Canada uses a point system to determine if you will be able to establish yourself economically once you arrive. You require at least 67 points in order to obtain a Visa. Points are awarded for the following factors:

• Education - up to 25 points, the higher your education, the more points you get.
• Language Skills - up to 24 points, the better you are with English and/or French, the more points you get.
• Work Experience - up to 21 points, the more impressive your work experience, the more points you get.
• Age - up to 10 points if you are under the age factor.
• Arranged Employment - up to 10 points if you have already arranged employment. Adaptability - up to 10 points under the adaptability factor.
• If you are planning on living in Quebec, there are further factors to consider.
If you do not meet the 67 point requirement, Visa officers can exercise discretion and grant you a visa if your case complies with the discretionary rules and if you present your case in a persuasive manner.
Please note that as of February 2008, in order to qualify within the federal skilled worker class, an applicant must have at least one of the the following (in addition to all the other requirements of the skilled worker class):

1. An offer of arranged employment in Canada, or

2. One year of employment or student experience in Canada, or

3. You must have experience in one of the following categories (NOC reference included):

0111 Financial Managers
0213 Computer and Information Systems Managers
0311 Managers in Health Care
0631 Restaurant and Food Service Managers
0632 Accommodation Service Managers
0711 Construction Managers
1111 Financial Auditors and Accountants
2113 Geologists, Geochemists and Geophysicists
2143 Mining Engineers
2144 Geological Engineers
2145 Petroleum Engineers
3111 Specialist Physicians
3112 General Practitioners and Family Physicians
3141 Audiologists and Speech Language Pathologists
3143 Occupational Therapists
3142 Physiotherapists
3151 Head Nurses and Supervisors
3152 Registered Nurses
3215 Medical Radiation Technologists
3233 Licensed Practical Nurses
4121 University Professors
4131 College and Other Vocational Instructors
6241 Chefs
6242 Cooks
7213 Contractors and Supervisors, Pipefitting Trades
7215 Contractors and Supervisors, Carpentry Trades
7217 Contractors and Supervisors, Heavy Construction Equipment Crews
7241 Electricians (Except Industrial and Power System)
7242 Industrial Electricians
7251 Plumbers
7252 Steamfitters, Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
7265 Welders and Related Machine Operators
7312 Heavy-Duty Equipment Mechanics
7371 Crane Operators
7372 Drillers and Blasters – Surface Mining, Quarrying and Construction
8221 Supervisors, Mining and Quarrying
8222 Supervisors, Oil and Gas Drilling and Service
9212 Supervisors, Petroleum, Gas and Chemical Processing and Utilities