Best Places in Canada for New Immigrants (2013)

Canadian Statistics over the past couple of decades show that Filipino immigrants tend to settle in certain places. A whopping percentage of almost half the total Filipino immigrant population settle in the province of Ontario. Coming in second is British Columbia, and third is Alberta, followed closely by Manitoba. Specific city choices list is topped by Toronto and Vancouver.

But notwithstanding these statistics, what are said to be the best places for new immigrants in Canada? MoneySense Canada came up with this top ten list based on the following parameters:

Vancouver and Toronto remain in the list. The other 8 cities that made it to top ten are:

10. Vancouver, British Columbia
More than 45% of Vancouver residents are immigrants. A low unemployment rate and the ability to walk, bike or take transit to get around makes it a great place for new Canadians. The biggest drawback of course is house prices.

9. Markham, Ontario
Well over half of Markham residents are immigrants, with a fair portion originally from China. In Markham they’ve found reasonable house prices, access to transit and low crime rates.

8. Saanich, British Columbia
A one-bedroom apartment in Saanich rents for roughly $827 a month, match that with a low jobless rate and relatively high earnings potential and you’ve got a great place to plant roots.

7. West Vancouver, British Columbia
This part of Vancouver is a great place for immigrants but rental apartments can be hard to find. The vacancy rate is just 1.7%.

6. Oakville, Ontario
Oakville has a mix of rental units, starter homes and mega mansions all by the waterfront making it an ideal place to begin a new life. Toronto is only a short train ride away and did we mention it’s one of the sunniest and warmest spots on the Canadian map?

5. Toronto, Ontario
Toronto has built a reputation for its thriving immigrant population. Nearly 50% of all residents were born in another country rental units are abundant.

4. Richmond Hill, Ontario
Just north of Toronto, Richmond Hill is a little pricier than the downtown core but in return immigrants enjoy plenty of green space.

3. Calgary, Alberta
Immigrants only make up 24% of Calgary’s population but you can expect that to change as the city continues booming. The unemployment rate is low at 4.02% and homes remain relatively affordable.

2. Vaughan, Ontario
Vaughan is a favourite among immigrants of European descent. It’s a short car ride away from Toronto and residents enjoy low unemployment and crime rates.

1. Burlington, Ontario
Burlington has it all for newcomers and seasoned Canadians alike. It’s balmy by Canadian standards with more than 125 days a year above 20 degrees C, houses are affordable and jobs are plentiful. Plus the average one-bedroom apartment rents for just $723 a month.

Do you have your heart set on settling in any of these cities someday?

 

Canada Demographics

Net migration rate

5.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)

Canada’s 2013 National Household Survey survey shows there are more foreign-born people in the country than ever before, at a proportion not seen in almost a century.

They’re young, they’re suburban, and they’re mainly from Asia, although Africans are arriving in growing numbers.

The new survey of almost three million people shows that Canada is home to 6.8 million foreign-born residents — or 20.6 per cent of the population, compared with 19.8 per cent in 2006, and the highest in the G8 group of rich countries.

Almost one in five people living in Canada is a visible minority. And in nine different municipalities, those visible minorities are actually the majority.

Overwhelmingly, most recent immigrants are from Asia, including the Middle East, but to a lesser degree than in the early part of the decade. Between 2006 and 2011, 56.9 per cent of immigrants were Asian, compared with the 60 per cent of the immigrants that came between 2001 and 2005.

The Philippines was the top source country for recent immigrants, with 13 per cent, according to the National Household Survey. China and India were second and third as source countries.

Population	34,300,083 (July 2012 est.)
Age structure	0-14 years: 15.6% (male 2,740,240/female 2,605,345) 15-24 years: 13% (male 2,300,624/female 2,175,492) 25-54 years: 41.8% (male 7,267,352/female 7,087,217) 55-64 years: 13.2% (male 2,235,990/female 2,278,691) 65 years and over: 16.4% (male 2,474,842/female 3,134,290) (2012 est.)
Median age	total: 41.2 years male: 40 years female: 42.4 years (2012 est.)
Population growth rate	0.784% (2012 est.)
Birth rate	10.28 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death rate	8.09 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net migration rate	5.65 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Urbanization	urban population: 81% of total population (2010) rate of urbanization: 1.1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
Major cities – population	Toronto 5.377 million; Montreal 3.75 million; Vancouver 2.197 million; OTTAWA (capital) 1.17 million; Calgary 1.16 million (2009)
Sex ratio	at birth: 1.06 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.79 male(s)/female total population: 0.98 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
Infant mortality rate	total: 4.85 deaths/1,000 live births male: 5.19 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.5 deaths/1,000 live births (2012 est.)
Life expectancy at birth	total population: 81.48 years male: 78.89 years female: 84.21 years (2012 est.)
Total fertility rate	1.59 children born/woman (2012 est.)
HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate	0.3% (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS	68,000 (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS – deaths	fewer than 1,000 (2009 est.)
Sanitation facility access	improved:  urban: 100% of population rural: 99% of population total: 100% of population unimproved: urban: 0% of population rural: 1% of population total: 0% of population
Nationality	noun: Canadian(s) adjective: Canadian
Ethnic groups	British Isles origin 28%, French origin 23%, other European 15%, Amerindian 2%, other, mostly Asian, African, Arab 6%, mixed background 26%
Religions	Roman Catholic 42.6%, Protestant 23.3% (United Church 9.5%, Anglican 6.8%, Baptist 2.4%, Lutheran 2%), other Christian 4.4%, Muslim 1.9%, other and unspecified 11.8%, none 16% (2001 census)
Languages	English (official) 58.8%, French (official) 21.6%, other 19.6% (2006 Census)
Literacy	definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 99% male: 99% female: 99% (2003 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)	total: 17 years male: 17 years female: 17 years (2004)
Education expenditures	4.9% of GDP (2007)
Maternal mortality rate	12 deaths/100,000 live births (2010)
Health expenditures	10.9% of GDP (2009)
Physicians density	1.913 physicians/1,000 population (2006)
Hospital bed density	3.4 beds/1,000 population (2008)
Obesity – adult prevalence rate	23.1% (2004)

Sources: http://www.indexmundi.com, http://www.nationalpost.com

 

Everything You Need to Know About the FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM (FSTP)

WHAT IS THE FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM (FSTP)?

The Federal Skilled Trades Program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade. The Government of Canada launched the Federal Skilled Trades Program in January 2013 to facilitate the immigration of skilled tradespeople who meet Canada’s current and evolving economic needs. Skilled tradespeople are assessed on relevant criteria, such as language ability, practical training and work experience rather than formal academic education. The Program was also created in response to requests from Canadian employers for skilled workers to fill labour shortages, particularly in the natural resources and construction sectors. In order to attract and retain qualified, in-demand candidates, the goal is to process applications as quickly as possible. Canada welcomed its first permanent residents under FSTP in August 2013.

HOW DOES ONE APPLY UNDER THE FSTP?

To apply, you must:

• plan to live outside the province of Quebec (Note: The province of Quebec chooses its own skilled workers. If you plan on living in Quebec, see Quebec-selected skilled workers for more information),
• meet the required levels in English or French for each language ability (speaking, reading, writing, and listening),
• 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,
• meet all job requirements for that skilled trade as set out in the National Occupational Classification (NOC), and
• 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 provincial or territorial body.***

WHAT ARE THE WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE FSTP?

*“Full-time work” means at least 30 hours of work over a period of one week, or an equal amount in part-time, paid work experience. For example:

• if you worked 15 hours per week in one job over four years, or
• if you worked a total of 30 combined hours per week in more than one job over two years.

HOW CAN I OBTAIN AN OFFER OF FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT OR A CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION IN A SKILLED TRADE?

**Up to two employers can commit to employing you for at least one year of continuous full-time work, meaning at least 30 hours of work over a period of one week.

*** In Canada, only the provinces and territories can issue certificates of qualification in the skilled trades. To get this certificate, the provincial or territorial trades authority must assess your training, trade experience and skills to decide if you are eligible to write an exam to be certified. 

You will likely have to go to the province or territory to be assessed. You may also need an employer in Canada to give you experience and training.

WHAT CANADIAN PROVINCES CAN AN FSTP APPLICANT GO TO?

You should go to the website of the body that governs trades for the province/territory where you would like to live and work. The process is different depending on where you want to go.

Each website has more details about whether you need a certificate of qualification to work there in a specific skilled trade, and what you have to do to get one.

• Alberta (http://tradesecrets.alberta.ca/)
• British Columbia (http://www.itabc.ca/)
• Manitoba (http://www.gov.mb.ca/tce/apprent/index.html)
• New Brunswick (http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/post-secondary_education_training_and_labour.html)
• Newfoundland and Labrador (http://www.aes.gov.nl.ca/app/)
• Northwest Territories (http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/)
• Nova Scotia (http://nsapprenticeship.ca/)
• Nunavut (http://www.edu.gov.nu.ca/apps/authoring/dspPage.aspx?page=9)
• Ontario (http://www.collegeoftrades.ca/)
• Prince Edward Island (http://www.gov.pe.ca/ial/index.php3?number=1027715)
• Saskatchewan (http://www.saskapprenticeship.ca/)
• Yukon (http://www.education.gov.yk.ca/)

WHAT ARE THE JOB REQUIREMENTS SET OUT BY THE National Occupation Classification (NOC)?

Skilled Trades currently eligible for the FSTP are organized under these major 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, and
• Major Group 92, processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators.

These major NOC groups are subdivided into different occupations. In total, 43 jobs (with specific NOC codes) will be eligible to apply under the FSTP in the first year of the program. We will accept no more than 100 applications for certain occupations. Other jobs do not have a limit of 100. See which applications we are accepting.

FSTP applications must be made based on the 2011 version of the NOC. However, if the application includes a Labour Market Opinion from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada based on the 2006 version of the NOC, it will be accepted by CIC as long as the applicant’s occupation corresponds to a 2011 NOC code that is eligible for the program.

WHAT ARE THESE 43 JOBS THAT ARE ELIGIBLE UNDER THE FSTP?

Group A – Jobs with sub-caps of 100 applications each (and their corresponding 2011 NOC code)

• 7202 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
• 7204 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
• 7205 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
• 7271 Carpenters
• 7301 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
• 7302 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
• 8211 Supervisors, logging and forestry
• 8221 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
• 8222 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
• 8241 Logging machinery operators
• 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• 9211 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
• 9212 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
• 9214 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
• 9231 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
• 9241 Power engineers and power systems operators
• 9243 Water and waste treatment plant operators

Group B – no sub-caps (2011 NOC code)

• 7231 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
• 7233 Sheet metal workers
• 7235 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
• 7236 Ironworkers
• 7237 Welders and related machine operators
• 7241 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
• 7242 Industrial electricians
• 7243 Power system electricians
• 7244 Electrical power line and cable workers
• 7245 Telecommunications line and cable workers
• 7246 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
• 7251 Plumbers
• 7252 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
• 7253 Gas fitters
• 7311 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
• 7312 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
• 7313 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
• 7314 Railway carmen/women
• 7315 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
• 7318 Elevator constructors and mechanics
• 7371 Crane operators
• 7372 Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
• 7373 Water well drillers
• 8231 Underground production and development miners
• 8232 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
• 9232 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

WHAT IS A LABOUR MARKET OPINION (LMO)?

A Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is a document that an employer in Canada may need to get before hiring a foreign worker. In some cases, an employer must obtain a Labour Market Opinion (LMO)—which supports the work permit application.

An LMO is the opinion provided by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)/Service Canada to the officer that enables the officer to determine whether the employment of the foreign worker is likely to have a positive or negative impact on the labour market in Canada.

A positive LMO will show that there is a need for a foreign worker to fill the job and that no Canadian worker can do the job. A positive LMO is sometimes called a Confirmation letter.

Your proposed employer must contact Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC). HRSDC will provide details on the LMO application process.

In some cases, you may not need a LMO to apply for a work permit. People in the following categories need a work permit but do not need an LMO from HRSDC.

• Workers covered under international agreementsProfessionals, traders, investors and business people coming to Canada to work under certain international agreements.
• Participants in exchange programsPeople whose employment in Canada will provide similar employment to Canadians abroad, such as participants in youth exchange programs, teacher exchange programs or other reciprocal programs.
• Spouses
  • Spouses and common-law partners of certain foreign students who are studying full-time.
  • Spouses and common-law partners of certain skilled foreign workers. See Your Spouse Working in Canada.
• Workers, their spouses/common-law partners or their dependants who are eligible for a work permit through an active pilot projectThrough agreements between the Government of Canada and provincial/territorial governments, some workers, as well as their spouses, common-law partners and dependants, may be eligible for a work permit through an active pilot project without requiring an LMO. These temporary initiatives are designed to attract particular workers that the province or territory needs.Find out if you are eligible to come to Canada through a pilot project.
• Workers nominated by a province for permanent residenceA person who has been nominated by a province for permanent residence and has a job offer from an employer based in that province.
• Entrepreneurs and intra-company transfereesSome types of entrepreneurs, workers transferring within a company, and other types of workers who will provide significant benefit to Canadians or permanent residents by working in Canada.
• Academics and studentsCertain academics and students.
• Co-op studentsForeign students who are studying in Canada and who need to do co-op work placements as part of their program of study.
• Religious workersPeople doing charitable or religious work.
• OthersCertain people who need to support themselves while they are in Canada for other reasons such as the refugee determination process.

WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE FSTP?

Language testing

Being able to communicate and work in English or French will help you in the Canadian job market.

You must prove your ability and you must show you meet the minimum requirements in English or French in these four areas:

• listening,
• speaking,
• reading, and
• writing.

CIC uses the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) and the Niveau de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC). These are the nationally-accepted levels that measure how well an adult who learned English or French as a second language can communicate in that language.

You must meet the minimum level of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for speaking and listening, and CLB 4 for reading and writing.

You must take a language test from an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and include the results when you apply. If you do not, we will not process your application and we will return your fees.

Language test results must not be more than two years old when CIC receives your application.

You can use your test results to find your CLB level. (See chart below.)

Language tests we accept (See chart below.)

WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS FOR INADMISSIBILITY UNDER THE FSTP?

Inadmissibility

Some people are not allowed to come to Canada. They are known as “inadmissible” under Canada’s Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

There are a number of reasons you can be found inadmissible, denied a visa or refused entry to Canada under IRPA, such as:

• security
• human or international rights violations
• criminality
• organized criminality
• health grounds
• financial reasons
• misrepresentation
• non-compliance with IRPA or
• having an inadmissible family member

Do not apply under the Federal Skilled Trades Program if you are not admissible to Canada.

 

Best Places To Be Born (2013)

There are 196 recognized countries all over the world. If you had a choice where you or your child or your nephew or niece would be born, what country would you choose?  According to the where-to-be-born index 2013, conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit, these are the top 10 places to be born this year when compared to other places worldwide. Canada is one of them, and we are not surprised. Canada has consistently remained one of the best places to live in for many reasons. “Canada is one of the world’s most developed nations and draws influences from many nationalities. The country holds a strong cultural identity. Canada performs above average in education and quality of life internationally.”

Photo: Getty Images (from Canada Yahoo News)

Click here to find out what the other best-ranking places are.

 

 

 

 

Are you eligible to apply under Canada’s FEDERAL SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM (FSTP)? If your occupation is in the list below, the answer is YES!

 

Skilled Workers and Tradesmen, Apply for Canada Now!

Are you a Petroleum Engineer? Are you a contractor or a supervisor in the oil and gas drilling services? Or are you an oil and gas well driller or chemical process operator? Then you might consider going to Canada where the future looks bright in the oil industry. Latest surveys reveal that “people who work in the oil path and those with the ability to hire and fire will get a bigger salary bump next year compared to other workers in Canada.”

(Photo from Reuters via Yahoo News)

Read full news article here.

The list of occupations eligible to apply for Canadian immigration under the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP) include the following:

01 Engineering managers
02 Financial and investment analysts
03 Geoscientists and oceanographers
04 Civil engineers
05 Mechanical engineers
06 Chemical engineers
07 Mining engineers
08 Geological engineers
09 Petroleum engineers
10 Aerospace engineers
11 Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
12 Land surveyors
13 Computer programmers and interactive media developers
14 Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
15 Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
16 Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
17 Physiotherapists
18 Occupational Therapists
19 Medical laboratory technologists
20 Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
21 Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
22 Medical radiation technologists
23 Medical sonographers
24 Cardiology technicians and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists

Other jobs in the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) include the following:

Group A – 17 jobs with a moderate labour market need, with sub-caps of 100 applications each

01 Contractors and supervisors, electrical trades and telecommunications occupations
02 Contractors and supervisors, carpentry trades
03 Contractors and supervisors, other construction trades, installers, repairers and servicers
04 Carpenters
05 Contractors and supervisors, mechanic trades
06 Contractors and supervisors, heavy equipment operator crews
07 Supervisors, logging and forestry
08 Supervisors, mining and quarrying
09 Contractors and supervisors, oil and gas drilling services
10 Logging machinery operators
11 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
12 Supervisors, mineral and metal processing
13 Supervisors, petroleum, gas and chemical processing and utilities
14 Supervisors, plastic and rubber products manufacturing
15 Central control and process operators, mineral and metal processing
16 Power engineers and power systems operators
17 Water and waste treatment plant operators

Group B – 26 in-demand jobs with no sub-caps

01 Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors
02 Sheet metal workers
03 Structural metal and plate work fabricators and fitters
04 Ironworkers
05 Welders and related machine operators
06 Electricians (except industrial and power system)
07 Industrial electricians
08 Power system electricians
09 Electrical power line and cable workers
10 Telecommunications line and cable workers
11 Telecommunications installation and repair workers
12 Plumbers
13 Steamfitters, pipefitters and sprinkler system installers
14 Gas fitters
15 Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics
16 Heavy-duty equipment mechanics
17 Refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics
18 Railway carmen/women
19 Aircraft mechanics and aircraft inspectors
20 Elevator constructors and mechanics
21 Crane operators
22 Drillers and blasters – surface, mining, quarrying and construction
23 Water well drillers
24 Underground production and development miners
25 Oil and gas well drillers, servicers, testers and related workers
26 Petroleum, gas and chemical process operators

 

DREAMING OF WORKING IN CANADA?

Are you looking for work? Canadian employers are hiring and Working in Canada makes it easy to find the job you want, plus so much more! Just type in a job, or search for jobs by city, by education or by skills. Find jobs available in your town or explore opportunities across Canada. Compare how much money you can make and find out which occupations are in demand. You have options! Thousands of new jobs are posted every day! So stay connected and subscribe to our job alerts! Jobs, wages and outlooks! It’s all right here at WorkinginCanada.gc.ca

 

ARE YOU A PROFESSIONAL SEARCHING FOR A JOB IN CANADA?

As mentioned in a previous post outlining important information about applying under the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), we would like to emphasize once again that AAMAC is NOT a recruitment or job placement agency.

We are a consultancy services firm that offers expert advice and guidance in the Canadian immigration process, assisting applicants during the entire application process from initial inquiry all the way to the most awaited time that they land in Canada to start a new life as an immigrant.

Providing employers is something we do for our live-in caregiver applicants, but not for applicants under the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and Quebec-Selected Skilled Workers Program (QSSWP).

Although having an ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT increases your total points in the 100-point grid scoring system (where passing mark is 67 points), it is not absolutely necessary that you have an employer during the time of application as long as you fulfill the other basic requirements and you are still able to come up with the minimum 67 points in total in the 6 selection criteria.

So here sharing to you all is a very useful and LEGAL job search engine/website hosted by the Government of Canada itself. where prospective skilled worker applicants can scout for future jobs and increase their scores and their chances of having their immigrant visa application approved by CIC (Citizenship and Immigration Canada).

For example, if you are a physical therapist who wants to immigrate to Canada and find work in the province of Ontario, you may type in the search box “Physical Therapist or Physiotherapist Ontario” and you will get a list of all job openings for PTs in different cities in the province of Ontario. Try other searches using your occupation and the Canadian province of your choice.

We have seen some Facebook pages of supposed other consultancy companies posting job openings from different websites which cannot even be opened, making these sources very hard to trust. If you want clean, legal job openings that you can really be confident about and apply to, this is the website that you want. It’s for you, our dear applicants.

JUST CLICK ON THIS LINK: http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca/content_pieces-eng.do?cid=6464

It even has a Resumé Builder feature which allows you to create a résumé from a template, copy it, print it, and save your information for future use. You can present a well-organized profile or your qualifications, work experience, education, achievements or interests and overall career objectives. You can save up to 5 résumés to increase your chances of being found and contacted by prospective employers.

Use this job search website for your application purpose and we’ll do the rest for you and with you to help you make your dream to live in Canada become a reality. Thank you for your confidence in AAMAC. Happy job hunting to all our skilled worker prospective applicants!

 

Important Facts About the Federal Skilled Workers Program (FSWP)

WHAT ARE FEDERAL SKILLED WORKERS?

Skilled workers are people who are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada.

 

WHAT FACTORS/PARAMETERS ARE USED TO ASSESS FEDERAL SKILLED WORKERS’ ABILITY TO PROSPER AND SUCCEED IN CANADA?

Federal skilled workers as assessed on the following:

• Basic Eligibility (see below)
• Minimum Requirements (see below)
• Six (6) Selection Factors (see below)
• Proof of Funds

You must also show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family after you arrive in Canada. 

• Inadmissibility

Some people are inadmissible—they are not allowed to come to Canada. Several things can make you inadmissible, including being involved in:

• crime, or
• human rights violations.

You can also be inadmissible for:

• security,
• health,
• financial reasons, or
• other reasons.

 

WHAT ARE THE BASIC ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR AN FSWP APPLICANT?

A federal skilled worker’s application will be processed if he/she has:

• at least one year of continuous and paid (full-time or an equal amount in part-time) work experience
  • in a single occupation,
  • within the last 10 years,
  • at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2011 edition of the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC), and you:
    • have this work experience in one of the eligible occupations, OR
    • have a valid offer of arranged employment, OR
    • are an international student who is enrolled in a PhD program in Canada (or who graduated from a Canadian PhD program within the past 12 months) and meet these criteria.

and

• You meet all the minimum requirements below.

 

WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS?

• Work Experience

If your application is eligible to be processed, we will then assess it to see if your work experience is valid. 

Your work experience must be:

• for at least one year in the same occupation,
• continuous and paid (full-time or an equal amount in part-time),
• within the last 10 years,

and

• skill type 0 (managerial occupations) or
• skill level A (professional occupations) or
• skill level B (technical occupations and skilled trades)

on the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) list.

(The National Occupational Classification is a system used to classify jobs in Canada.)

• Language ability

You must meet minimum language levels and include the results of a language test from an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) when you apply that shows you meet the minimum language requirement of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7.

• Education

You must have:

• a Canadian diploma, certificate, or credential

  and/or

• a foreign educational credential, and an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an agency approved by CIC to show it is equal to a completed Canadian secondary or post-secondary educational credential.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE SIX (6) SELECTION FACTORS?

If you meet all the conditions set out in the BASIC ELIGIBILITY and MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS above, your application will be processed based on the six selection factors in the skilled worker points grid. They are:

1. your skills in English and/or French, Canada’s two official languages,
2. your education,
3. your work experience,
4. your age,
5. whether you have arranged employment in Canada, and
6. your adaptability (how well you are likely to settle in Canada)

Selection Factor & Maximum Points

English and/or French skills – 28

Education – 25

Experience – 15

Age – 12

Arranged employment in Canada – 10

Adaptability – 10

Total – 100

Pass mark: 67 out of 100 points

If your score is 67 points or higher, you may qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker.

If your score is lower than the pass mark of 67 points, you will not qualify to immigrate to Canada as a federal skilled worker. It is better not to apply at this time.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBLE OCCUPATIONS UNDER THE FSWP?

You must have one year of continuous, full-time (or an equal amount of part-time) paid work experience, in at least one of these occupations within the last ten years in any of the following 24 eligible occupations:

• 0211   Engineering managers
• 1112   Financial and investment analysts
• 2113   Geoscientists and oceanographers
• 2131   Civil engineers
• 2132   Mechanical engineers
• 2134   Chemical engineers
• 2143   Mining engineers
• 2145   Petroleum engineers
• 2144   Geological engineers
• 2146   Aerospace engineers
• 2147   Computer engineers (except software engineers/designers)
• 2154   Land surveyors
• 2174   Computer programmers and interactive media developers
• 2243   Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics
• 2263   Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety
• 3141   Audiologists and speech-language pathologists
• 3142   Physiotherapists
• 3143   Occupational Therapists
• 3211   Medical laboratory technologists
• 3212   Medical laboratory technicians and pathologists’ assistants
• 3214   Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists
• 3215   Medical Radiation Technologists
• 3216   Medical Sonographers
• 3217   Cardiology technologists and electrophysiological diagnostic technologists

 

WHAT IS ARRANGED EMPLOYMENT?

Arranged employment is when you have a permanent job offer from a Canadian employer that has been approved by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. This job offer can improve your chances of having a Federal Skilled Worker or Federal Skilled Trades Program application approved.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR FSWP APPLICANTS?

• You must include the original results of an English or French language test with your application. It must be a third-party language test from an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
• This rule applies to all federal skilled worker applications received on or after June 26, 2010.
• You must also show that you meet the minimum language threshold in order to qualify for the program.
• Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day CIC gets your application.

Being able to communicate and work in one or both of Canada’s official languages is very important. Knowing English, French or both helps you in the Canadian job market. You can get up to 28 points for your skills in English and French. You will be given points based on your ability to

• listen
• speak
• read and
• write.

You must prove the language levels you claim on your application with a language test from an agency approved by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

 

CIC will not process your application if you do not include language test results for either English or French that show you meet the required level.

 

If you want to get points for your skills in both English and French, you must provide your language test results for each language at the same time.

 

You must meet the minimum level of CLB 7 for your first official language in all four language areas.

 

To get points for your second official language, you must meet the minimum level of CLB 5 in all four language areas.

 

Note: You can only get points for your second official language if you meet the threshold of CLB 5 in all four language abilities (speaking, listening, reading and writing). You can score four points for your second official language skills.

 

 

First Official Language                                      Points             

                                          Speaking      Listening      Reading      Writing

CLB level 9 or higher                   6                   6                  6                 6

CLB level 8                                  5                   5                  5                 5

CLB level 7                                  4                   4                  4                 4

Below CLB level 7                                         Not eligible to apply

 

Note: You can only get four points in total for basic-level skills in your second official language, and only if you have a score of at least CLB 5 in each of the four language abilities.

 

Second Official Language                                      Points

At least CLB5 in all of the four abilities                            4

CLB 4 or less in any of the four abilities                           0

 

 

 

WHAT ARE THE LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR FSWP APPLICANTS? 

• IELTS: International English Language Testing System

IELTS has two options for the reading and writing tests: “General Training” and “Academic.” You must take the “General Training” option.

For information on the IELTS English proficiency test and their testing centers, go to http://www.ielts.org/test_centre_search/search_results.aspx.

• CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program

CELPIP has three tests: “CELPIP-General (CELPIP-G),” “CELPIP-General LS (CELPIP-General LS),” and “CELPIP-Academic (CELPIP-A).” You must take the “CELPIP-G” test.

 

 

WHAT IS THE EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS  ASSESSMENT (ECA)?

Starting in May 2013, all people applying under the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) must get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) of their completed foreign educational credentials.

 

If you are only submitting a Canadian educational credential, you do not need to do this.

 

An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is used to verify that your foreign degree, diploma, certificate (or other proof of your credential) is valid and equal to a completed credential in Canada.

 

You must have such an assessment if you:

• are a principal applicant, and
• got your education outside Canada.

Your education must be assessed against Canadian standards by one of the organizations designated by CIC (below).

 

When you apply as a federal skilled worker with a foreign educational credential, an original ECA report must:

• be included with your application along with proof of your foreign credential,
• be issued on or after the date the organization was designated by CIC,
• not be more than five years old on the date that CIC gets your application, and
• show your credential is equal to a completed Canadian one.

If you do not submit this assessment when you apply, your application is not complete. It will not be processed and it and will be sent back to you.

 

These assessments are to help make sure CIC chooses immigrants with the best possible chances of success in Canada. But, being assessed does not guarantee you will be employed in your field or at a certain level. Employers are not bound by the assessment.

 

If you plan to work in an occupation that is regulated in Canada, you should contact the regulatory authority in the province where you plan to live. They can give you important information about getting your license, including any steps you can take before you leave your home country.

 

 

WHAT ARE THE AGENCIES DESIGNATED BY CIC FOR EDUCATIONAL CREDENTIALS ASSESSMENTS?

 You can arrange to get your assessment from any of the following:

• Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies (http://www.learn.utoronto.ca/ces)

• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada

  (http://www.icascanada.ca/fsw)

• World Education Services

  http://www.wes.org/fswp

• Medical Council of Canada – only if you are applying under the FSWP as a specialist physician (NOC 3111) or general practitioner/family physician (NOC 3112)

  http://www.mcc.ca/en/

Check their corresponding websites for more information on how to go about applying for ECA.

 

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Important Facts One Should Know About the FSWP