The selection system

All applicants are assessed according to the "selection system". A worksheet is provided in this booklet to help you assess your chances of qualifying.

Points are calculated based on the following:

•  age;
• education;
•  Education and Training Factor(ETF) which refers to the level of training needed to work in your occupation in Canada ;
•  Occupation;
•   Arranged Employment/Designated Occupation Factor ;
•  Work Experience;
•  Language Ability;
• Demographic Factor;
•  Personal Suitability; and
•  Relatives in Canada.

Note: If you do not score 70 points, you are unlikely to qualify as an independent immigrant.

About Qualification Assessment

Your application will be assessed mainly on your qualifications, skills and experience in the occupation you wish to have in Canada. You must have at least one year's experience in your occupation. Your occupation must be listed on the General Occupations List, included with this guide. All occupations are assessed against Canadian standards for this occupation. You should be aware that job titles in your country may not correspond to the same positions in Canada.

The worksheet lists the factor upon which your application will be assessed. Read the explanation for each factor.
This self-assessment will indicate if you will have a good chance of qualifying. If you decide to apply and pay the fee, a visa officer will review your point score. If there is a difference between the points you give yourself, and the points the visa officer awards you, the visa officer's assessment will prevail.
 
 

Factor 1-Age (maximum 10 points)

Points are given for your age at the time your application is received. To calculate your points for this factor, use Table 1.
 

 
 
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Factor 2 - Education (maximum 16 points )

Points are given for the highest level of schooling you have achieved.

                                                                                                                          Score

• If you have not completed secondary school                                                       0
• If you have completed secondary school, but the program does not allow                              
• for entrance to a university and does not include trade or occupational certification                                                                                                         5
• If secondary school has been completed and the program provides for                              
• entrance to university                                                                                       10
• If secondary school has been completed and the program includes trade                                
• or occupational certification                                                                            10
• If you have completed post-secondary program which required, for                            
• admission, secondary schooling at three level described above (the program                       
• must have included at least one year of full-time classroom study)                     10
• If you have a community colege/trade diploma or apprenticeship that                             
• requires at least one year of full-time classroom studies                                      13
• If you have completed a university degree in a program that requires at                              
• least three years of full time study                                                                     15
• If you have completed a second or third level university degree                         16

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Factor 3 - Education Training Factor (ETF) (maximum 18 points)

Education Training Factor (ETF) refers to the length of training, education, and/or apprenticeship required to work in Canada.

                                                                                                                       Score

• If the occupation you have selected is listed in the occupations                                              
• list (see Factor 4), give yourself the number of points listed under the                                    
• column marked "ETF" for the occupation                                               As listed
• If your occupation is not on the enclosed occupations list but you have                         
• arranged employment in Canada the ETF points will be shown on the                        
• notification of arranged employment sent to you by the visa office           As listed

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Factor 4 - Occupation (maximum 10 points)

Points are given according to your occupation in Canada. Generally, it is occupation for which you have training or experience.

                                                                                                                                Score

• If your occupation is not indicated on the enclosed  occupations list,                                  
• check it to see if there is another occupation for which you are qualified.                                
• If there is, give yourself the points listed                                                 As listed
• If there is no occupation listed for which you are  qualified                           0
• If you have arranged employment or a designated occupation with                                      
• an ETF of 11 or more (as outlined in Factor 5)                                           10

 Note:     You must receive at least one point in this factor to  be accepted.     If  you have scored 0 in Factor 6 your application will be refused.

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Factor 5 - Arranged employment/designated occupation factor (10 points)

Arranged employment is a guaranteed offer of employment from a Canadian employer. This offer must be approved by a Canada Employment Centre and you must be qualified to do the job.

designated occupations are occupations identified by a province or territory as being especially in demand in that region. These occupations change periodically and are identified on the  occupations list.

                                                                                                                       Score

• If you have arranged employment or a designated occupation                    10

• If you are member of clergy and have a letter from a congregation            10                          
• in Canada offering you a position
• If your family in Canada has a business where you will work full time        10

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Factor 6 - Work experience (maximum 8 points)

The number of points depends on 1) the number of years you have worked in your intended occupation, after completion of formal training; and 2) the number of points you scored foe ETF, Factor 5.

                                                                                                                            Score

• To calculate the number of points you would receive for experience                                     
• use Table 2. Find the number that corresponds to your ETF, and read                               
• across to the number of years of experience you have in your                                  
• occupation. The number in the years columns will be the number of                                  
• points you will receive for this factor                                                        As calculated

 
 
For example: Robert has an ETF of 7 after his formal training and three year's experience in his job. He will get 4 points for experience.
 

Note: You must have at least one year's experience in your occupation to score a pint under this factor. A score of 0 in Factor 6 means your application will be refused.

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 Factor 7- Language ability (maximum 15 points)

                                                                                                                                Score

If you are fluent in both official languages (English  and French)                            15

 
 Fluent: Means you have a very good command of the language in a wide range of social and
 work situations, and have no difficulties communicating in a professional capacity.
 
 Well:     Means you can communicate reasonably well about personal and farniliar things.

 With difficulty: Means you know just a few basic words.
 
If you are not fluent in both official languages, use Table 3 to estirnate your credits. Mark the
credits that best reflect your ability to read, write and speak English and/or French. Total the points for your abilities, keeping in mind that the maximum is 15 points.
 
 

Add your credits and calculate your points as follows:
 

                                                                                                                                Score

• For a total of 0 or 1 credit                                                                                  0
• For a total of 2 to 5 credits                                                                                 2
• For a total of 6 to 15 credits, enter the same number of points   as of credits                                                                                            Actual score

For example: Peter has rated her language abilities in the following way:
 
         In English she can read fluently, and can write and speak well. She gave herself 3 credits for
         reading, 2 credits for writing, and 2 credits for speaking under First Language. As she does
         not read, write or speak French, she gave herself 0 credits for her Second Language ability.
         Adding her credits together, Peter has a total of 7 credits for her ability to speak the First
         Language, English, and 0 credits for the Second Language, French. She thus has 7 credits for
         a total point score of 7.

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Factor 8 - Demographic factor (maximum 10 points)

                                                                                                                       Score

• This is a number set by the federal government                                            8

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Factor 9 - Personal suitability (maximum 10 point)

  Personal suitability refers to adaptability, motivation, jnitiative, and resourceflilness. This
  factor examines whether you and your family will be able to settle successfiilly in Canada.

                                                                                                                         Score

The points for personal suitability will be assessed by a visa officer. The maximum score for personal  suitability is 10. The average applicant is awarded from 5 to 7 points; few receive either 0 or 10. Use the average
score of 6 to assess your own personal suitability                                                   6
 

 
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Factor 10 - Relative in Canada (Bonus 5 point)

                                                                                                                         Score

 Give yourself 5 points if a brother, sister, mother, father, grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece, or nepbew isa permanent resident or Canadian citizen living in  Canada                                                                                   5

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