| Attention:
Due to the recent revision of Canadian immigration law, the following information
may be out of date. Please contact Canadian government or other immigration
attorneys about the updated information. SELF
ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET:
HOW TO ESTIMATE YOUR POINTS
This section helps you determine
your chances of qualifying for permanent residence in Canada. It explains the 9 factors on
which points are based and details how you can estimate the number of points you would
earn for each factor. It also provides a self-assessment worksheet you can use to tally
your results. If you score fewer than 60 points based on these 9 factors, your application
may not merit further consideration. Based on this self-assessment, you can decide if this
is an appropriate time for you to apply. It is important that you make a careful
assessment because you must pay certain fees and some of these fees (for example, the Cost
Recovery fee) are non-refundable, even if your application is refused. Read the
explanation for each factor, then fill in your score on the work sheet.
Factor 1: Age
(maximum 10 points)
Points are given for your age at
the time your application is received.
Calculating age
points
| Age |
Total
Points |
| 16 |
0 |
| 17 |
2 |
| 18 |
4 |
| 19 |
6 |
| 20 |
8 |
| 21-44 |
10 |
| 45 |
8 |
| 46 |
6 |
| 47 |
4 |
| 48 |
2 |
| 49 and
over |
0 |
Factor 2: Education
(maximum 16 points)
| You have not completed secondary school. |
0 |
| You have
completed secondary school but in a program that does not lead to entrance to university,
or does not include trade or occupational certification. |
5 |
| Secondary
school completed in a program that may lead to entrance to university. |
10 |
| Secondary
school completed in a program that includes trade or occupational certification. |
10 |
| Post-secondary
program completed (for example, college, trade school or apprenticeship), which required,
as a condition of admission, secondary schooling at a level that does not ordinarily allow
for entrance to a university (the program must have included at least one year of
full-time classroom study). |
10 |
| Post-secondary
program completed (for example, college, trade school or apprenticeship), which required,
as a condition of admission, secondary schooling at a level that allows for entrance to a
university (the program must have included at least one year of full-time classroom
study). |
13 |
| University
degree in a program that requires at least three years of full-time study. |
15 |
| Second or
third-level university degree (for example, Master's, Ph.D.). |
16 |
Factor 3: Occupation
(maximum 10 points)
You must obtain at least one point
under Factor 3 to be considered. If you do not score at least one point, you must have
"arranged employment".
| Review
the enclosed General Occupations List.
If your intended occupation is on the list, then give yourself the appropriate points. If
you cannot find your occupation, check whether there is another occupation for which you
are qualified and experienced. |
As
listed |
| If there
is no occupation listed for which you are qualified. |
0 |
| If you
have arranged employment and your ETF is 15 or more. |
10 |
Factor 4: Education/Training Factor
(maximum 18 points)
Education/Training Factor (ETF)
refers to the length of training, education, and/or apprenticeship required to work in
your occupation in Canada.
| If your
occupation is listed in the General Occupations
List, give yourself the number of points listed under the column marked
"ETF" for that occupation. If your occupation is not on the General Occupations List, but you have
"arranged employment" validated by a Human Resources Canada Centre, the ETF
points will be shown on the notification of arranged employment. |
As
listed |
Factor 5: Arranged employment
(10 points)
"Arranged employment" is
a guaranteed job offer from a Canadian employer that has been validated by a Human
Resources Canada Centre certifying that no suitably qualified Canadian or permanent
resident is available to fill the position.
| If you
have arranged employment. (If you have arranged employment and the ETF [Factor 4] is 15 or
more, you may also give yourself 10 points under Factor 3.) |
10 |
| If you
are a member of the clergy and have a letter from a congregation in Canada offering you a
permanent salaried position. |
10 |
| If you
have a Family Business Job Offer from a close family member in Canada, which has already
been approved by their local Canada Immigration Centre, give yourself 10 points. |
10 |
Factor 6: Work experience
(maximum 8 points)
You must have the equivalent of at
least one year's experience in your occupation to score points in this factor. If you do
not, your application will be refused and you must either wait until you gain the required
experience or have arranged a job validated by a Human Resources Canada Centre, which
states that the prospective employer in Canada does not require you to have a year of
experience.
The number of points depends on:
- the number of years you have worked
in your intended occupation after completion of formal training;
- the number of points you scored for
ETF (Factor 4). You will find the point value of your ETF listed beside your occupation in
the enclosed General Occupations List.
Calculate the number of points you
would receive for experience. Find the point value that corresponds to your ETF (Factor
4), and read across to the number of years of experience you have in your occupation. This
number is your score.
Calculation of
experience
| ETF
Points |
Experience |
1
Year |
2
Years |
3
Years |
4
Years
or more |
| 1 to 2 |
2
|
2
|
2
|
2
|
| 5 to 7 |
2
|
4
|
4
|
4
|
| 15 |
2
|
4
|
6
|
6
|
| 17 to 18 |
2
|
4
|
6
|
8
|
Factor 7: Language ability in English and French
(maximum 15 points)
If you are fluent in both of
Canada's official languages (English and French), give yourself 15 points. If you are not
fluent in both official languages, estimate your credits. Award the credits that best
reflect your ability to read, write, and speak English and/or French. Use the following
definitions:
| Skill/Level |
Speak
|
Read
|
Write
|
| Fluently |
The applicant speaks
and understands oral communication with approximately the same ease as that of an
articulate native speaker. |
The applicant reads
and understands texts of a general or job specifc nature, including technical
instructions. |
The applicant writes
proficiently in any context. |
| Well |
The applicant is able
to comprehend and to communicate effectively on a range of general topics. |
The applicant is able
tocomprehend almost all documents of a general non-abstract nature. |
The applicant is able
to write a basic report or summary relevant to their education, work, or social situation.
|
With
difficulty |
The applicant is able
to communicate only in a very limited way. |
The applicant is able
to read and comprehend only short, familiar, or memorized text. |
The applicant is able
to write only a few learned words or sentences of a familiar nature. |
| Not at all |
The applicant is
unable to understand and respond appropriately to spoken communication. |
The applicant shows
no understanding of the written word. |
The applicant is
unable to express any message in writing. |
Calculation of
language credits
| First Language |
Read
|
Write
|
Speak
|
| Fluently |
3
|
3
|
3
|
| Well |
2
|
2
|
2
|
| With difficulty |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Not at all |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Second Language |
Read
|
Write
|
Speak
|
| Fluently |
2
|
2
|
2
|
| Well |
1
|
1
|
1
|
| With difficulty |
0
|
0
|
0
|
| Not at all |
0
|
0
|
0
|
Add your credits: Total of read +
write + speak = ______ (total credits)
Calculate your points as follows:
For a total of 0 or 1 credit you
score 0 points
For a total of 2 to 5 credits you score 2 points
For a total of 6 to 15 credits you score the same number of points as credits
Factor 8: Demographic
factor
| This is a
number set by the Government of Canada. Award yourself 8 points. |
8 |
Factor 9: Close relative
in Canada
(maximum 5 bonus points)
| Give
yourself 5 points if you, the principal applicant, have a brother, sister, mother, father,
grandparent, aunt, uncle, niece or nephew who is a permanent resident or Canadian citizen
living in Canada. |
|
SELF-ASSESSMENT WORKSHEET:
YOUR ASSESSMENT
Use this worksheet to calculate
your total point score. You must have at least 70 points to qualify. 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 |
Maximum
Points |
Your
Score |
| 1 |
Age |
10 |
|
| 2 |
Education
|
16 |
|
| 3 |
Occupation
(you need at least 1 point or arranged employment) |
10 |
|
| 4 |
Education/Training
Factor (training/education/apprenticeship) |
18 |
|
| 5 |
Arranged
employment |
10 |
|
| 6 |
Work
experience (you need a minimum of 2 points or arranged employment) |
8 |
|
| 7 |
Language
ability |
15 |
|
| 8 |
Demographic
factor |
8 |
8 |
| 9 |
Relative
in Canada (bonus) |
5 |
|
| Total |
100 |
|
Note: A visa officer will award
points for personal suitability, up to a maximum of 10, at interview. Personal suitability
has to do with the degree to which a person and his/her family are deemed able to settle
successfully in Canada. It refers to a person's adaptability, motivation, initiative, and
resourcefulness. With the additional points for personal suitability awarded to you by the
visa officer, you will normally be required to have at least 70 points in total in order
to pass to the interview stage. Remember, however, that unless you have at least 60 points
on the first 9 factors, your application may not merit further consideration and you may
therefore not be called for an interview.
FUNDS
REQUIRED TO
SETTLE IN CANADA
All independent applicants must also prove that they have enough money to support
themselves and their dependents for at least six months after they arrive in Canada. The
Government of Canada provides no financial support to new independent immigrants. You
should research the cost of living in the region of Canada where you intend to live. You
should take with you as much money as possible to make your initial establishment easier.
You will be required to show proof of your funds. As a guide, an independent applicant is
usually expected to have at least $10,000 Canadian dollars plus $2,000 Canadian dollars
for each dependent. Some visa offices, particularly those where exchange controls exist,
may require proof that these settlement funds have been transferred to Canada before visas
are issued. |
