canada.
Points are awarded based on the following factors:
- Age
- Education
- English and/or French language skills
- Work experience
- Arranged employment in Canada
- Adaptability (prior secondary or post-secondary study in Canada, spouse’s English and/or French language ability, prior work experience in Canada, close family members living in Canada who are Canadian citizens or permanent residents)
Applicants will normally be required to show that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family members after they have arrived in Canada, and they and their accompanying family members will be required to successfully complete medical examinations and security clearance checks.
CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CLASS PROGRAM
The Canadian Experience Class program is intended to attract foreign nationals who have received an Invitation to Apply under Express Entry and who have prior Canadian work experience.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have at least one year of full-time (or the equivalent part-time) work experience in Canada in an executive, managerial, professional, administrative or technical occupation during the preceding three years.
Applicants and their accompanying family members will also be required to successfully complete medical examinations and security clearance checks.
FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM
The Federal Skilled Trades program is intended to attract foreign nationals who have received an Invitation to Apply under Express Entry and who are qualified to work in an the eligible skilled trades occupations.
Applicants must have at least two years of full-time (or the equivalent part-time) work experience in an eligible skilled trade during the preceding five years, and either an offer of arranged employment from a Canadian employer for a job position in an eligible skilled trade for a duration of at least one year, or a certificate of qualification issued by a Canadian provincial or territorial skilled trade authority.
At the present time, the eligible skilled trades occupations are:
- 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.
Applicants and their accompanying family members will also be required to successfully complete medical examinations and security clearance checks
PROVINCIAL NOMINEE PROGRAMS
Each of Canada’s provincial and territorial governments (except Quebec) operate their own provincial nominee programs. These programs are designed to attract foreign nationals who have specific skills, qualifications or work experience which are in demand in the province or territory. There are many different provincial nominee programs each with its own specific eligibility requirements.