Nooshin Javanshir

On October 24, 2017, the age limit for dependents changed from “under 19” to “under 22.”

Minimum requirements

Skilled work experience

Your work experience must be:

• in the same type of job as your primary NOC
• within the last 10 years
• paid work (volunteer work, unpaid internships don’t count)
• at skill type 0, or skill levels A or B of the 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC)
• at least 1 year (1,560 hours total / 30 hours per week), continuous:
• full-time at 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
• equal amount in part-time: 15 hours/week for 24 months = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)
• full-time at more than 1 job: 30 hours/week for 12 months at more than 1 job = 1 year full time (1,560 hours)

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:

• take an approved language testthat shows you meet the level for:
• writing
• reading
• listening
• speaking
• get a minimum score of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 7 in all four abilities
• include the test results in your Express Entry profile

You must show that you meet the requirements in English or French. Your test results must not be more than two years old on the day you apply for permanent residence.

Education

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

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 the conditions set out in the minimum requirements, we’ll assess your application based on these selection factors:

• age
• education
• work experience
• whether you have a valid job offer
• English and/or French language skills
• adaptability (how well you’re likely to settle here)

These factors are part of a 100-point grid used to assess federal skilled workers. You earn points for how well you do in each of the six factors. Your total points will show if you qualify for the Express Entry pool. The current pass mark is 67 points.

Proof of funds

You must show that you have enough money to support yourself and your family 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

Principal applicant

If you are applying on your own, you are the principal applicant.

If you have a live-in partner, either you or they can apply under Express Entry as a principal applicant if:

• you are:
• married
• common-law partners, which means you:
• are an opposite-sex or same-sex couple
• have lived together in a marriage-like relationship for at least one year
• both meet the requirements to apply as a Federal Skilled Worker

Your principal applicant should be the one of you most likely to:

• meet the eligibility requirements
• earn the most points in the section factors
• earn the most points under the Comprehensive Ranking System for Express Entry

Other requirements

1. You must be admissible to Canada. Find out more about inadmissibility
2. You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec

· Applicants must be physically present in Canada for three out of five years (1,095 days),

rather than the previous four out of six years, before applying for citizenship.

· In alignment to the new physical presence requirement, applicants must file Canadian

income taxes, if required to do so under the Income Tax Act, for three out of five years,

rather than previous four out of six years.

· Applicants no longer have to be physically present in Canada for 183 days in four out of six

years before applying when considering residency years preceding a citizenship application.

· Time spent in Canada as a temporary resident, such as on a work or study permit or as a

protected person, prior to becoming a permanent resident can now count a portion of this

time towards the physical presence requirement for citizenship, up to a maximum credit of

365 days where each day counts as 0.5 days.

• Applicants between 18 and 54 years — rather than the previous 14 and 64 years — must 

meet the language and knowledge requirements for citizenship

Some of key changes include:

* reducing the physically present in Canada requirement from four out of six years, to three out of five years;

* removing the requirement that applicants must demonstrate that they intend to continue to live in Canada once granted citizenship;

* allowing applicants to partially count days spent in Canada, prior to becoming a permanent resident.   

1-    Applicants in the Express Entry pool who have a sibling in Canada could gain additional points. Additional 15. Candidates with a sibling in Canada may obtain 15 additional points.

2-    Additional points are awarded to candidates with French ability. Candidates with French ability may obtain either 15 or 30 points.

3-    Registration in the Canada Job Bank is no longer mandatory for candidates without a qualifying job offer or a provincial nomination